Gold Coast ruckman Max Knobel investigated over alleged homophobic remark during VFL clash with Brisbane Lions
Updated ,first published
The AFL is investigating the ninth allegation of a homophobic slur by a VFL or AFL player in two-and-a-half seasons.
Gold Coast ruckman Max Knobel allegedly made the remarks during a VFL match against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday.
The alleged incident occurred on the weekend when the Sydney Swans were due to celebrate the LGBTQI+ community against St Kilda, but the SCG fixture’s “pride” status was revoked after youngster Saint Lance Collard was suspended for using homophobic language for a second time earlier this season.
A spokesman for the Gold Coast Suns confirmed the AFL’s latest investigation into integrity on Sunday.
“The Gold Coast Suns are aware of an incident involving one of their players during Saturday’s VFL match against the Brisbane Lions,” the spokesman said.
“The club is currently co-operating fully with the AFL’s Integrity Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.”
This tag confirmed that the player under investigation was Knobel.
The AFL also confirmed that the matter was in their hands. “We are investigating an issue arising from the VFL round 11 match between the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions,” a league spokesman said.
A source familiar with the incident said the 21-year-old was “extremely remorseful” and had reported the incident to Gold Coast authorities.
Knobel, a 209-centimeter ruckman, joined the Suns in the 2024 rookie draft. The son of former Brisbane, St Kilda and Richmond player Trent Knobel was previously at Fremantle and is yet to make an AFL appearance.
Repeated incidents of homophobic abuse over the past two seasons have led some in the LGBTQI+ community to express frustration that there has been too much focus on punishments and not enough on education and social change.
Lions player Koby Evans was suspended for four matches last month after his remorse was taken into account for an incident also in the VFL.
Jeremy Finlayson (three matches), Jack Graham (four), Riak Andrew (five), Wil Powell (five), Izak Rankine (four) and Collard (six) were also suspended for using homophobic slurs.
Collard was sanctioned for a second incident in the VFL earlier this season, with his initial nine-week suspension reduced to four weeks on appeal and a two-week suspension.
The St Kilda player denied calling his opponent a “fucking f—–“, saying the word he used was “maggot”.
The Swans have decided not to play their pride game against the Saints on Sunday and will instead promote LGBTQI+ inclusion and safety against the Western Bulldogs in round 17.
The Rainbow Swans told this imprint last month that playing against St Kilda would be “very distracting and distracting”. [would] “It clearly detracts from the purpose of the Pride Game, which is to promote diversity and inclusion and be a true celebration.”
The AFL sacked appeals chairman Will Houghton, KC, following his controversial decision in the Collard case; This decision took into account that the recipient at the end of the comment was not personally offended by this, stating that football “is a difficult game. It is highly competitive, especially at higher levels. It is not uncommon for players to occasionally use racist, sexist or homophobic language while on the pitch”.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon rejected Houghton’s reasoning.
“The AFL strongly rejects not only the statement that such language is commonplace, but also any insinuation that could factor into determining the severity of sanctioning,” Dillon said.
“We will not accept, excuse or normalize behavior and language that demeans, discriminates against or denigrates people based on who they are.”
The league has since appointed Hawthorn premiership player and barrister Richard Loveridge as interim chairman of the appeals panel.
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Hannah Kennelly is an award-winning sports journalist and Formula 1 writer for The Age.Connect via email.
