The AFL has terminated Will Houghton KC as chair of the league's appeals board, effective immediately, following widespread condemnation of the board's findings in the case of St Kilda player Lance Collard. Collard was initially suspended for seven weeks for using homophobic language during a VFL match, but the appeals board reduced the ban to two weeks.
In its written reasoning, the appeals board stated: 'We observe that football is a hard game. It is highly competitive, particularly at its higher levels. It is commonplace that players can employ language from time to time which is racist, sexist or homophobic whilst on the field.' The AFL 'specifically rejects' this assertion, with CEO Andrew Dillon declaring that 'homophobia has no place in Australian football. Not at any level. Not under any circumstances.'
Dillon added that the AFL strongly rejects the implication that such language is commonplace or that it should be a factor in determining the severity of sanctions. The league said stronger action was 'not only warranted, it was necessary.' Houghton, who had chaired the appeals board since March 2024, was thanked for his service at club level over many years.
The decision drew sharp criticism from players and commentators. Melbourne captain Max Gawn called the remarks 'embarrassing,' stating: 'I certainly know that the game is not that hard. I know I can shut my mouth with homophobic, racist and other vilifications.' Former AFLW star Kate McCarthy described the comments as 'disgusting' and 'baffling,' saying they go against everything the AFL claims to stand for.
Former West Coast player Mitch Brown, the first openly bisexual men's AFL player, wrote that the reasoning was 'not only disappointing, but dangerous.' He noted a 'sickly satisfying' aspect to the board's frank admission of homophobia in the game. Dr Sean Gorman, who led the AFL's review of its vilification laws, called the reasoning a 'joke' and said it set the league back decades, adding that the AFL's failure to vet the statement was 'institutional ignorance 101.'
