Saint's Tribunal Ordeal Highlights Football's Ongoing Culture Challenge

Look, two days of deliberation tells you everything about where we are as a sport right now. Lance Collard’s tribunal hearing wasn’t just about one alleged incident during a VFL match — it was about football grappling with standards that should be non-negotiable in 2026.

The St Kilda defender found himself facing the AFL Disciplinary Tribunal on conduct unbecoming charges, specifically for allegedly using a homophobic slur. Two days. That’s how long it took for the tribunal to work through what many would consider a straightforward case of unacceptable language.

The Uncomfortable Mirror

Here’s what makes this case particularly uncomfortable. We’re not talking about some peripheral figure or lower-level competition anymore. This involves an AFL-listed player, someone who represents not just his club but the entire competition’s values. The fact we needed extended deliberations suggests the complexity runs deeper than the surface incident.

The timing couldn’t be more pointed either. As fans gear up for AFL Gather Round 2026 today in Adelaide — where the game celebrates its national reach and inclusivity — we’re reminded that cultural change moves at a glacial pace. The spectacle of Gather Round showcases modern football at its finest, yet behind the scenes these confronting realities persist.

What’s particularly telling is how the VFL context adds another layer. This wasn’t heat-of-the-moment AFL pressure — it was supposedly during state league action, where players often feel less scrutinised. That suggests the problem runs through multiple levels of our game.

Beyond Individual Cases

Listen, this isn’t about Lance Collard specifically. It’s about what his case represents in a sport that’s been wrestling with inclusive language for years now. The AFL Hub has covered countless education campaigns, policy updates, and cultural initiatives. Yet here we are, still having two-day tribunals about allegedly homophobic language.

The extended deliberation period suggests several possibilities. Either the evidence was genuinely complex, the tribunal wrestled with appropriate penalties, or — more concerningly — there’s still uncertainty about how seriously these incidents should be treated. None of those scenarios reflect well on football’s cultural evolution.

What’s particularly frustrating is how these cases overshadow the positive steps. Plenty of players have become genuine advocates for inclusio