St Kilda's Lance Collard Tribunal Hearing Adjourned Without Verdict
The AFL disciplinary tribunal has failed to reach a verdict on St Kilda player Lance Collard's alleged homophobic slur, forcing the panel to adjourn and resume deliberations on Friday. After a tense hearing that lasted three and a half hours, the tribunal deliberated for just under an hour before calling it a night, missing their self-imposed 5pm deadline.
Tribunal Chair Announces Delay in Decision
Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson explained the delay, stating, "We're well advanced in our discussions and deliberations, but not in a position to communicate our position. We are meeting again tomorrow and will resume our deliberations. We're confident we'll be in a position to deliver brief written reasons tomorrow." The incident in question occurred during a VFL game against Frankston on Friday, March 27, with Collard pleading not guilty and insisting he used the word "maggot" rather than the reported homophobic term.
Conflicting Testimonies from Frankston Players
Frankston's Darby Hipwell testified with certainty that Collard said "f***ing f****t," telling the tribunal, "I could not be more confident in what I heard." His teammate Bailey Lambert supported this account, claiming he was "100 per cent" certain Collard had used a homophobic slur. Lambert described being very close to Collard's face during the exchange and immediately alerting the umpire, expecting a 50-metre penalty.
Collard's History and Current Defense
This marks the second time Collard has faced such allegations, having received a six-week ban in 2024 for a similar incident where he pleaded guilty. In Thursday's hearing, Collard maintained his innocence, signing a statutory declaration and emphasizing, "I know they think I've said the word f****t because I've said it before, but I admitted it last time when I said it ... I never said it this time." He stressed awareness that making a false statement in a statutory declaration is a criminal offense.
Legal Arguments and Tribunal Dynamics
During the hearing, St Kilda representative Michael Borsky aggressively questioned Lambert and Hipwell, suggesting they had coordinated their stories. Lambert dismissed this, explaining he was compelled to testify by the AFL's legal department. The AFL argued for a 10-match ban, citing Collard's prior offense and questioning the plausibility of "maggot" being used in modern football. St Kilda countered by highlighting Collard's voluntary oath and challenging the reliability of the Frankston players' accounts as potentially colluded.
Background and Future Implications
Collard, drafted with pick 28 in 2023, has played 15 senior games for St Kilda and remains contracted until the end of next year. Following his 2024 incident, he expressed remorse, stating his behavior did not reflect his values. The tribunal's delayed verdict leaves his fate uncertain, with a decision expected Friday that could significantly impact his career and the AFL's stance on disciplinary matters.
