St Kilda forward Lance Collard has received a seven-week ban from the AFL tribunal after being sanctioned for directing a homophobic slur at an opponent.
The penalty was announced at a sanctions hearing on Tuesday afternoon. It also includes an additional two-week ban that has been suspended until the end of the 2027 season.
Collard denied using the slur, although he had admitted using it in 2024.
The decision marks a significant punishment for the Saints player as the AFL continues to deal with on-field conduct involving offensive language. The tribunal’s ruling leaves Collard unavailable for the next seven weeks, with the suspended portion of the penalty hanging over him through the end of the 2027 season.
The hearing conclusion adds another notable disciplinary case to the league’s record, with the AFL maintaining a firm stance on homophobic abuse in the game.
