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Player Watch #20 Riak Andrew

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This will be a tough lesson for Riak. He is going to have to go away and rebuild the trust of his supporters and his teammates while likely feeling somewhat on the outer. How he responds will mark his development as a man. I hope he comes back stronger and better and more aware.

Of course, it is not as tough as being a young gay boy who just found out one of his favourite players sees homosexuality as something to be ashamed of (I don’t profess to know this is what Riak actually thinks, in fact I suspect it is not true if you take the Swans statement at face value, but this is not doubt how a young gay boy may perceive it).

By my calculation, about 3,000 people who follow the swans are gay boys still finding their way in the world (assuming 1 million supporters, with 20% under 18 and about 3% of those gay). If even only 1% were aware of and admired Riak, then that is 30 boys having a rough time right now. And there are thousands learning about this in the news.

How sad that some phrase Riak probably heard and used countless times while growing up could cause so much harm. I hope some of the older players are getting around him, and I hope he is able to share his lessons to help stop the cycle.
 
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This will be a touch lesson for Riak. He is going to have to go away and rebuild the trust of his supporters and his teammates while likely feeling somewhat on the outer. How he responds will mark his development as a man. I hope he comes back stronger and better and more aware.

Of course, it is not as tough as being a young gay boy who just found out one of his favourite players sees homosexuality as something to be ashamed of (I don’t profess to know this is what Riak actually thinks, in fact I suspect it is not true if you take the Swans statement at face value, but this is not doubt how a young gay boy may perceive it).

By my calculation, about 3,000 people who follow the swans are gay boys still finding their way in the world (assuming 1 million supporters, with 20% under 18 and about 3% of those gay). If even only 1% were aware of and admired Riak, then that is 30 boys having a rough time right now. And there are thousands learning about this in the news.

How sad that some phrase Riak probably heard and used countless times while growing up could cause so much harm. I hope some of the older players are getting around him, and I hope he is able to share his lessons to help stop the cycle.
Imagine too putting it alongside the racism that Riak himself has most likely experienced.
I'd be pretty sure that the lesson will be well absorbed and that he bounces back a better person.
 
Imagine too putting it alongside the racism that Riak himself has most likely experienced.
I'd be pretty sure that the lesson will be well absorbed and that he bounces back a better person.

Bouncing back a better person would certainly be one tick in the box. But he also needs to come back a better football player.

He’s been clearly struggling at VFL level & I suspect was frustrated with his own performance.

Has plenty of positive athletic traits - but at this stage of his development, just lacks the strength and footy smarts to compete against seasoned players.
 
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Looking up the suspensions for similar offences in chronological order

Alastair Clarkson 2 games Mar 2024
Jeremy Finlayson 3 games Apr 2024
Wil Powell 5 games May 2024
Lance Collard (VFL) 6 games Jul 2024
Jack Graham 4 games Jul 2025

Graham received a lesser sentence because he self-reported and was said to be contrite for his actions. I think we should expect at least 6 games for Andrew but likely will be more.
 

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This will be a tough lesson for Riak. He is going to have to go away and rebuild the trust of his supporters and his teammates while likely feeling somewhat on the outer. How he responds will mark his development as a man. I hope he comes back stronger and better and more aware.

Of course, it is not as tough as being a young gay boy who just found out one of his favourite players sees homosexuality as something to be ashamed of (I don’t profess to know this is what Riak actually thinks, in fact I suspect it is not true if you take the Swans statement at face value, but this is not doubt how a young gay boy may perceive it).

By my calculation, about 3,000 people who follow the swans are gay boys still finding their way in the world (assuming 1 million supporters, with 20% under 18 and about 3% of those gay). If even only 1% were aware of and admired Riak, then that is 30 boys having a rough time right now. And there are thousands learning about this in the news.

How sad that some phrase Riak probably heard and used countless times while growing up could cause so much harm. I hope some of the older players are getting around him, and I hope he is able to share his lessons to help stop the cycle.
With a bit of perspective no one should be offended. These terms that get thrown around aren't used for the intent of it's literal meaning. Being blown completely out of proportion. Like yeah fine give him a game or two as a wake up call to be more mindful of the use of these words (im not saying they shouldn't be phased out), but to throw up anything beyond 2 weeks let alone 6 is farcical.

Can tell you right now, no one gives a flying ****, his teammates will be laughing about the sanction and he doesn't need to rebuild the trust of anyone. Tom Harley doesn't give a **** either, he's just got his corporate hat on when doing these shpiels. Also, you're suggesting that in your sample size of 30 gay people, all 30 will be offended by it. 1% of that 30 will probably give a shit, even they have enough perspective to know the true intent of these insults.
 
Looking up the suspensions for similar offences in chronological order

Alastair Clarkson 2 games Mar 2024
Jeremy Finlayson 3 games Apr 2024
Wil Powell 5 games May 2024
Lance Collard (VFL) 6 games Jul 2024
Jack Graham 4 games Jul 2025

Graham received a lesser sentence because he self-reported and was said to be contrite for his actions. I think we should expect at least 6 games for Andrew but likely will be more.
So Riak also self-reported and is contrite, but he deserves more than 6 weeks

EDIT: statement does not say self-reported, but admits he did use it. Full details on how it came about are unclear.
 
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What a ****ing idiot. It blows my mind that casual homophobic slurs are still a thing in 2025.

I’m in my mid-40s now. When I was a kid in the 80s and early 90s that kind of language was pretty common in the schoolyard. I’m not proud of it, but back then a lot of us used “gay” as a catch-all insult for things we didn’t like. It was ignorant, but we were young, and thankfully, we were educated. We learned why that kind of language is harmful, and by the time I was Riak’s age, that shit was long gone from my vocabulary and from my friends too.

So how are we still having this conversation decades later?
 
The club statement doesn’t mention anything about self-reporting.
I have edited my post to correct how the slur was reported, as that is unclear due to the AFL's investigation.

But the point still stands - more than 6 weeks is more than Collard received for making multiple homophobic slurs in one VFL game.
 
What a ****ing idiot. It blows my mind that casual homophobic slurs are still a thing in 2025.

I’m in my mid-40s now. When I was a kid in the 80s and early 90s that kind of language was pretty common in the schoolyard. I’m not proud of it, but back then a lot of us used “gay” as a catch-all insult for things we didn’t like. It was ignorant, but we were young, and thankfully, we were educated. We learned why that kind of language is harmful, and by the time I was Riak’s age, that shit was long gone from my vocabulary and from my friends too.

So how are we still having this conversation decades later?
Im around footy through my 15yo son and netball through my 13yo daughter. Hate to say it but the use of gay and various other slurs is still pretty common place in the school yard and sporting arena amongst teenagers, both boys and girls. Racist slurs are also still prevalent. They receive so much education around these issues these days yet they still do it. I put it in large part down to their under developed brains and I think no amount of awareness and education is going to significantly change it. And to think, some people want to let them vote at age 16...........
 
I have edited my post to correct how the slur was reported, as that is unclear due to the AFL's investigation.

But the point still stands - more than 6 weeks is more than Collard received for making multiple homophobic slurs in one VFL game.
I should have explained why I think he'll get more than 6 - it's based on this quote from Andrew Dillon. And my listing of the length of suspensions was trying to illustrate this point.

Dillon warned players of more severe sanctions for homophobic slurs in future.

"You will see the sanctions increasing until we don't have it any more," Dillon told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.

 

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Looking up the suspensions for similar offences in chronological order

Alastair Clarkson 2 games Mar 2024
Jeremy Finlayson 3 games Apr 2024
Wil Powell 5 games May 2024
Lance Collard (VFL) 6 games Jul 2024
Jack Graham 4 games Jul 2025

Graham received a lesser sentence because he self-reported and was said to be contrite for his actions. I think we should expect at least 6 games for Andrew but likely will be more.
What did Clarkson say
 

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Player Watch #20 Riak Andrew


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