Five AFL Players Cited for Homophobic Slurs in 16 Months

Sydney Swans player Riak Andrew has been cited and is under investigation by the AFL Integrity Unit for using a homophobic slur during a VFL match against North Melbourne. The 20-year-old, who is yet to make his AFL debut and is the younger brother of Gold Coast star Mac Andrew, has expressed remorse and taken full responsibility for his actions. Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley condemned the behavior as inconsistent with the club's values and emphasized the club's commitment to using the incident as an opportunity for education and support, especially ahead of their upcoming Pride Game celebrating LGBTIQA+ communities. This incident follows a pattern in the AFL, with several players including West Coast's Jack Graham, Gold Coast's Wil Powell, Port Adelaide's Jeremy Finlayson, and St Kilda's Lance Collard having been suspended in recent years for similar conduct. The AFL continues to take a strong stance against homophobic language to foster a safe and inclusive environment within the sport. The length of Andrew's suspension is yet to be determined as investigations continue.