Lance Collard Found Guilty of Homophobic Slur in AFL Tribunal
Lance Collard, a player for St Kilda, has been found guilty of using a homophobic slur during a match in the VFL. The AFL tribunal upheld the charge of conduct unbecoming, marking a significant moment in the ongoing legal process.
The tribunal met again on Friday after failing to reach a verdict before the 5pm (AEST) deadline on Thursday. However, no sanction has been handed down yet, and there is no confirmed date or time for the next hearing.
The incident involved Collard, who was accused of using the word ‘f—-t’ towards an opponent named Darby Hipwell from Frankston. The AFL’s counsel has recommended a 10-week ban for Collard, which would be the longest suspension given to an AFL-listed player in the last century. The closest previous example was Andrew Gaff’s eight-game suspension in 2018.
In a statement, St Kilda expressed disappointment with the decision. The club mentioned that the process is ongoing, with further submissions from both parties to be made regarding any penalty. They also stated that they are reviewing the tribunal’s written findings and considering their position, including potential avenues of appeal. The club pledged to support Lance throughout this process and will make no further comments at this time.
Collard had claimed he used the word ‘maggot’ instead of the slur and signed a statutory declaration stating he was telling the truth. He explained, “I grabbed him [Hipwell] and said, ‘come here, maggot.’ I know they think I’ve said the word f—–t, because I’ve said it before, but I admitted it last time when I said it – but I’ve never said it this time.”
He emphasized that he signed an oath during the week about being 100% honest and expressed remorse for his past actions. Collard had previously been suspended for six matches in 2024 when he admitted to using a homophobic slur in a match. At that time, he underwent Pride in Sport training.
During Thursday’s hearing, Collard was accused of leaning into Hipwell’s ear and saying, “you f—–g f—-t” or “you are a f—–g f—-t.” Hipwell stated he was confident that’s what Collard said. Hipwell was cross-examined by St Kilda’s legal counsel, Michael Borsky KC, and denied he used a derogatory term towards Collard.
Collard and Hipwell had previously played together at Sandringham. Hipwell recognized the voice but was not looking at Collard. After the match, Hipwell reported the alleged incident to the umpire and discussed it with teammate Bailey Lambert.
Hipwell mentioned he had never heard the word ‘maggot’ used in a football match. Lambert supported the claim that Collard said, “Darby, you are a f—–g f—-t,” and had informed the umpire on-field about the incident. Umpire Sam Morgan stated he did not hear a homophobic slur.
Pride Cup CEO Hayley Conway appeared at the tribunal, having conducted Collard’s inclusion training after his 2024 incident. Conway noted that Collard was nervous, engaged, remorseful, shy, and thoughtful. Aunty Katrina Amon, the Indigenous player development manager at the Saints, highlighted personal growth in Collard over the past three years.
Collard admitted in the tribunal that he didn’t correct the accusation from Frankston players on the field but told Saints staffers Lenny Hayes and Damien Carroll post-match that he said “maggot.”
