St Kilda player Lance Collard has been handed a nine-week ban (two weeks suspended) after being found guilty of using a homophobic slur.
The AFL tribunal last Friday upheld a charge of “conduct unbecoming” against Collard, who had rejected suggestions he called his Frankston opponent a “f*****g f*****” during a VFL match last month.
A hearing on Tuesday determined the lengthy sanction, which is the second time the 21-year-old has been banned for using a homophobic slur.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
The AFL argued for a 10-match ban, while the Saints said that would potentially be “career-ending”, and added that a fine or a maximum four-match ban would be more appropriate.
The tribunal deliberated for over an hour before landing on the nine-week ban, which is effectively seven weeks given two of the weeks are suspended for the next two seasons.
The ban will serve on top of the separate two-match striking ban from the same game.
The club will now assess their options, but had previously indicated they will consider appealing it.
In submissions on Tuesday, AFL representative Andrew Woods SC argued there needed to be an increased penalty for repeat offending and proposed a 10-week ban.
“There should be an increased sanction by matches, rather than way of fine, to what happened last time,” Woods said.
St Kilda’s representative Michael Borsky KC urged the tribunal to “show some mercy” to Collard, noting the player’s difficult upbringing and the possible effect a 10-week ban could have on his career.
Borsky suggested such a penalty would be “unfairly punitive”, instead calling for a financial sanction, or at most a four-week ban.
He also said the AFLPA, via a letter submitted to the tribunal, had described a 10-week ban as “disproportionate and one that could risk constituting an unreasonable restraint of trade”.
“It would, we submit, be potentially career-ending for this young man,” Borsky said.
“You heard that he has only one year left on his contract and he has … been in and out of the AFL team, as distinct from the VFL team.
“And so, to be perfectly frank, this is one of those sliding door moments that could set Lance Collard back on the wrong path and ruin his life.”
In delivering its verdict, the tribunal said Collard’s homophobic slur was “serious” and declared the use of such language “harmful and entirely unacceptable”.
The tribunal also took into account that it was Collard’s second offence and that he expressed no remorse by contesting the charge on this occasion.
“We do not make it part of this sanction, but we strongly urge Mr Collard to resume the awareness training that he undertook in 2024,” the tribunal said.
“It’s not clear on the evidence how many sessions Mr Collard attended, or over what period, but it is likely that that ongoing training over a period of time would be beneficial, particularly in respect to a person who has offended again.”
The tribunal also noted Collard’s use of the homophobic word did not appear premeditated and agreed with Borsky that a 10-week ban could have ended the player’s career.
“A sanction that is excessive may be crushing in a sense that it could seriously impact or even end Collard’s VFL/AFL career,” the tribunal said.
Collard, who was banned for six matches for using the same homophobic word in 2024, was adamant he did not use it this time and even signed a statutory declaration.
The marathon hearing took place last Thursday, but the tribunal panel did not reach a determination before the 5pm deadline, and released their decision on Friday evening.
Collard insisted he said, “Come here, maggot”, to Frankston player Darby Hipwell.
But Hipwell was adamant that was not the case.
“He had his head up against my ear and he said the words to me, ‘Darby, you ‘f****** f****t’,” Hipwell said.
The allegation was supported by Hipwell’s teammate Bailey Lambert.
Hipwell and Collard previously played together with VFL club Sandringham when the Zebras were St Kilda’s state-league affiliate.
Collard has played 15 AFL games since being taken by the Saints in the 2023 draft.
He is already serving a two-match ban stemming from a high hit on an opponent in the same VFL match in which he allegedly uttered the homophobic slur.
The Saints last week said they would continue to support Collard, who is contracted until the end of 2027, through the process.
– With AAP
