AFL player banned for five games over homophobic slur

Gold Coast defender Wil Powell made a homophobic slur against a Brisbane player in round eight.

AFL player Wil Powell of the Gold Coast Suns has been banned for five games. Credit: Jason O'Brien

The top line: Gold Coast defender Wil Powell has been suspended by the AFL for five games after making a homophobic slur against a Brisbane player on Sunday.

The bigger picture: The incident comes four weeks after Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson was banned for three matches after using a homophobic slur against an Essendon player.

The key quote: "I know there is no place for comments of that nature and I will accept the repercussions for my actions. I should have known better and I need to prove this with my actions moving forward." — Wil Powell

What else to know: North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was fined $20,000 and handed a suspended two-game sanction over an allegedly homophobic comment made toward two St Kilda players earlier this year. There has never been an openly gay AFL player.

What happens now: Powell has apologised and vowed "not to use these sort of words again". He will not be available for selection until round 15.

Read more: How the AFL plans to tackle gender-based violence — and why questions remain