West Australian St Kilda forward Lance Collard is facing a 10-game suspension after an AFL disciplinary tribunal found him guilty of using a homophobic slur for the second time in as many years.
The 21-year-old was accused of calling Frankston opponent Darby Hipwell a “f…..g f…..t” in a VFL clash between St Kilda and the Dolphins last month.
The AFL are seeking a 10-week suspension with a sanction hearing now needing to be convened to determine the sanction.
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The verdict was handed down via written submission on Friday, after the tribunal failed to reach a decision following a marathon three-and-a-half hour hearing on Thursday.
A statement from St Kilda revealed the club was “disappointed” with the finding.
“St Kilda Football Club is naturally disappointed with the decision handed down by the AFL disciplinary tribunal this afternoon,” the statement read.
“The process is ongoing, with further submissions from both parties to be made on any penalty. A date for this next step is yet to be confirmed.”
“The club is also reviewing the tribunal’s written findings and will consider its position, including avenues of appeal. We will continue to support Lance throughout this process.
“As the matter remains ongoing, the club will make no further comment at this time.”
In 2024, Collard was suspended for six games and ordered to undergo Pride in Sport training after admitting to using homophobic language in a VFL game.
He admitted guilt and apologised after that incident but has maintained his innocence throughout this process.
Collard had signed a statutory declaration stating he had called the Frankston player a ‘maggot’ in the lead-up to the hearing and told the tribunal the education he undertook had helped him understand the similarities of homophobia and racism.
Hipwell and Frankston teammate Bailey Lambert, who instantly reported it to umpire Sam Morgan, also appeared in front of the hearing, saying they heard Collard use the slur in the midst of a brawl.
Hipwell told the hearing that Collard said to him “‘Darby you or you are a f…ing f…..t” after they were involved in a scuffle during the third term.
“Just before he let me go, he had one final pull towards him and he had his head up against my ear and he said the words to me,” Hipwell told the hearing. “I could not be more confident in what I heard.”
Umpire Sam Morgan, who was the closest official to the incident, said he did not hear any homophobic slur and could not specify what was said if anything during the melee.
In his submissions, Collard’s lawyer Michael Borsky said a lack of objective evidence meant the tribunal could not be satisfied the allegations were true.
AFL counsel Andrew Woods said Collard previously using “precisely the same word in a markedly similar situation” was among the reasons why the tribunal should be comfortably satisfied the slur was said.
Collard was part of West Coast’s Next Generation Academy, but the Eagles could not match any bids on him inside the top 40 in the 2023 national draft as per the rules at the time.
St Kilda took the 185cm Subiaco goalsneak with pick 28 that year, having kicked 32 goals in 11 games for Subiaco in the colts.
