'In any other context, this should warrant immediate dismissal'

OPINION -- My dear friend once told me hearing the 'F-word' transports him back to the playground, when bullies hurled rocks at him.

Let's be clear, we're not talking about the one that rhymes with 'truck'.

With the word ringing in his ears, he sat in hospital, hoping he wouldn't lose an eye.

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That visceral, distressing memory captures the cruel potency of that slur.

It isn't just a word, it's a weapon that reopens old scars.

When Izak Rankine used a homophobic slur on the field last Saturday night debates of suspension and how many weeks that should be for began.

Rankine has apologised, was given a four-match ban and has been ordered to undertake further Pride In Sport training.

We are having the wrong discussion.

In any other context, be it workplace, or public life, this behaviour should warrant immediate dismissal. Why is football any different?

The stakes aren't hypothetical.

Queer youth suffer disproportionate mental health burdens.

According to a 2021 fact-sheet by Suicide Prevention Australia, LGBTIQ young people aged 16-27 are five times more likely to attempt suicide, with 16 per cent reporting an attempt in their lifetime.

That statistic isn't abstract, it represents real young people who wake each day feeling unwanted and unsafe.

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Words have weight, especially on the field.

The Collingwood player's earlier alleged slur, if proven to have been made, was also inexcusable.

While talented, that behaviour is unsuitable for a community role model.

At Gather Round last year, Jeremy Finlayson used a homophobic remark.

West Coast's Jack Graham did the same in round 17 and so did Sydney's Riak Andrew in a VFL match.

We keep saying "It's more than a game." If that's true, then the AFL must act accordingly.

The AFL audience includes young, impressionable eyes.

Yes, the Crows may lose a player heading into finals but queer people lose far more - they lose hope.

We must set a standard.

The AFL isn't just overseeing a competition; it oversees a community with moral and social responsibilities.

A suspension is merely performative.

Sacking any player who makes homophobic slurs is the only action that aligns with the stakes.

Maggie Raworth is a reporter with the Nine network.

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