Gerard Whateley has taken aim at the AFL Appeals Board following its reasoning to reduce Lance Collard's suspension.

On Thursday, the AFL Appeals Board, chaired by Will Houghton KC, would reduce Collard’s nine-game suspension for using a homophobic slur towards an opposition player to just four games (two of which are suspended).

This was with the belief that the initial punishment was too harsh, and the use of slurs on the football field is a common occurrence.

"We observe that football is a hard game. It is highly competitive, particularly at its higher levels. It is commonplace that players can employ language from time to time which is racist, sexist or homophobic whilst on the field,” it said.

Since the board’s comments, there has been wide condemnation from the footballing world, including from the AFL and AFLPA.

Speaking about the issue, Whateley admitted that the board’s finding was incredibly shocking.

“There's always great discussion around adjudications that come out of the tribunal and the appeals board, and fundamental to the way football operates,” Whateley told SEN’s Crunch Time.

“I can't remember a finding as genuinely shocking as what came in the Lance Collard case.

“I can't understand how such intelligent people in a room could conceive that line and then commit it to the public domain.

“First of all, it's wrong. It would have been jarring 30 years ago to write that line, but in the modern context, it's wrong.

“It falsely normalises and legitimises what we have tried to eradicate from the game.

“That is such a damaging line.”

AFL sacks Chair of Appeals Board over Collard comments

SEN's Tom Morris has confirmed that the AFL has sacked William Houghton KC following comments made in relation to Lance Collard's case at the AFL Appeals Board.

Houghton was the chair on the AFL Appeals Board which determined that the Saints' forward initial nine game suspension for using a homophobic slur on the football field was 'manifestly excessive' and saw the suspension reduced to four games (with two games suspended through to the end of the 2027 season).

In their reasoning to reduce the suspension, the board determined that on ocassion, it can be "commonplace that players can employ language from time to time which is racist, sexist or homophobic whilst on the field."

Following their decision, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has come out and criticised the decision made by the Appeals Board.

"That sanction reflected the seriousness of using a homophobic slur on the field and was intended to set a clear standard for our game - particularly given this was a second offence," he said.

"The Appeals Board last night reduced the sanction to a four-match suspension, with two matches suspended until the end of next year. In our view, stronger action was not only warranted – it was necessary.

"Let me be clear: homophobia has no place in Australian football. Not at any level. Not under any circumstances."

The AFL has since released a statement confirming the news.

“Mr Houghton served as chair since his appointment in March 2024 and has contributed at club level over many years and the AFL thanks him for his service,” it read.