Lance Collard

Last updated

Lance Collard
Personal information
Born (2005-03-26) 26 March 2005 (age 21)
Original team Subiaco (WAFL)
North Beach JFC
Draft No. 28, 2023 AFL draft
Debut 16 March 2024, St Kilda  vs. Geelong, at Kardinia Park
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 70 kg (154 lb)
Position Forward
Club information
Current club St Kilda
Number 4
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2024– St Kilda 15 (8)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2025 season.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Lance Collard (born 26 March 2005) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Contents

Early life

Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Collard played his junior football with North Beach JFC and represented Subiaco in the Western Australian Football League (WAFL).

Collard was picked by St Kilda with pick 28 of the 2023 national draft. [1] He was part of West Coast Eagles' Next Generation Academy and was tied to the Eagles who could have matched any draft bid if he had been taken later than pick 40. [2]

He is of Noongar and Yamatji descent. [3]

AFL career

Collard made his debut against Geelong in round 1 of the 2024 season, coming on as the substitute. [4]

In July 2024, Collard was suspended for six matches after using homophobic slurs against multiple Williamstown opponents while playing in the Victorian Football League (VFL) for St Kilda's affiliate Sandringham. [5] [6]

Collard was suspended by the AFL Tribunal for nine weeks, with two weeks suspended, in April 2026 for again using a homophobic slur against another VFL player. [7] During the tribunal hearing, St Kilda's legal representative said that the AFL's proposed ten week suspension could be "career-ending" for Collard. [8] Collard denied having used the slur during the hearing, and St Kilda appealed the decision. [9] The AFL Appeals Board found that Collard had used a homophobic slur, but reduced the penalty to a four week suspension (two weeks of which were suspended). [10]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2025 season. [11]

Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals  
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds  
  H  
Handballs  
  M  
Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game) Votes
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2024 St Kilda 4300527210.00.01.70.72.30.70.30
2025 St Kilda 4128639266513200.70.53.32.25.41.11.70
2026 St Kilda 4[ citation needed ]0
Career158644287215210.50.42.91.94.81.01.40

References

  1. Clark, Jackson (21 November 2023), "Talented WA teen Lance Collard drafted by St Kilda", National Indigenous Times
  2. Waterworth, Ben (24 October 2023), "AFL Draft Whispers: Eagles ponder trade to ensure they still select young gun; Roos loom as most active draft night club", Fox Sports
  3. Clark, Jackson (15 March 2024). "Exciting small forward Lance Collard to debut for St Kilda". National Indigenous Times.
  4. Clark, Jackson (2 April 2024), "St Kilda young gun Lance Collard shines in the VFL", National Indigenous Times
  5. "Young Saint Collard cops monster ban for homophobic slur". afl.com.au. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  6. "Club Statement: Lance Collard". saints.com.au. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  7. Laughton, Max; Faulkner, Will (14 April 2026). "'Could ruin his life': Tribunal suspends Lance Collard for seven weeks after anti-gay slur finding". Fox Sports. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  8. De Silva, Chris; Vinall, Marnie (14 April 2026). "Collard handed monster ban over 'entirely unacceptable' homophobic slur". ABC News. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  9. "St Kilda announces appeal against Collard ban for homophobic slur". ABC News. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  10. De Silva, Chris (23 April 2026). "Collard's 'crippling' ban for homophobic slur reduced on appeal". ABC News. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  11. "Lance Collard". AFL Tables. Retrieved 21 April 2026.