‘Time to make an example’: The damaging history behind Finlayson’s ugly homophobic slur

Members and supporters of the LGBTIQ+ community say it’s no surprise no male players have come out in the AFL with incidents such as Jeremy Finlayson’s still happening in 2024.

Jeremy Finlayson is awaiting a sanction following a slur on Friday night. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

The AFL has been urged to “make an example” of Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson and suspend him for the homophobic slur he used against an Essendon player.

Power president David Koch has also come under fire for how he compared Finlayson’s slur to other instances, as well as the AFL with it claimed there was “very little evidence of them doing anything meaningful” to stamp out homophobic language at all levels of the game.

Finlayson is awaiting his punishment from the AFL’s integrity unit as it investigates the slur, with league boss Andrew Dillon saying on Monday it would be handed down before this week’s matches begin on Thursday.

Jeremy Finlayson is awaiting a sanction following a slur on Friday night. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

The 28-year-old’s slur was picked up by an umpire’s microphone at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, with Essendon players also calling it out. Finlayson informed the club at three-quarter-time he used the slur, and apologised to the player post game.

Jason Ball, a former amateur footballer who came out publicly in 2012, said with incidents like this still happening in 2024it was “no wonder to me that no male AFL player has felt comfortable to come out”.

“This incident must be dealt with in the same way the AFL would with a racist slur,” the AFL Fans’ Association patron said. “Both are harmful to people and harmful to our game. We need to see education for players and coaches and we need to see proactive campaigns to stamp out homophobic language whether on the field or in the stands, at the elite level and at the grassroots.”

In 2021 Crows star Taylor Walker was hit with a six-game ban for using a racial slur.

Angie Greene, daughter of former Hawthorn star Russell, who is the chief executive of Stand Up Events, a not-for-profit incorporated association dedicated to fighting homophobia, particularly in sport, said it was still systematic in the game.

Port Adelaide Football Club Chairman David Koch has come under fire for defending Jeremy Finlayson’s slur. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

I’m with Robbo on this one. Further, a fair contingent of #AFLW players - including at Port - are members of the LGBTIQ+ community. Their own W senior coach, even. Can’t imagine what the last few days has been like for them. https://t.co/qrCIYsVpro

— Lauren Wood (@LaurenHeraldSun) April 8, 2024

“So when I hear something like that has happened on the field and it has been admitted and been apologised for, there is not one ounce of shock or surprise at all,” she said. “I do think it should be a fine and at least a match ban.

“There needs to be accountability and an honest example this language will not be tolerated. On top of that, I think it’s essential AFL clubs are provided with education for players to understand why that language is so harmful. I think it is time to make an example, a real example there is no place for homophobia in the game.”

Michael O’Donnell, who plays for UNSW’s Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs and is a proud gay man, said from his experience at the local level football clubs had been incredibly inclusive and safe spaces and Finlayson’s slur was “incredibly disappointing”.

“I think it is an opportunity for the AFL to show this is no longer acceptable in football, it is not like it was 20 to 25 years ago when these sort of comments were far more commonplace,” he said.