Robbo: The world has changed and people need to change with it

Jeremy Finlayson accepted a three-week ban for his use of homophobic language, but Alastair Clarkson escaped suspension earlier in the year. MARK ROBINSON says Clarko had to go too.

Jeremy Finlayson (L). Picture: Getty Images

If you believed Alastair Clarkson escaped lightly – and that boat is chockers – the AFL has righted the ship.

The next man – or woman – who uses homophobic language will be suspended for six weeks.

And it will be 12 weeks after that.

Jeremy Finlayson’s three-week suspension is a considerable penalty. Port Adelaide wanted a two-week ban, with four weeks suspended, plus a fine.

The AFL said no.

Port Adelaide took it on the chin, just as it took on the chin the four-week suspension for Sam Powell-Pepper in the pre-season.

The feeling at the Power, however, is they are currently being slapped with being the standard-bearers for the AFL’s increased vigilance on concussion and homophobia. It’s not Kick a Vic, it’s the kick the crap out of Port.

Jeremy Finlayson will miss three weeks. Picture: Getty Images

The club also feels Finlayson’s penalty is unfairly greater than what Clarkson received – a $20,000 fine and two-week suspended sentence – when the two comments were both homophobic and both made, to borrow a line, in the “heat of battle’’.

The AFL argued differently. Plainly, that Clarkson’s comment wasn’t as openly homophobic compared to Finlayson’s blatant outburst. In other words, they’re in the same ballpark but not playing the same game.

The argument has merit. But it won’t detract from the belief the AFL was more lenient on Clarkson because he is, well, Alastair Clarkson.

Announcing Clarkson’s sanction on March 8 this year, the AFL said it was conduct unbecoming and his word was “unacceptable and highly inappropriate’’.

Finlayson was also charged with conduct unbecoming for using an “unprompted and highly offensive homophobic slur’’, according to the AFL.

You see, Clarkson’s comment was apparently prompted because a St Kilda player is said to have told Clarkson to ‘truck off’ first, which drew the response from an already highly charged Clarkson.

Maybe there was a consideration that the Saints players were not offended by Clarkson’s comments and the Essendon players – and the club – were offended by Finlayson’s.

Certainly, Clarkson’s colourful and esteemed body of work won’t have “homophobic slur’’ added to the list, at least officially. By the time he becomes a Hall of Fame coach, that “c---sucker’’ comment will be sportsmens’ night banter.

That’s Port Adelaide’s beef. How does a 55-year-old highly decorated ambassador of the game get a fine and their player is smashed with a three-week suspension? Where’s the consistency? It’s difficult not to agree.

Alastair Clarkson. Picture: Getty Images

The public perception is, clearly, that Clarkson has the AFL wrapped around his little finger.

The fact is the world has changed and people’s thinking needs to change with it.

Some texts and emails received this week from footy people expressed incredulity at any possible Finlayson penalty.

There was another email, however, from an actor called Mat Stevenson, who has a transgender daughter. He wrote about suicide rates in the LGBTI community and about when his daughter, then aged 13, spoke about killing herself.

“There’s a saying that needs to be outlawed: ‘Sticks ‘n’ stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me’,’’ Stevenson wrote.

“Words kill … words kill adolescents, but it’s magnified 36 times when it comes to vulnerable but courageous LGBTI adolescents.

“My daughter told me she would kill herself and how she would do it. The conversation wasn’t irrational or immature, it belayed her years. Years of reflection and torment.

“The LGBTI community needs us, and they need leaders and players in our footy codes to be role models and set the standard (and) when that happens, productivity, innovation and happiness spike.

The penalty will be more severe should another player use homophobic language. Picture: Michael Klein

“Clarko and the Port lad are not bad people, as you know, they are great people, and education can help them lead the way for vulnerable LGBTI community members.’’

The point is, it’s a big scary world out there and football can help shine bright lights on a lot of it.

It’s why Finlayson had to be suspended. It’s why Clarkson should’ve been suspended. And it’s why everyone else who thinks otherwise needs to get with the program. On-field anyhow, because the penalties for homophobic language will only get steeper.

So, to the well-known AFLW player who called her opponent a “f----t’’ last season – which was heard by several players at the time and relayed to club officials after the game – she is lucky that an official report was not made to the AFL.

Because next time, if she was to be so stupid, it won’t be kept under wraps.

Originally published as Robbo: The world has changed and people need to change with it