Latest news with #Jack Graham
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
West Coast coach defends veteran's character after ban for homophobic slur
West Coast Eagles coach Andrew McQualter has jumped to the defence of suspended veteran Jack Graham, labelling him a 'good person' who made a bad mistake after his ban for using a homophobic slur. Despite continued hefty penalties being dished out to AFL players across recent seasons, Graham was found to have issued the single-word slur during his team's loss to the GWS Giants in round 17. Graham, a premiership player with Richmond, self-reported the slur, some five days after the incident, and was handed a four-week ban, reduced because of his admission. The 27-year-old was withdrawn from the side that suffered a fighting 26-point loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday and McQualter addressed the issue for the first time at the start of his post-match press conference by launching a defence of Graham. 'Jack clearly made a mistake and owned his mistake,' McQualter said. 'Jack's a really good person, I've known him for a very long time, this is an error on Jack's behalf, and he understands that it doesn't align with the values of our club. 'The process we went through was that the club was informed, and we worked with the Giants and then eventually with the AFL. 'Jack's accepted his sanction and understands where it lies. 'Our priority now is to look after Jack and his wellbeing and to continue to educate our players as much as we can. 'I appreciate that it's a story and it has got some interest, but we're just going to continue to support Jack. 'Jack's a very good person, he used one word that was a mistake, and he's copped a serious punishment for that word.' Graham used the same homophobic slur that earnt Gold Coast player Wil Powell a five-match ban last season. He called a GWS player a 'f--king f----t'. It's understood Graham's remorse moved him to alert West Coast officials, and it's been reported he even personally rang AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon to apologise. That contrition helped the AFL land on a four-week ban, having gradually increased suspensions amid a raft of incidents. Port Adelaide's Jeremy Finlayson was given a three-week ban before Powell copped his five-game suspension.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter defends veteran Jack Graham's character after ban for homophobic slur
West Coast Eagles coach Andrew McQualter has jumped to the defence of suspended veteran Jack Graham, labelling him a 'good person' who made a bad mistake after his ban for using a homophobic slur. Despite continued hefty penalties being dished out to AFL players across recent seasons, Graham was found to have issued the single-word slur during his team's loss to the GWS Giants in round 17. Graham, a premiership player with Richmond, self-reported the slur, some five days after the incident, and was handed a four-week ban, reduced because of his admission. The 27-year-old was withdrawn from the side that suffered a fighting 26-point loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday and McQualter addressed the issue for the first time at the start of his post-match press conference by launching a defence of Graham. 'Jack clearly made a mistake and owned his mistake,' McQualter said. 'Jack's a really good person, I've known him for a very long time, this is an error on Jack's behalf, and he understands that it doesn't align with the values of our club. 'The process we went through was that the club was informed, and we worked with the Giants and then eventually with the AFL. 'Jack's accepted his sanction and understands where it lies. 'Our priority now is to look after Jack and his wellbeing and to continue to educate our players as much as we can. 'I appreciate that it's a story and it has got some interest, but we're just going to continue to support Jack. 'Jack's a very good person, he used one word that was a mistake, and he's copped a serious punishment for that word.' Graham used the same homophobic slur that earnt Gold Coast player Wil Powell a five-match ban last season. He called a GWS player a 'f--king f----t'. It's understood Graham's remorse moved him to alert West Coast officials, and it's been reported he even personally rang AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon to apologise. That contrition helped the AFL land on a four-week ban, having gradually increased suspensions amid a raft of incidents.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
AFL star Jack Graham hit with four-match ban for 'highly offensive' anti-gay slur
West Coast player Jack Graham has been suspended by the AFL for four matches for using a homophobic slur against an opponent. The AFL announced the ban on Sunday after finding Graham guilty of conduct unbecoming over the incident during the July 4 match won by GWS at Optus Stadium. It said the incident was self-reported by Graham to his club, who reported it to the AFL on Friday morning, prompting an AFL integrity unit investigation. 'Graham used a highly offensive homophobic slur against a GWS Giants opponent, which demeans and denigrates persons regardless of their sexuality,' the AFL said in a statement. It said it took into account Graham's self-reporting of the incident, along with his private apology and contrition. Graham also rang the AFL CEO directly to apologise. A two-time premiership player with Richmond before joining the Eagles, 27-year-old Graham will not be eligible to play for West Coast for the next four weeks and he will undertake Pride in Sport education. 'I am very remorseful for the word I used and know such language has no place in our community or our game,' Graham said in a club statement. 'I have offered my unreserved apology to the Giants player and Greater Western Sydney and would also like to publicly apologise for my comment. 'What I said does not reflect my values or our club values. I made a mistake and need to be better and will prove that through my actions going forward.' West Coast CEO Don Pyke said Graham had been honest in addressing the matter and understood its harmful effects. 'Player welfare was front of mind throughout the process and we were in regular contact with the Giants following the match and earlier this week around this situation,' he added. 'With no match day report being lodged, both clubs agreed the appropriate course of action was to refer the matter to the AFL.' AFL head of integrity and security Tony Keane said: 'The AFL is very clear that homophobia has no place in our game, nor in the community. 'We have come a long way as a code, but this incident demonstrates there is so much more to be done, and we will continue to work together to improve our game as a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
West Coast's Jack Graham banned over homophobic slur
West Coast player Jack Graham has been suspended by the AFL for four matches for using a homophobic slur against an opponent. The AFL announced the ban on Sunday after finding Graham guilty of conduct unbecoming over the incident during the July 4 match won by GWS at Optus Stadium. It said the incident was self-reported by Graham to his club, who reported it to the AFL on Friday morning, prompting an AFL integrity unit investigation. "Graham used a highly offensive homophobic slur against a GWS Giants opponent, which demeans and denigrates persons regardless of their sexuality," the AFL said in a statement. It said it took into account Graham's self-reporting of the incident, along with his private apology and contrition. Graham also rang the AFL CEO directly to apologise. A two-time premiership player with Richmond before joining the Eagles, 27-year-old Graham will not be eligible to play for West Coast for the next four weeks and he will undertake Pride in Sport education. "I am very remorseful for the word I used and know such language has no place in our community or our game," Graham said in a club statement. "I have offered my unreserved apology to the Giants player and Greater Western Sydney and would also like to publicly apologise for my comment. "What I said does not reflect my values or our club values. I made a mistake and need to be better and will prove that through my actions going forward." West Coast CEO Don Pyke said Graham had been honest in addressing the matter and understood its harmful effects. "Player welfare was front of mind throughout the process and we were in regular contact with the Giants following the match and earlier this week around this situation," he added. "With no match day report being lodged, both clubs agreed the appropriate course of action was to refer the matter to the AFL." AFL head of integrity and security Tony Keane said: "The AFL is very clear that homophobia has no place in our game, nor in the community. "We have come a long way as a code, but this incident demonstrates there is so much more to be done, and we will continue to work together to improve our game as a safe and inclusive environment for all. "Graham's sanction would have been higher if he hadn't self-reported and understood his comment was totally inappropriate."
