Former AFL player quietly suspended for offensive slur
Former Port Adelaide player Martin Frederick has been quietly suspended in the SANFL after directing a homophobic slur at an opponent.
Nine reporter Bianca Wylie reported on Wednesday that the Sturt player was given a two-week suspension after showing remorse for his actions.
Justin McInerney of the Swans competes with Martin Frederick of the Power in 2021. AFL
The incident occurred on July 19 at Unley Oval against North Adelaide.
Frederick has since written a letter of apology to the man he verbally abused.
The SANFL released a statement saying it has dealt with the incident in accordance with AFL rules and said the 26-year-old will have to complete the league’s vilification education module.
Frederick played 14 games for Port Adelaide between 2021 and 2022 after initially signing as a Category B Rookie.
After his delisting, he joined Sturt to continue pursuing football. He then moved to Perth and played for Claremont in the WAFL in 2024, before returning to Sturt.
He is the twin brother of Fremantle star Michael Frederick, who has played 116 games for the Dockers and is a key part of their premiership charge in 2026.
The AFL has cracked down hard on homophobic vilification in recent years, with nearly a dozen players suspended for incidents, which have largely occurred at VFL level.
Gold Coast ruckman Max Knobel, St Kilda forward Lance Collard and Brisbane youngster Koby Evans have all copped bans in 2026 for similar incidents.
Adelaide star Izak Rankine’s suspension, which ruled him out of their 2025 finals campaign, has been the most high profile example to date.
Tension still lingers from that incident, with some Crows fans booing Collingwood defender Isaac Quaynor in round 20, the man who was the target of Rankine’s slur.
