St Kilda Forward Lance Collard Confronts 10-Game Suspension After AFL Tribunal Verdict
St Kilda forward Lance Collard is staring down a significant 10-game suspension after an AFL disciplinary tribunal delivered a guilty verdict on Friday, finding him culpable for using a homophobic slur for the second consecutive year. The 21-year-old player was accused of directing offensive language at Frankston opponent Darby Hipwell during a VFL match last month, specifically allegedly calling him a "f…..g f…..t" in the heat of a third-term brawl.
Details of the Alleged Incident and Tribunal Proceedings
The AFL is now pushing for a 10-week ban, with a sanction hearing scheduled to determine the final penalty. This decision follows a lengthy three-and-a-half-hour hearing on Thursday that failed to reach a conclusion, leading to a written submission verdict the next day. In response, St Kilda Football Club issued a statement expressing disappointment with the finding, noting that the process remains ongoing with further submissions pending. The club is reviewing the tribunal's written findings and considering potential appeals, while continuing to support Collard throughout.
This incident echoes a previous case in 2024, where Collard received a six-game suspension and was mandated to undergo Pride in Sport training after admitting to using homophobic language in another VFL game. Despite that prior admission and apology, Collard has maintained his innocence in this latest matter, submitting a statutory declaration claiming he called Hipwell a 'maggot' instead.
Witness Testimonies and Legal Arguments
During the hearing, Hipwell and his Frankston teammate Bailey Lambert testified that they clearly heard Collard utter the slur, with Hipwell describing the moment as occurring just before Collard released him from a scuffle. Umpire Sam Morgan, however, stated he did not hear any homophobic language and could not confirm specifics amid the melee.
Collard's lawyer, Michael Borsky, argued that a lack of objective evidence should prevent the tribunal from being satisfied with the allegations. In contrast, AFL counsel Andrew Woods pointed to Collard's history of using similar language in comparable situations as grounds for the tribunal to be comfortably convinced of his guilt.
Background and Career Context
Collard, who stands at 185cm, was originally part of West Coast's Next Generation Academy but joined St Kilda as pick 28 in the 2023 national draft after kicking 32 goals in 11 games for Subiaco in the colts. His future now hangs in the balance as the AFL and club navigate the repercussions of this disciplinary action.
