- Incidents at the VFL match against Sandringham
- The AFL Integrity Unit is now investigating
- St Kilda player could face lengthy ban
The AFL is investigating St Kilda youngster Lance Collard for allegedly directing homophobic slurs towards opponents in a VFL game.
Collard, a first-year player who has played three senior games since being drafted 28th overall by St Kilda last year, is the third AFL player to be accused of homophobia this season.
The 19-year-old forward allegedly directed homophobic slurs towards several Williamstown opponents while playing for St Kilda’s VFL affiliate Sandringham on Saturday.
“The league is aware of a matter from Saturday’s match between Williamstown and Sandringham and the AFL’s integrity unit is now investigating,” a VFL spokesman said.
St Kilda draft pick Lance Collard allegedly used homophobic slurs in the VFL
The AFL Integrity Unit is now investigating the allegations and Collard could face a lengthy suspension as a result.
The AFL did not confirm that Collard was the player under investigation.
A lengthy suspension appears to be looming for Collard.
In May, Gold Coast defender Wil Powell was suspended for five games for directing a homophobic slur towards a Brisbane opponent.
Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson was suspended for three games in April and required to complete Pride in Sport training for his homophobic verbal abuse of an Essendon player.
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has been fined $20,000 and given a two-match suspended suspension for his pre-season tirade towards St Kilda duo Jimmy Webster and Dougal Howard.
Clarkson also had to complete Pride in Sport training.