'Totally unacceptable': AFL bans Port star for 'unprompted and highly offensive' homophobic slur

Blonk, I believe was standing on the field near the 3/4 time huddle, referring to a teammate playing SANFL. Talking to another player and within earshot of an official from the club.

They got it wrong then. They've tacitly acknowledged it with Finlayson's punishment. Clarkson will certainly be the very last person to cop the wet lettuce leaf.

They didn’t think it through, but it is effectively sorted now with the latest penalty. AFL learnt from its mistake. Correct. It would have been so much worse to deny making an error and doubling down with another dumb call. They've learnt the lesson. It's not even unfair to Finlayson. He only needed to zip his mouth.

I agree the AFL should come out and say that got it wrong with Clarkson. But spending your time debating precedents and different standards with coaches or players is a waste of time. Keep it simple, 13th. They've seen a clear example of another sporting organisation (the NRL) deal with a similar issue (use of discriminatory language) in between Clarkson and Finlayson and rightly recognised that, even in the space of 6 weeks, they've got to change. And they have. Which is good. As RT has said above, they've learnt from their mistake. Focus on that. You want to go down the rabbit holes of inconsistency, trust me, you ain't ever getting out of the hole.

That's only 6 weeks ago - what's changed other than one being a high profile coach and the other being a medium profile player? AFL need to come out and admit they got the Clarkson one badly wrong if what you are saying is the case?

Yeah,Thought they would come down harder on a coach considering they should be educating the young players about all things not just gameplans

I think the fact of the matter is Clarkson got lucky and is a protected species. He did deserve a suspension for his comments, particularly as a coach you should never be interacting with opposition players in anyway.

Plus it's North Melbourne. They may have been influenced by Clarkson being out previously for so long. Perhaps there is also a degree of thinking what Clarkson said was less obviously homophobic. They didn't think it through, but it is effectively sorted now with the latest penalty. AFL learnt from its mistake.

They got it wrong with Clarkson. They got it right with Finlayson. It's that simple. Presumably moving forward Clarkson style punishments are finished.

Can't argue with that. As an NHL fan who's had to sit through players successfully whining their way out of Pride night, I also respect that Jeremy's taking this on the chin and accepting responsibility, rather than trying to make out like he's some victim of woke cancel culture or whatever. Hopefully everyone involved takes the right lessons from this, and the culture surrounding the game continues to improve as a result.

3 weeks because you might upset someone's feelings.

I'd also imagine Clarkson doing it in a preseason game gave the AFL a reason to believe they could slap him with a fine and let it blow over. If he slips up and does it again, though, they'll absolutely need to drop the hammer

Well,we lose one to suspension and get one back from suspension,hmmm doesn't sound good saying it like that.Whats happening down at Alberton

''The AFL is very clear that homophobia has no place in our game,nor in society'' Am I stupid,can someone explain it to me like I am a 3 year old.What Finlayson said was very bad and I am not trying to defend him but what Clarkson said was only a nicer way to say it....I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but nothing is clear to me about this. So Clarkson gets 20k fine a 2 week suspended sentence for saying.......... Finlayson gets 3 weeks for saying .......... What would have to be said that would get 1 week suspenison and 10k fine Any comments like these should be automatic 4 week suspension or more if the AFL want to be ''very clear''

AFL Hypocrites Sticks & stones . . . Jeremy gets THREE weeks for a homophobic slur. Fair enough - BUT . . . Kozi, who has a record of launching himself off the ground as a human missile to smash someone in the head gets ONE week. We know that head knocks can contribute to an early death. The AFL profess to be looking out to protect the head BUT continually do nothing when cases go to the tribunal. Patrick Crips should not have won the Brownlow after his deliberate shot to the head of Callum Ah Chee. WHEN will the AFL get serious? Perhaps a Class Action might convince them to try harder to protect the players who make the game so great, & who also pay their excessive salaries. They are not doing their jobs, which is to protect ALL players.

Yep. There do appear to be some levels of aggression that require further intervention.

Like three weeks is more than I expected and less than I hoped for. But I think the afl needs to remain consistent from here on out, any homophobia by any public figure associated with the game warrants a three to four week suspension

To the AFL, Finlayson is expendable, he’s the perfect player for them to make a stance on - he’s a good player but not a star, so it’s easy enough for them to come down hard when he makes a mistake. If it’s Clarkson or a higher profile figure the AFL let them get off the hook. The inconsistency in messaging from the AFL is about the only thing that is consistent.

Hopefully…

One thing I am having a head scratch over Barb is why are players still letting themselves get suspended each week for head high knocks. All have been deliberate and deserve a penalty But , why? We get overheated about a slur ..correctly so.. and demand a penalty for the slur but we don't read about players being sent to any counselling and training for their aggression. Comes back to the clubs of course to do something. But how that St Kilda player could injure his North opponent the way he did is beyond me. Shades of the '70's