By Peter Ryan
St Kilda’s Lance Collard will meet with AFL investigators on Tuesday after allegedly making homophobic comments during a VFL match on Saturday.
The 19-year-old from Western Australia, taken by the Saints with pick 28 in last year’s national draft, made his AFL debut for the Saints in round one against Geelong. He has played three senior matches in his first season.
Lance Collard made his debut for the Saints against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium in round one.Credit: AFL Photos
The derogatory slur was allegedly used during Saturday’s match at DSV Stadium in Williamstown between Sandringham Zebras and Williamstown. Sandringham were defeated as Collard laid seven tackles as a pressure forward for Sandringham.
A VFL spokesperson confirmed the investigation to this masthead on Monday morning with the integrity unit speaking to Williamstown players during the day: “The league is aware of a matter from Saturday’s match between Williamstown and Sandringham and the AFL integrity unit are now investigating.”
Collard returned to the senior side in round 11, but played just two games before returning to play with the Sandringham Zebras in the VFL.
The crafty forward was a graduate of West Coast’s Next Generation Academy, but the Saints were able to draft him as they picked him with a selection inside the first 40 selections of the national draft. He was their second selection overall with St Kilda using the pick they received as compensation for losing Jade Gresham to Essendon to nab him.
The Saints are expected to await the outcome of the investigation before making any statement.
Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson and Gold Coast’s Wil Powell were both suspended earlier this season after admitting to making homophobic comments. Finlayson received a three-match ban for the homophobic slur he used when playing against Essendon in Gather Round while Powell received a five-match suspension for his derogatory remark made when playing the Brisbane Lions in round nine. Both played for their respective clubs in the game on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson escaped suspension for remarks directed at St Kilda players in a pre-season match but was instructed to complete Pride In Sport training and received a suspended sentence and was fined $20,000.
St Kilda are attempting to develop a list capable of sustainable success under Ross Lyon, having dropped to 15th on the ladder this season with six wins after making the finals under Lyon in 2023. St Kilda defeated Sydney in the annual pride game in round 17.
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