THE HEARING into allegations St Kilda player Lance Collard made a homophobic slur in a VFL game against Frankston will drag into a second day after no verdict was reached on Thursday.

The AFL Disciplinary Tribunal is tasked with determining if Collard is guilty of conduct unbecoming after being accused of calling Dolphins player – and former Sandringham teammate – Darby Hipwell a “f***ing f****t” during an on-field melee during the March 27 game. Collard strenuously denies the allegation.

If the Tribunal is comfortably satisfied Collard said the alleged slur, he will be found guilty of conduct unbecoming, triggering further discussions regarding a penalty. The AFL has requested a 10-week suspension.

Despite a hearing on Thursday afternoon that went beyond four hours, no verdict was reached and the Tribunal will continue deliberating on Friday.

Tribunal Chair Jeff Gleeson KC said he was “confident” an outcome would be reached after more deliberations on Friday.

“We’re well advanced in our discussions and deliberations, but not in a position to communicate our position. We are meeting again tomorrow and will resume our deliberations. We’re confident we’ll be in a position to deliver brief written reasons tomorrow,” Gleeson said at 5.15pm on Thursday.

The Tribunal, comprised of Gleeson, former player Scott Stevens and barrister Melia Benn, heard from five witnesses as well as Collard himself for more than three hours, before breaking for deliberations at 4.25pm AEST.

The Tribunal could not reach a consensus before the 5pm deadline, even after the Chair deferred submissions on sanctions in the interest of giving the Tribunal sufficient time to deliberate.

The incident occurred during the third quarter of the match amid a melee that resulted from Collard collecting Frankston’s Jackson Voss with a swinging arm. Separately, Collard was suspended for two matches for the hit on Voss.

Young Saint’s swinging arm sparks brawl in the VFL

Young St Kilda forward Lance Collard is set to come under scrutiny from the VFL’s Match Review Officer after this incident against Frankston

Collard, who previously served a six-match suspension for the use of a homophobic slur in a game in 2024, maintained he had said “come here, maggot”.

In a marathon four-hour hearing, the Tribunal heard evidence from Collard, alleged victim player Darby Hipwell and his Frankston teammate Bailey Lambert, VFL umpire Sam Morgan, Pride Cup CEO Hayley Conway, and St Kilda’s Indigenous Player Development Manager Katrina Amon.

“I admitted it last time when I said it, but I never said it this time,” Collard said during his evidence, with St Kilda footy boss Lenny Hayes visible on screen as he dialled into the remote hearing.

“I signed an oath during the week about it, saying that I’m being 100 per cent honest.

“Last time I stood up and admitted it and I took it and I was remorseful.”

Hipwell and Lambert gave evidence they heard the alleged slur, while umpire Morgan was nearby but did not hear it, noting there were raised voices amid the “heated moment”.

The AFL argued that evidence from Hipwell and Lambert should leave the Tribunal comfortably convinced that Collard had used the slur.

“There’s no possibility that I misheard him,” Hipwell said.

“I have family members and friends who are homosexual and to that effect [it offended me].”

Lambert said he alerted Morgan – the nearest umpire – immediately after hearing the alleged slur.

“I have 100 per cent [confidence in what I heard] … I wouldn’t be here otherwise,” he said.

“I’ve been in the VFL for eight years and this is the first time I’ve had to do something like this.

“We do all these training modules at the start of the year… We’re told to do the right thing and speak up.”

St Kilda argued the two Frankston players had misheard Collard, highlighting Collard’s voluntary signing of a statutory declaration that stated he did not say the alleged slur. Legal counsel Michael Borsky KC also noted Collard had admitted using the slur back in 2024, in contrast to his denial this time.

“He’s a young man who admits when he’s done wrong,” Mr Borsky said.

“He voluntarily exposed himself to the risk of perjury in order to clear his name [in making the statutory declaration’.”

Mr Borsky also argued Collard had been denied procedural fairness by being charged under the wrong rule.

Collard and Hipwell previously played together for two seasons at Sandringham during the club’s VFL alignment with St Kilda.