St Kilda’s Lance Collard faces a disciplinary Tribunal this afternoon after allegations he used homophobic language, for the second time, during a VFL match. Live from 1pm AEST!
Collard is expected to plead not guilty, having told investigators he used a different word and was misheard in the incident against Frankston.
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If he is found guilty he would face a serious sanction, given he was suspended six games for using a homophobic slur in a 2024 match.
On that occasion the 21-year-old admitted using the word and then underwent Pride in Sport training.
Follow David Zita’s live updates from the Lance Collard VFL Disciplinary Tribunal below!
“This is one of the most challenging cases we’ve ever seen,” Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
“The two Frankston players were in the vicinity, he (Collard) uttered a statement which he says was ‘maggot’, one of them came forward and made a complaint to an umpire.
“But the case has dragged on for two weeks now and those Frankston players would never have thought they’d have to give public evidence and have their identities revealed. One of those has a family link to one of the St Kilda club staffers.
“When they came forward again, they thought they were doing the right thing. I think there’s a view among the VFL fraternity now that would they have done it again knowing their club was going to be dragged through this?
“They’re two, I don’t want to say pillars of the community, but two extremely trustworthy people who’ve had some of their reputation dragged through the mud. Frankston is keen to move on.”
Collard was involved in a fiery incident during the March 29 clash, collecting Frankston’s Jackson Voss high – for which he has been suspended two games – and sparking a brawl.
He is contracted at the Saints until the end of 2027 having played 15 career games at AFL level, including 12 last season.
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