Brisbane Lions draftee Koby Evans is the latest AFL-listed player to be banned after uttering a homophobic slur during a game.

Evans, 18, was issued a four-match sanction following the comment aimed at a Coburg player in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

‘My language was totally unacceptable, I’m disappointed in myself, and apologise to the LGBTQI+ community and our club,’ Evans – who is yet to make his senior AFL debut – said in a statement from the Lions.

‘I knew as soon as it came out of my mouth, that I’d made a bad mistake and this language is unacceptable on or off the field.’

The AFL released a statement stating everyone understood that homophobia and homophobic language had ‘absolutely no place in our game at any level.’

‘Our players have a very clear understanding of what is acceptable on the football field and in society,’ AFL chief operating officer Tom Harley said.

Brisbane Lions draftee Koby Evans (pictured, right) is the latest AFL-listed player to be banned after uttering a homophobic slur during a game

Evans, 18, was issued a four-match sanction following the comment aimed at a Coburg player in the Victorian Football League (VFL)

AFL chief operating officer Tom Harley (pictured, left) said homophobic language has ‘absolutely no place in our game at any level’

‘Koby self-reported this incident and has taken ownership of his mistake both privately and publicly.

‘It is extremely disappointing to be dealing with another incident of this nature. 

‘While we will always examine the individual circumstances, we cannot be more clear that respect and inclusion are not optional in our game – they are fundamental.’

The case follows Lance Collard’s ban for making a similar slur in a VFL game against Frankston. Daily Mail understands St Kilda star Collard labelled an opponent a ‘f***ing f****t’ last month.

Collard was initially suspended by the AFL Tribunal for nine weeks, with two weeks suspended.

On appeal, it was reduced to four weeks, with two weeks suspended.

Collard’s latest suspension came less than two years after serving a six-game ban for the same offence.

Adelaide’s Izak Rankine was banned for four matches last year after his own homophobic slur incident, missing the Crows’ finals series.

Sydney Swans defender Riak Andrew (five matches) and West Coast player Jack Graham (four) were also suspended last season.

In 2024, ex-Port Adelaide player Jeremy Finlayson was handed a three-match ban, and Gold Coast midfielder Wil Powell was suspended for five matches for the same conduct.