Gold Coast’s Wil Powell has been given a five-match ban for using what the AFL described as a highly offensive homophobic slur against a Brisbane Lion in last Sunday’s QClash.
The league announced the ban on Thursday, just weeks after Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson served a three-match suspension for using a homophobic slur against an Essendon opponent.
Banned: Wil Powell.Credit: AFL Photos
Powell will not be eligible to play for Gold Coast during rounds nine to 13, including in the VFL.
He is the third player or coach to be sanctioned this year for such an offence, and has been given the most severe penalty.
It comes a month after Finlayson was suspended for three matches for a remark he made to an Essendon player.
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was fined $20,000 and given a two-match ban – suspended for two years – after labelling St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster a “c———” in an angry outburst during a practice match in March.
Webster had concussed senior Kangaroos midfielder Jy Simpkin with a shirtfront, and was later rubbed out for seven matches.
“It is extremely disappointing to be dealing with a similar incident in only a matter of weeks,” AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said.
“The AFL acknowledges Powell’s remorse and cooperation, and while it has considered the circumstances in which the comment was made, there are no excuses for this conduct in our game.
“We foreshadowed both publicly and privately that after what transpired at Gather Round if a similar incident was to happen there would be further consequence.
“There could be no clearer message – homophobia has no place in our game, nor in society. We want all people in the community to feel welcomed in our game and comments such as Powell’s only takes away from this. As a code, as a community, we all must be better.”
The league said it would continue to consider the specific circumstances of each incident when determining any sanction in the future.
It said an increase on the three-match penalty given to Finlayson was appropriate “to reflect the AFL’s deep concern about this repeat in close proximity to the last occurrence and in order to further deter such conduct in the future”.
Gold Coast said Powell made club officials aware of his comment during the game and apologised to the Lions player during and immediately after the game, and again in the hours after the match.
“As soon as the word came out of my mouth, I knew I had made a terrible mistake,” Powell said.
“I have offered my apology to the Brisbane player and would like to publicly apologise for my comment. I will take full responsibility for what I said.
“I know there is no place for comments of that nature and I will accept the repercussions for my actions. I should have known better and I need to prove this with my actions moving forward.”
Suns chief executive Mark Evans said the club condemned Powell’s remark but would work with him as he aimed to redeem himself.
“Wil’s comment was completely unacceptable, and in no way reflects what we stand for as a football club,” Evans said.
“We have spoken to Wil to ensure he understands the severity of his comment and the effect comments like these can have on others. He has committed to work hard to educate and better himself and he will have the club’s support to make those improvements.”
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