St Kilda ahead Lance Collard has been handed a nine-week ban with two weeks suspended for utilizing a homophobic slur towards a VFL opponent.
After listening to proof from each the AFL and St Kilda, the AFL Tribunal deliberated for over 90 minutes earlier than handing down its verdict, with Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson saying “homophobic slurs [are] solely unacceptable”.
Collard was not afforded a reduction on his suspension because of his historical past and the truth that he confirmed no regret.
The 2 suspended weeks on Collard’s ban shall be suspended over the subsequent two AFL and VFL seasons.
The Tribunal’s verdict got here regardless of St Kilda asking for Collard to be fined somewhat than be suspended.
St Kilda pointed to Collard’s troubled upbringing and the shortage of a optimistic male position mannequin throughout his adolescence as part of his defence.
St Kilda’s authorized consultant Michael Borsky KC argued the AFL’s proposed sanction of 10 weeks can be “unfairly punitive” and “doubtlessly career-ending” for Collard.
“That is a type of sliding door moments that would set Lance Collard again on the fallacious observe and break his life,” Borsky, who can also be a St Kilda board member
stated.
“We respectfully ask the Tribunal to indicate some mercy and knowledge in serving to the AFL course-correct.”
Borsky additionally in contrast the proposed sanction to a earlier 10-week ban handed to then-Collingwood ahead Jaidyn Stephenson in 2019 for betting on video games in addition to the choice to solely search a superb from Zak Butters for his change with a area umpire on the weekend.
The Saints additionally pointed to earlier incidents the place Dane Rampe and Dale Thomas obtained fines somewhat than bans for verbal umpire abuse.
“Sanctions within the order of 10 weeks have been traditionally reserved for extra critical misconduct underneath Rule 2.3,” Borsky stated.
St Kilda tried to make use of the AFL’s superb to Zak Butters for umpire abuse as part of its defence for Collard. (7 Sport)
“That is plainly extra critical to the league.
“The Tribunal must take into consideration how the neighborhood goes to reconcile these selections … when others are getting fines.”
Nevertheless, given Collard is a repeat offender, the AFL argued that the sanction handed right down to him wanted to be extra extreme than his earlier sanction — a six-match ban.
“I believe there must be an elevated sanction for repeat offending,” the AFL’s authorized counsel, Andrew Woods SC, stated.
“There must be an elevated sanction by matches, somewhat than means of superb to what occurred final time.”
St Kilda reserves the best to enchantment the Tribunal’s verdict and has 5 days to determine whether or not to take action.Â
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