Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson releases statement after deleted audio reveals homophobic slur anger
Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson has moved to explain comments on his wife Kellie’s podcast where he said he was “p***** off” about being suspended for a homophobic slur.
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Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson says he has no issue with his AFL sanction for a homophobic slur after backtracking on comments he made on his wife’s podcast.
Finlayson appeared to vent his frustrations at his three-game ban on the latest episode of Sh!t Talkers when he said getting suspended pissed him off and tipped him over the edge.
But the 28-year-old said he should have explained that he was in fact bitterly disappointed at what he said during the Essendon game and for putting the club in the position he did.
“I made some comments on my wife Kellie’s Sh!t Talkers podcast yesterday that I need to address,” Finlayson said in a club statement.
“I said “(It) pissed me off that I got a three-week suspension, that’s it, that’s tipped me over the edge. We’ll leave it there and (at) that.
“When rethinking my comments today, it’s clear that I should have provided more context.
“On reflection, I should have explained that I was bitterly disappointed that I said what I did during the game and I am bitterly disappointed that I put myself and the club in the position I did.
“That is what I am most upset with.
“What I said on the field that night was totally unacceptable.
“I knew that at the time and I know it now.
“I stress, I have no issue with the sanction at all.”
Finlayson was banned last week after making the slur towards an Essendon player during the Power’s Gather Round match in round 4.
The AFL made it clear he would have received a longer ban if not for his contrition and the next player to utter that sort of slur would be sidelined for more matches.
Finlayson’s podcast comments came during a regular Sh!t Talkers segment about “good, bad and offensive” talking points for the week.
“My ‘offensive’ is it pissed me off that I got a three-week suspension,” Finlayson said.
“That’s it. That’s tipped me over the edge. That’s about it. We’ll leave it there and (at) that and move on.”
The podcast episode has since been edited and re-uploaded without that comment from Finlayson after being condemned online by some listeners.
Amid the fallout from Finlayson’s ban, AFL Players Association boss Paul Marsh called the league “consistently inconsistent” and highlighted “double standards” after North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson escaped suspension for a homophobic slur last month.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Finlayson said: “the word I used has no place in our society or our game”.
Power teammate Ivan Soldo said on Wednesday that Finlayson’s podcast comments were directed at himself.
“Jeremy’s so remorseful for it so he’s more upset with himself than anything,” Soldo said.
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Originally published as Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson releases statement after deleted audio reveals homophobic slur anger
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