AFL 2024: Gold Coast’s Wil Powell returns after homophobic slur ban

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick says a Sun will be welcomed back into the senior side after serving a suspension for a homophobic slur.

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick says Wil Powell has “learnt some lessons” and is ready to make an immediate return at senior level after serving his five-match suspension.

Powell was banned after he directed a homophobic slur at a Brisbane Lions opponent during the Suns’ 34-point loss in round 8.

The 24-year-old’s offensive remarks came only a month after Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson was banned for uttering a homophobic slur at an opponent that the led the AFL to issue Powell with a heavier sanction.

Hardwick said Powell had completed an education program and would return to the Suns side against Fremantle at Optus Stadium along with co-captain Jarrod Witts, who has overcome a hamstring complaint.

Gold Coast halfback Wil Powell will play his first game since he was suspended for using a homophobic slur in round 8 on Sunday against Fremantle. Picture: Russell Freeman / Getty Images

“Yes certainly (Powell will) be playing, he’s a very good player. We welcome him back, he’s learnt some lessons obviously, he went through a really rough patch,” Hardwick said.

“But we as a footy club support him. He went through some good education pieces as well because we think it’s important to make sure we’re all on the same page with that.”

The coach said there would be no room for emerging ruckman Ned Moyle despite his impressive performances this season in Witts’ absence, with neither considered strong enough as a forward to make a partnership work.

“Look, there probably is (a way to play both). We haven’t explored that as of yet … it’s probably less likely than more likely from my point of view,” Hardwick said.

“That second ruck generally has to be able to play forward for some form of time, and (Witts and Moyle) are probably not as capable as other players in that facet of the game.

“For what we’re looking for in the 20 per cent second ruck, it’s probably not feasible at this stage.”

Hardwick says he’s reluctant to pick Ned Moyle (left) and co-captain Jarrod Witts in the same side despite Moyle’s strong form. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

Hardwick said Ben King would be given until Saturday’s captain’s run to prove his fitness for the Dockers clash on Sunday afternoon, but the Suns would take no risks with the joint Coleman Medal leader.

“Yeah it was (a huge relief) … it’s always one of those ones when a player goes down and you always do get really nervous,” Hardwick said when asked about initial fears of a serious knee injury for the star forward.

“We think he’s probable, but he’ll have to get through training to make sure.

“We’ll give himself his best chance to play, but we won’t take any risks – if he feels a little bit sore or all that, we’ll go (down) another avenue.”

Hardwick said making a strong start against the Dockers would be crucial to helping snap a dismal run of away results that have prevented the Suns from pulling away from the large middle pack of teams.

“We’re getting better every time I think we go away. It’s hard to change so many variables when you do go away, so we’re working through some things,” he said.

“The fact of the matter is we’ve just got to start better – our first quarters overall haven’t been great, so we’re working through some things to get those better, and then hopefully the away form follows.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Gold Coast’s Wil Powell returns after homophobic slur ban