- The tribunal hearing stretched across two days
St Kilda have broken their silence after Lance Collard was found guilty of conduct unbecoming, vowing to stand by the young forward as the saga threatens to take another dramatic turn.
The AFL world has been rocked by the unprecedented case, which saw Collard become the first player to contest such a charge at tribunal level after being accused of using a homophobic slur during a VFL clash with Frankston on March 27.
After a marathon hearing that stretched across two days, the tribunal ultimately ruled there was sufficient evidence to uphold the charge, despite Collard maintaining his innocence throughout.
Now, the St Kilda Football Club has made it clear the fight may not be over.
‘St Kilda Football Club is naturally disappointed with the decision handed down by the AFL disciplinary tribunal this afternoon,’ the club said in a statement.
‘The process is ongoing, with further submissions from both parties to be made on any penalty. A date for this next step is yet to be confirmed.
St Kilda rising star Lance Collard was found guilty by the AFL tribunal over slur allegations
Collard denied using a homophobic slur, claiming instead he said ‘maggot’ during a heated VFL melee
St Kilda said they were ‘naturally disappointed’ and are now considering their options, including launching a formal appeal
‘The club is also reviewing the tribunal’s written findings and will consider its position, including avenues of appeal. We will continue to support Lance Collard throughout this process.
‘As the matter remains ongoing, the club will make no further comment at this time.’
The case centres on a heated third-quarter melee, where Collard collected a Frankston opponent with a swinging arm before allegedly directing the slur amid the chaos.
He was separately suspended for two matches over the hit, but it is the language allegation that has triggered the far more serious charge.
Collard has consistently denied using the slur, instead claiming he said ‘maggot’, and even signed a statutory declaration to support his version of events.
However, the AFL successfully argued that testimony from two Frankston players who said they clearly heard the slur should leave the tribunal ‘comfortably convinced’ it was used.
The league has taken a hardline stance, reiterating its zero-tolerance policy.
‘The AFL has no tolerance for the use of homophobic language in our game and its expectations have been made extremely clear to all of our players,’ the league said.
The fallout could be severe, with the AFL pushing for a 10-match suspension that would sideline Collard for a significant chunk of the season.
Adding further weight to the case is Collard’s history, having already served a six-match ban in 2024 for using a similar slur, though he admitted that offence at the time.
This time, the 20-year-old has refused to concede, setting the stage for one of the most closely watched disciplinary battles in recent AFL history.
The tribunal will reconvene at a later date to determine Collard’s punishment
