It’s long been unclear where the line was on homophobia. Things are changing but the sport was miles behind to begin with
In the early 2000s, a young AFL player was doing one of his regular radio slots and he and his co-hosts decided to play a game of word association. Lion – roar. London – doubledecker. And so on. “Gay,” one of the hosts offered. There was a long pause. “Die,” the player said.
If a footballer or broadcaster said that now, you’d like to think they’d be run out of town. But back then, it barely raised an eyebrow. It was certainly no impediment to career progression. Such ripping repertoire was in the news this week, after Jeremy Finlayson was eventually suspended for a homophobic slur. It took five days to decide on his penalty. The sticking point was the precedent set by Alastair Clarkson’s slap on the wrist earlier in the year. In effect, the AFL conceded that they’d been too lenient with the North Melbourne coach, and that this was their stake in the ground.