St Kilda forward Lance Collard has been found guilty of using a homophobic slur against an opponent during a VFL match last month, which has raised concerns about his future in the AFL.
The club has stated that it is contemplating an appeal against this ruling and will provide support to Collard throughout the process.
The AFL has recommended a 10-week suspension for Collard, and a hearing will be arranged to determine the appropriate sanction at a later date.
During the tribunal hearing held yesterday, Collard denied accusations of directing the slur at his opponent from Frankston, claiming he did not call him a “f*****.” The tribunal did not reach a decision by the 5 PM deadline, and their deliberations continued into the following morning.
The panel ultimately upheld the charge against Collard, which was announced publicly later in the evening. A subsequent hearing will be scheduled to address the sanctions.
The AFL issued a statement acknowledging the tribunal’s decision to uphold the charge against Collard for breaching AFL Rule 2.3(a) concerning conduct unbecoming, specifically due to the use of a homophobic slur during the match on March 27. The league emphasized its commitment to eradicating homophobic language from the sport and highlighted the educational measures in place for all AFL and VFL players.
In response to the ruling, St Kilda expressed disappointment and indicated that they would review the tribunal’s written findings before deciding on any potential appeal. The club reassured its commitment to supporting Collard during this period.
Collard, who previously faced a six-match suspension in 2024 for using the same offensive term, maintains that he did not use the slur this time. He insists he addressed Frankston player Darby Hipwell with the phrase, “Come here, maggot.”
Hipwell has alleged that Collard used the slur, corroborated by his teammate Bailey Lambert. Both players had previously been teammates at the VFL club Sandringham when it was affiliated with St Kilda.
Having been drafted by the Saints in 2023, Collard has participated in 15 AFL games. He is currently serving a two-match suspension for a separate incident involving a high hit on an opponent during the same VFL match where the slur was allegedly used.
