St Kilda's Lance Collard faces AFL tribunal for alleged homophobic slur in VFL match
Consensus Summary
St Kilda forward Lance Collard was found guilty by the AFL disciplinary tribunal of using a homophobic slur against Frankston player Darby Hipwell during a VFL match on March 27, 2026. The incident occurred during a heated on-field melee, where Collard was also serving a two-match ban for a high hit on Jackson Voss in the same match. Collard denies using the slur, insisting he said 'Come here, maggot,' and has signed a statutory declaration to this effect. The AFL is seeking a 10-week suspension, while St Kilda has expressed disappointment and will consider appealing the decision. This is the second time Collard has faced a ban for a homophobic slur, having served a six-match suspension in 2024 while playing for VFL side Sandringham. The case highlights ongoing AFL efforts to crack down on homophobic language in the sport, with the league emphasizing zero tolerance for such conduct.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Lance Collard is alleged to have used a homophobic slur ('f***ing f****t') against Frankston player Darby Hipwell during a VFL match on March 27, 2026.
- Collard was found guilty by the AFL disciplinary tribunal of breaching AFL Rule 2.3(a) (Conduct Unbecoming) for the homophobic slur.
- Collard previously served a six-match ban in 2024 for using the same homophobic slur while playing for VFL side Sandringham (affiliated with St Kilda).
- Collard is currently serving a two-match ban (reduced from three weeks) for a high hit on Jackson Voss in the same VFL match where the slur was alleged.
- The AFL is seeking a 10-week suspension for Collard, rather than a 10-match suspension, if found guilty of conduct unbecoming.
- Frankston player Darby Hipwell testified that Collard said, 'Darby, you f***ing f****t,' with his head against Hipwell's ear, and teammate Bailey Lambert supported this claim.
- Collard denies using the slur and claims he said, 'Come here, maggot,' instead, and has signed a statutory declaration to this effect.
- The tribunal hearing took place over April 4–5, 2026, with the verdict announced on April 5.
- Collard was drafted by St Kilda in 2023 and has played 15 AFL games before this incident.
- St Kilda will consider appealing the tribunal's decision and will support Collard throughout the process.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Collard was slapped with a three-week ban (reduced to two with an early guilty plea) for the high hit on Voss in the same match.
- The AFL has investigated the allegation stemming from a heated exchange in last week's VFL match against Frankston.
- Collard's 2024 ban was among several cases of homophobic slurs that prompted an AFL crackdown, including Adelaide Crows star Izak Rankine's four-match ban late last season.
- Collard's lawyer, Michael Borsky KC, argued Collard was denied procedural fairness by being charged under the wrong rule.
- Umpire Sam Morgan, who was near the players during the altercation, said he did not hear Collard's alleged comment.
- The article mentions a 'heated exchange' during the match but does not provide specific details about the slur or Collard's denial.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 3 (ABC) states the tribunal could not reach a determination before the 5pm deadline on April 4, while Articles 2 and 5 (ABC and Guardian) say deliberations resumed on April 5 morning before the verdict was announced that evening.
- Article 4 (NEWSCOMAU) does not mention Collard's denial of the slur or his claim of saying 'Come here, maggot,' unlike the other sources.
Source Articles
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