AFL viciously lashes its own appeals board after shock rationale for Lance Collard verdict widely panned

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has whacked the body's own appeals board after it slashed Lance Collard's suspension for using a homophobic slur to just two matches.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, Dillon said he and the AFL rejected the reasoning, particularly a line that stated such comments were "commonplace" in the heat of the contest.

The AFL were initially pushing for a 10-week ban, but Collard was given nine by the tribunal last week. Following a hearing, the appeals board on Thursday upheld the guilty verdict, but curiously slashed the ban to just four weeks with two suspended.

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St Kilda appealed the original guilty verdict and nine-match ban, and at a hearing on Thursday night the board upheld the guilty verdict, but reduced the suspension from nine matches to four, with two of those suspended.

The board's reasons for reducing the ban included Collard's Indigenous background, "the fact the victim was not personally offended", and his "young age" - he is 21. The tribunal also noted that such slurs are "commonplace" in the heated and high-stress sporting environment.

Condemnation of the decision has been widespread among the football community, with several prominent figures calling out the appeals board for the decision itself and chair William Houghton KC for his remarks.

On Friday afternoon, AFL boss Dillon expressed his fury at the comments.

"At the disciplinary tribunal that first heard the matter, the AFL sought a 10-week suspension for Collard, noting that Collard had in 2024 admitted and been sanctioned (by a six-match suspension) for using the same slur," Dillon's statement read.

"Ultimately a nine-week suspension was imposed.

"That suspension reflected the seriousness of using a homophobic slur on the field and was intended to set a clear standard for our game, particularly given it was a second offence.

"The appeals board (on Thursday) night imposed a four-week suspension, with two matches suspended until the end of next year. In the AFL's view, stronger action was not only warranted - it was necessary.

"Let's be clear: homophobia has no place in Australian football. Not at any level. Not under any circumstances."

One particular line appeals board chair William Houghton KC used in his rationale has triggered significant backlash from the football community.

"It is commonplace that players can employ language from time to time which is racist, sexist or homophobic whilst on the field," he said.

Dillon said the AFL "strongly rejects the statement not only that such language is commonplace, but also any implication that may be a factor in determining the severity of the sanction".

"We will not accept, excuse or normalise behaviour and language that demeans, discriminates or vilifies people based on who they are.

"We acknowledge there are always broader considerations in these matters, and they must be handled with care. But they do not override the responsibility everyone has to meet the standards of the game.

"We are clear on where we stand. Respect and inclusion are not optional in our game - they are fundamental.

"The AFL has communicated its concerns in relation to these matters to the appeals board members."

The AFL Player's Association also released a statement, hitting back at any suggestion that slurs are commonly spoken during games.

Collard was previously found guilty of using a homophobic slur during a game, but rather than take that into account to make his ban longer, the appeals board said the reduction was in part due to "the relative lesser seriousness compared to Collard's previous case".

Former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley said he "can't come to terms with the decision there", while veteran broadcaster Gerard Whateley said it made "no sense whatsoever".

"That's not the remit of the appeal board to do that. That is a gross overreach on what that panel's role is," Whateley said on SEN.

"To dismiss the appeal but then reduce the sentence from seven to two … still guilty, but two weeks? That doesn't line up with anything that the AFL has done.

"This feels outside the remit of the appeal board, frankly, in the way it has operated traditionally. That's a very odd verdict - it's been an incredibly difficult space, and I haven't envied anyone's involvement in it from beginning to end, but that is incredibly unsatisfactory."

Former AFL player Josh Jenkins said, "some of the rationale for Collard suspension reduction has to be a joke", while former AFLW players including Kate McCarthy and Steph Chiocci took to social media to blast the decision.

McCarthy said she was "genuinely speechless" and "absolutely baffled", while The Age journalist Peter Ryan called it "outrageous".

In a lengthy post on X, trans activist and former pentathlete Kirsti Miller, who competed as Warren Miller, said reducing Collard's suspension was the right call, but whacked the AFL - as well as the other major Australian sports codes - for making only "superficial gestures and reactive measures" in cracking down on homophobia.

"It is imperative that the AFL assumes responsibility for its reactive stance on issues of homophobia and transphobia in the sport," she said.

"In 2014, the AFL, along with four other major Australian sports organisations, pledged to eradicate homophobia and transphobia in their respective disciplines. These organisations received substantial government funding to support these commitments.

"Despite the passage of twelve years, issues of homophobia and transphobia persist across all five major Australian sports.

"Furthermore, none of these organisations – Rugby Australia, Football Australia, the National Rugby League (NRL), AFL, or Cricket Australia – have established Pride Rounds in their men's competitions.

"Instead, what is observed are superficial gestures and reactive measures implemented only after incidents have occurred."

The NRL shelved any plans of establishing a dedicated pride round in the wake of the Manly Sea Eagles' rainbow jersey controversy in 2022.

The AFL's appeals board had described Collard's original ban as "crippling" at the hearing on Thursday night.

He had previously been found guilty of a homophobic slur in 2024 and visited the tribunal again when he was accused of the same act from a VFL match in late March.

After multiple hearings earlier in April, Collard was found guilty by the AFL tribunal and handed the nine week suspension with two suspended.

The incident occurred in the VFL with Collard accused of using the slur towards Frankston opponent Darby Hipwell - a former teammate. Collard had argued he said the word "maggot".

- with Damien McCartney, Sophie Wisely and Simon Brunsdon