Gold Coast’s Wil Powell has been suspended for five matches by the AFL, after admitting to using a homophobic slur during last Sunday’s Q-Clash match against Brisbane.
The league’s Integrity Unit has been scrutinizing the incident internally since Monday, deliberating for three days before handing down Powell’s punishment.
Powell was suspended for conduct unbecoming, with his time away from the game also extending at state level.
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It means he won’t play for the Suns’ senior side again until at least Round 15, as the club has a bye in Round 14 when his ban lifts.
Only a month ago, Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson was suspended for three weeks after being found guilty of breaching the same code in similar circumstances.
Given the close proximity of the incident to Finlayson’s ban, the AFL is believed to have opted for a harsher penalty in the hope of deterring similar instances in the future.
Powell spoke briefly via a club statement on Thursday afternoon.
“As soon as the word came out of my mouth, I knew I had made a terrible mistake,” Powell said. “I have offered my apology to the Brisbane player and would like to publicly apologize for my comment. I will take full responsibility for what I said.
“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.”
In the same club statement, Gold Coast’s Chief Executive Mark Evans strongly condemned the actions of the 24-year-old.
“Wil’s comment was completely unacceptable, and in no way reflects what we stand for as a football club,” Evans said.
“We have spoken to Wil to ensure he understands the severity of his comment and the effect comments like these can have on others. “He has committed to work hard to educate and improve himself and he will have the club’s support to make those improvements.”
Prior to Gold Coast’s statement, AFL general counsel Stephen Meade spoke on the issue.
“It is extremely disappointing to be dealing with a similar incident in only a matter of weeks,” Meade said.
“The AFL acknowledges Powell’s remorse and cooperation, and while it has considered the circumstances in which the comment was made, there are no excuses for this conduct in our game.
“We foreshadowed publicly both and privately that after what transpired at Gather Round if a similar incident was to happen there would be further consequence.
“There could be no clearer message – homophobia has no place in our game, nor in society. We want all people in the community to feel welcomed in our game and comments such as Powell’s only takes away from this. “As a code, as a community, we all must be better.”
Powell has played 95 games since his debut at the club in 2018, including all eight games for the Suns this year.
