AFL sacks appeals board chair Will Houghton after Lance Collard case

The AFL has sacked Will Houghton KC as chair of the league's appeals board after the widely criticised findings in the case of St Kilda player Lance Collard.

After Collard was initially suspended for seven weeks for using homophobic language towards an opponent in a VFL match, the appeals board reduced the ban to two weeks.

"We observe that football is a hard game. It is highly competitive, particularly at its higher levels," the appeals board wrote.

"It is commonplace that players can employ language from time to time which is racist, sexist or homophobic whilst on the field."

In response, the AFL said it "specifically rejects" that assertion.

"In the AFL's view, stronger action was not only warranted, it was necessary," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

"Let's be clear — homophobia has no place in Australian football. Not at any level. Not under any circumstances.

"The AFL specifically rejects the appeals board's reasoning, which stated, 'it is commonplace that players can employ language from time to time which is racist, sexist or homophobic whilst on the field'.

"The AFL strongly rejects the statement not only that such language is commonplace, but also any implication that may be a factor in determining the severity of the sanction."

Houghton, who has been dismissed effective immediately, has been chair since March 2024.

An AFL statement said Houghton "has contributed at club level over many years and the AFL thanks him for his service".

Melbourne captain Max Gawn said the comments from the appeals board were "embarrassing".

"I certainly know that the game is not that hard," he said after the Demons' win over Richmond on Thursday night.

"I know I can shut my mouth with homophobic, racist and other vilifications."

Former AFLW star and current commentator Kate McCarthy said the appeals board's comments were "disgusting".

"What the hell? I have no way to describe this, it's actually baffling," she said on social media.

"So much for every policy in the AFL saying there's zero tolerance. No, not according to the appeals board.

"This goes against everything the AFL has claimed to stand for. This is disgusting."

Former West Coast player Mitch Brown wrote in the Guardian that the remarks from the appeals board were "not only disappointing, but dangerous".

Brown, the first openly bisexual men's AFL player, said it was a reminder of the issues the game still has to overcome.

"There is something sickly satisfying about this as someone who has been told repeatedly over the years — and especially in the six months since I chose to come out last year — that there is no homophobia problem within the AFL," he wrote.

"It's almost refreshing to have the appeals board say it so plainly — homophobia (and sexism and racism) — are inherent and acceptable parts of our game 'from time to time'."

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