St Kilda’s Lance Collard is making a last-ditch effort to overturn his nine-week ban (two suspended until end of 2027) for conduct unbecoming after being found guilty of using a homophobic slur for the second time.
Two weeks ago, the AFL Tribunal found Collard had called a Frankston player a “f***ing f*****” during a VFL game – despite the Saints forward signing a statutory declaration and maintaining during the hearing he hadn’t.
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Collard claimed he had told Darcy Hipwell “come here, maggot” but both Hipwell and teammate Bailey Lambert were adamant they heard Collard using the slur.
A hefty suspension had the potential to put Collard “back on the wrong track and ruin his life”, according to the Saints’ lawyer Michael Borsky.
“As a club, we will continue to stand by Lance, who maintains his position of innocence. This process has had a considerable impact on Lance, and we are committed to ensuring he is not only supported but that his integrity is defended through the appropriate process,” St Kilda said in a statement.
“We also recognise and empathise with the impact the ongoing and public nature of this matter has had, particularly on members of the LGBTQIA+ and First Nations communities.”
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