Calls for Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson to be suspended for his homophobic slur towards an Essendon player have grown, amid a precedent set in a rival sporting code.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Herald Sun journalist Mark Robinson was strong in his stance on the matter, believing the key forward should be unavailable for selection in coming rounds.
“I think the AFL is running out of excuses and reasons (to not suspend him); I think Jeremy Finlayson will be suspended, and I think he should be suspended,” Robinson stated.
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The AFL is expected to hand down its findings on the incident in the coming days, with no obvious precedent specifically for homophobia displayed by AFL players. The most obvious point of comparison, Alastair Clarkson using a different word at St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster, saw him fined and given a suspended suspension.
The NRL however, the AFL’s direct competition in the Australian sporting landscape, have dealt out hefty suspensions for similar incidents.
It’s understood Finlayson used the word “f*****”, just as NRL player Marcelo Montoya did during a 2022 game against an opponent. Montoya received a four-week ban, reduced from six due to his previous good record, remorse and guilty plea.
Meanwhile a decade ago, former Wests Tigers player Mitchell Moses was rubbed out for two games after using a homophobic slur directed towards Canberra Raiders opponent Luke Bateman.
Essendon forward Kyle Langford told 3AW on Monday night “it will be dealt with – it shouldn’t be any different to any kind of racial slur”.
In the words of Robinson, times have changed – and should be reflected in the punishment for Finlayson.
“People at home can say ‘it’s only words, it’s not 1974, it’s 2024’ – and the word he used is just unacceptable,” he said.
“I’ve written tonight Gerard, walk into any workplace and used that work to describe your colleague, and find out how long you’ll have a job for.
“There’s a lot of gay players playing AFL and AFLW, including the Port Adelaide AFLW coach who is gay – and you’ve got a Port Adelaide player using a gay slur.
“I’m not the moral police, I’m far from it – but the AFL can’t preach inclusiveness and preach all this stuff and say ‘Nah, we’ll just fine you $500’ – I just don’t think that’ll be good enough.”
Port Adelaide club president David Koch received a strong backlash for his views on the incident, aired on the ABC on Sunday morning.
“I don’t think that’s realistic (a suspension). I think the benchmark has been set in terms of (Alastair Clarkson’s punishment earlier this season),” said Koch.
Mark Robinson responded on Monday night to the remarks by saying “I don’t think David Koch has had his finest moment”.
The Power play Fremantle on Saturday night at the Adelaide Oval, fresh off their 69-point win in Gather Round last Friday.
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