Riak Andrew handed five-game ban for homophobic slur in VFL game

Young Swan Riak Andrew has copped his whack from the AFL over the use of a homophobic slur in a VFL clash and will undertake a Pride in Sport education.

The AFL has slapped Sydney youngster Riak Andrew with a five-match ban for his homophobic slur on Saturday.

Andrew used the slur against North Melbourne in the VFL, having faced the Roos at Tramway Oval.

The AFL confirmed Andrew had been found guilty of conduct unbecoming, with the suspension one week longer than West Coast midfielder Jack Graham’s ban.

AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said Andrew would undertake a Pride in Sport education program.

Andrew will miss the next five games. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“It is important that we continue to make clear that homophobia or homophobic language has no place in our game at any level or in the wider community for that matter,”

“It is disappointing to be dealing with another incident and while we will always examine the individual circumstances, the clear message is that this language is not acceptable in any workplace and that includes on the field of play.”

The incident was reported to the umpire by a North Melbourne player at the end of the first quarter of the VFL game.

The AFL was then notified by the umpires, which then launched an investigation.

Andrew made full admissions and was remorseful.

The AFL confirmed Andrew would not be eligible for selection at any level from round 20-24.

LAIDLEY SLAMS AFL’S HANDLING OF HOMOPHOBIA AFTER LATEST SLUR

- Jon Ralph

Rainbow advocate and former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley says the AFL has “dropped the ball” on its anti-homophobia education, gutted that a sixth incident has emerged since the start of last season.

Laidley told this masthead on Tuesday that Riak Andrew’s homophobic slur to a North Melbourne VFL player was another sorry chapter that would drive gay and transgender AFL players further underground.

Former Roos coach and 1996 premiership player Laidley works as a transgender advocate and under Gillon McLachlan’s tenure she presented to the AFL executive and inclusion manager Tayna Hosch’s team.

But a proposed series of individual talks with AFL clubs on the inclusion theme was instead shelved, with AFL players now completing an AFL-mandated online module about homophobia.

Gillon McLachlan and Dani Laidley in 2022. Picture: Mark Stewart

The AFLPA has been frustrated by the lack of progress with the AFL to form a joint steering committee with experts in inclusion, equity and safety promised as part of the AFL CBA in 2023 which could guide education programs on issues including anti-homophobia.

Laidley said it was time for the AFL to get serious about anti-homophobia education.

“This just keeps happening and I don’t think enough time has been put into it. The AFL are dropping the ball,” she said.

“I know time is scarce at AFL clubs but where does the priority lie? Are we going to keep getting one of these instances once a fortnight?

“Gill organised for me to do a presentation to his executive and also one to Tanya’s team and we talked about doing some work at club level around this topic and since Gill left there has been no follow up. And then I saw a press conference where Tanya Hosch was saying we have done an online training module and I just thought, ‘Really? You can’t be serious about it if you are doing online training modules.’

Dani Laidley at Caulfield Guineas Day. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.

“It should be about education, storytelling and life experiences. We have had AFL coaches (with anti-gay slurs) and we have had it at AFL level, and in the VFL and WAFL and in Queensland. The population of the rainbow community within the AFL ranks could be 50 or 60 or 70 men. And it affects them in different ways.”

Across the past two years, North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was fined for calling a player a “c***sucker” while Jeremy Finlayson, Wil Powell, Lance Collard have all been suspended for between three to six weeks.

Andrew is being investigated by the AFL integrity department over his incident but given Jack Graham was handed a four-week ban last week so Andrew is facing five weeks given the league had warned penalties would escalate and he did not self-report.

Laidley was famously outed as transgender when police mug shots of her were released online but she had lived with her secret across her playing and coaching days.

Alastair Clarkson was cited at the start of last year. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Wil Powell was banned for a homophobic slur. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

She remembers the sick feeling in her stomach when homophobic slurs were uttered in the AFL community.

“I can go back to when I was involved at AFL and I would hear conversations about who is the gay footballer? I would run for the hills. My anxiety would skyrocket. I would withdraw into my workplace. My mental health would spiral uncontrollably.

“Any time things like this hit the media I can guarantee you any person in the rainbow community who is playing or coaching at AFL level will have their mental health (concerns) elevated.

“People say they are only words but those words turn into how a person feels about themselves. I am through it and I am proud of who I am but it is the younger people within the AFL and also the younger supporters of the AFL. They will be thinking I am going to stop playing footy or cricket or any sport because this is what some of my teammates may think of me.”

Originally published as Riak Andrew handed five-game ban for homophobic slur in VFL game