St Kilda youngster Lance Collard is being investigated by the AFL after allegedly making homophobic slurs in a VFL game over the weekend.
Collard, who was playing for the Saints’ VFL affiliate Sandringham, allegedly used the slur to two opponents during Saturday’s clash against Williamstown.
The VFL were made aware of the incident and referred it to the AFL integrity unit.
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Collard, 19, is facing a lengthy suspension if found guilty of the allegations.
He would be the third AFL player banned this year.
Port Adelaide star Jeremy Finlayson was given a three-match ban following a homophobic slur during Gather Round in April.
And Gold Coast defender Wil Powell just returned from a five-match ban following a comment against Brisbane in May.
In handing out the Powell punishment, AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said the league “foreshadowed both publicly and privately that after what transpired at Gather Round, if a similar incident was to happen there would be further consequence.”
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was also fined $20,000 and handed a suspended two-match sanction for a homophobic slur directed at two Saints players during a pre-season match in March.
Collard was taken with pick No.28 in last year’s draft and has played three senior matches this year.
His most recent came in the Round 11 loss to Melbourne.