A player suspended, a Pride match bumped: Is the AFL doing more harm than good?

The AFL's decision to cancel its annual Pride game between the Sydney Swans and St Kilda Saints—marking the first time in a decade—has ignited a fierce debate over whether the league's punitive approach to homophobia is doing more harm than good. The cancellation stems from a controversy involving Lance Collard, a 21-year-old VFL player accused of using a homophobic slur during a match. Though the AFL tribunal initially handed him a nine-week ban, later reduced to four weeks on appeal, the backlash revealed a deeper cultural crisis: the league’s heavy reliance on punishment over education and inclusion may be alienating both players and fans. Stephen Brooke, special correspondent, argues that the AFL has turned Pride into a performative, top-down event rather than a genuine celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, while the lack of openly gay male players—despite high-profile figures like Mitch Brown coming out—underscores a systemic failure to create a truly safe and welcoming culture. The episode exposes a painful paradox: the very mechanisms meant to combat homophobia—tribunals, bans, and public shaming—are eroding trust and authenticity, while women’s sports like the Matildas demonstrate what inclusive, joyful representation can look like. Brooke challenges the AFL to move beyond crime-and-punishment models, urging grassroots leadership and cultural change instead.