Former Perth Demon turned Brisbane Lions forward Koby Evans has been handed a four-match ban for using a homophobic slur during a VFL match against Coburg last weekend.
The 19-year-old, who was selected with pick 38 in last year's AFL draft, self-reported the incident and expressed deep remorse for his actions. His sanction was reduced from the standard five weeks due to his cooperation.
"My language was totally unacceptable; I'm disappointed in myself, and apologise to the LGBTQI+ community and our club," Evans said in a statement. "I knew as soon as it came out of my mouth, that I'd made a bad mistake and this language is unacceptable on or off the field."
Evans is yet to make his AFL debut but had produced his best performance at VFL level against Coburg before the incident. He will now miss the next month of football.
Brisbane Lions chief executive officer Sam Graham condemned the language and reiterated the club's commitment to inclusivity. "Our club is committed to being an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and able to belong, including players, staff, members and fans," he said.
Graham added that Evans had addressed his teammates and been upfront with the club and AFL about the matter. "We recognise that Koby is at the beginning of his career and we will work with him to provide the necessary support and education to ensure he understands the impact words can have on people."
In addition to his suspension, Evans will undergo LGBTQI+ inclusion education. This marks the eighth such incident the AFL has dealt with over the past three years, following a controversial case involving St Kilda forward Lance Collard.
Collard was originally handed a nine-week suspension for a homophobic slur, but the penalty was sensationally reduced to two weeks after an appeal. The fallout led to the AFL removing the chair of the Appeals Board, Will Houghton KC, after he claimed that homophobic, sexist, or racist language is commonplace in the game.
