Swans furious with St Kilda; kick saints out of pride game

[Cyber_punk]

--------------

Seems like it should have it's own thread instead of the scandals board where it will probably be missed by most posters, as it goes bigger than Collard's remarks and is more about St Kilda's response and handling of them in general.

Pretty huge development. Not sure I recall such a thing happening during my time of following. Not sure how much of a marquee game it was for them but it's certainly a terrible PR look. The saints are copping a fair whack on social media for how they went about it.

Interested in Saints fans thoughts

Sydney dump rival from special game over jarring issue

Statements have been issued and a replacement club has been found.

7news.com.au

The Sydney Swans have ended their decade-long Pride Game partnership with St Kilda, citing frustration over the Saints’ handling of the Lance Collard tribunal case.

The Swans will instead play their 2026 Pride Game against the Western Bulldogs in Round 17 at the SCG on Friday night, effectively dumping the Saints from the annual fixture.

The decision centres on St Kilda’s submission during Collard’s tribunal hearing, where the player faced his second charge of using a homophobic slur in an VFL match within three years.


Collard maintained he was innocent throughout the investigation, but was eventually found guilty and given a nine-week ban that was effectively seven matches. His suspension was eventually reduced to just two matches on appeal.
St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena addressed members in a letter on Wednesday night.

“Following the extensive media coverage of the recent AFL tribunal matter and associated public reaction, our club has been in discussions with Sydney Swans, the Rainbow Swans supporter group, Pride Cup, and the AFL,” he said.

“I want to thank everyone involved for the respectful and constructive way those discussions have been approached.

“As a result of those conversations, the decision has been made that our match with Sydney this year will no longer be played under the Pride Game banner.”

“While we would have preferred to proceed with the Pride Game designation to support inclusion and education, we understand and support the decision given the impact the recent publicity has had on members of the LGBTQIA+ and First Nations communities.”

It was the language and arguments St Kilda put forward during the tribunal and subsequent appeal that angered the Swans, rather than simply defending their player. The move follows the Swans’ decision earlier this year to end their partnership with Qatar Airways due to Qatar’s stance on LGBTIQA+ rights

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Gotta be honest, I couldn't care less.

 

[Mat Mann]

Pretty funny that a supporter group forces out the club that pioneered the game in the 1st place

smacks more of Pridham continuing his hissy fit regarding the academies

Don't forget, this is a club happy to wear the Qatar logo for numerous years, whilst participating in these games

I do wonder if they were this angry when Raik Andrew got done last year?

Sydney Swans Statement: Riak Andrew

The Sydney Swans confirm player Riak Andrew has been cited for using a homophobic slur during Saturday’s VFL match against North Melbourne.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Timewaster]

Thete are lots of worthy causes to suppor5. Saints should start a child protection round instead if they're nit welcome by the LGBT gang

 

[Dan26]

There shouldn't even be a pride game. It's rubbish and unnecessary and no one cares about it. People stopped caring about other people's sexuality years ago. People coming out as gay is not even a thing that garners attention anymore. Scrap it.

 

[txbyhull]

Fair play

 

[Atomboy]

Pretty funny that a supporter group forces out the club that pioneered the game in the 1st place

smacks more of Pridham continuing his hissy fit regarding the academies

Don't forget, this is a club happy to wear the Qatar logo for numerous years, whilst participating in these games

I do wonder if they were this angry when Raik Andrew got done last year?

Sydney Swans Statement: Riak Andrew

The Sydney Swans confirm player Riak Andrew has been cited for using a homophobic slur during Saturday’s VFL match against North Melbourne.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

Aren’t the Qataris supportive of gay rights though ?.

 

[ReturningHawk]

There shouldn't even be a pride game. It's rubbish and unnecessary and no one cares about it. People stopped caring about other people's sexuality years ago. People coming out as gay is not even a thing that garners attention anymore. Scrap it.

Rubbish. One former player has come out and he’s been slammed on social media. No player would dream of coming out at the moment, unfortunately.

 

[00Stinger]

Rubbish. One former player has come out and he’s been slammed on social media. No player would dream of coming out at the moment, unfortunately.

A married to a woman footballer seeking attention you mean

 

[00Stinger]

Sydney are sponsored by Qatar Airlines are they not?

Absolute hypocrites

 

[ReturningHawk]

A married footballer seeking attention you mean

There you go, you can still set your watch by homophobia in our society.

Coming out = attention-seeking?

 

[00Stinger]

There you go, you can still set your watch by homophobia in our society.

Coming out = attention-seeking?

nice try

He is married to a woman and spends his whole time trying to inject himself into a lot of stuff that doesn't involve him

Him coming out as bi-sexual is not the attention seeking element at all.

 

[rdhopkins2]

It would have been better for both clubs to address grievances and work together towards a better outcome. Use the situation to further educate the clubs, supporters and wider community.

Encourage collaborative solutions rather than one party excluding the other and lead by example.

 

[Elixuh]

Saints unfortunately only in the news for the wrong reasons the past few years.

Good decision by Sydney.

 

[Not a mere cat]

It would have been better for both clubs to address grievances and work together towards a better outcome. Use the situation to further educate the clubs, supporters and wider community.

Encourage collaborative solutions rather than one party excluding the other and lead by example.

Yeah, I initially thought the saints couldn’t participate in pride round this year but you’re right, use it as an opportunity. I don’t think everyone at st kilda football should be tarred because of 1 individual.

Let’s face it the AFL and its teams aren’t really capable of such nuance and I question how much they really care and it’s mainly marketing.

On a side note, pleasing to see Sydney have ended their arrangement with Qatar airways finally, wouldn’t want to be perceived as hypocrites……

 

[Atomboy]

It would have been better for both clubs to address grievances and work together towards a better outcome. Use the situation to further educate the clubs, supporters and wider community.

Encourage collaborative solutions rather than one party excluding the other and lead by example.

What about the flawed moral posturing opportunity though ?!.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

--------------

Seems like it should have it's own thread instead of the scandals board where it will probably be missed by most posters, as it goes bigger than Collard's remarks and is more about St Kilda's response and handling of them in general.

Pretty huge development. Not sure I recall such a thing happening during my time of following. Not sure how much of a marquee game it was for them but it's certainly a terrible PR look. The saints are copping a fair whack on social media for how they went about it.

Interested in Saints fans thoughts

Sydney dump rival from special game over jarring issue

Statements have been issued and a replacement club has been found.

7news.com.au

Good on the Swans.

Staying true.

 

[Bostonian]

There you go, you can still set your watch by homophobia in our society.

Coming out = attention-seeking?

If you do it among family and friend definitely not.

If you plaster it all over social media, most definitely.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Nothing stopping the Saints from hosting their own pride game in Round 14 against Haneen Zreika's club.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

If you do it among family and friend definitely not.

If you plaster it all over social media, most definitely.

Social media is how most people under 45 years of age share things with friends and family.

 

[SLF]

Feels a bit off Sydney effectively punching down on a stupid young indigenous player who maintains his innocence.

These performative displays of holier than thou morality have a habit of backfiring spectacularly.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Feels a bit off Sydney effectively punching down on a stupid young indigenous player who maintains his innocence.

These performative displays of holier than thou morality have a habit of backfiring spectacularly.

From what I gather - they're less about the player, and more about St Kilda's response
If they just stayed with 'He said he didn't say it, and we believe him' - then Sydney probably would have been Ok with it?

But they tried to downplay it a bit in their submission. I think that's what irked the Swans.


Good on them too. Walking the walk.

 

[Jason JC]

It would have been better for both clubs to address grievances and work together towards a better outcome. Use the situation to further educate the clubs, supporters and wider community.

Encourage collaborative solutions rather than one party excluding the other and lead by example.

If the Saints genuinely believe Collard is innocent then they won't be apologising or changing their position. So I don't know how they and the Swans could find middle ground on this.

 

[Fire]

I am Surprised Sydney went this far. Good for them.

 

[SLF]

From what I gather - they're less about the player, and more about St Kilda's response
If they just stayed with 'He said he didn't say it, and we believe him' - then Sydney probably would have been Ok with it?

But they tried to downplay it a bit in their submission. I think that's what irked the Swans.


Good on them too. Walking the walk.

Its good to see they've learned to walk after years crawling to Qatar for cash. But sure, if they're backing their position in like this then they've set their own standard.