St Kilda forward Lance Collard has copped a mammoth nine-week suspension for the use of a homophobic slur in the VFL.
The AFL on Friday deemed Collard guilty of “conduct unbecoming” for calling his Frankston opponent a “f***ing f*****” a fortnight ago.
The 21-year-old argued he called former Sandringham teammate Darby Hipwell a “maggot”.
Collard was suspended for six matches in 2024 for using the same homophobic slur.
Andrew Woods SC – representing the AFL – pushed for the heavy suspension on Tuesday, citing Collard’s status as a repeat offender and the need for a stronger deterrent.
Woods clarified that a 10-week sanction would only be an eight-match ban if he remained in the reserves for that entire period.
Michael Borsky KC — Collard’s defence — said his client was “jostled, roughed up and verbally abused” by Frankston players during the match.
Borsky said Collard had endured a “far more difficult life” than any of the panellists and had been working hard to be a positive role model for Indigenous youths.
He went on to call a suspension of that magnitude “unfairly punitive” and a potentially “sliding doors” decision that could ruin Collard’s life.
Borsky asked the panel to “show some mercy” on Collard, proposing the tribunal issues a substantial fine and no further suspension from play.
Collard is already serving a two-match ban for high contact on an opponent in the same match.
Borsky requested any new suspension should run concurrently with his existing ban, as the initial hit and subsequent melee triggered the slur.
The panel heard final arguments for approximately an hour before deliberating for 90 minutes.
They returned and handed down the nine-week ban, with two of those suspended.
Collard’s suspension comes as Port Adelaide star Zak Butters was found guilty of umpire abuse at the weekend.
Butters said he only queried field umpire Nick Foot’s decision, but the experienced adjudicator claimed to have been asked “How much are they paying you?”
The star midfielder was found guilty after a two-and-a-half hour hearing on Tuesday and will now pay a $1500 fine
Power teammate Ollie Wines supported Butters’ “100 per cent” case but it was made in vein.
Foot said he was certain because “when your integrity is questioned, you don’t forget those words”.
