The Sydney Swans have cut St Kilda from this year’s Pride Game following continuing fallout from the Lance Collard tribunal earlier this year.
The Round 13 match between Sydney and St Kilda was scheduled to be played at the SCG on Sunday, June 7, but the game will no longer be designated as the Pride Game.
Instead, the Swans’ annual Pride match will be against the Western Bulldogs at the SCG in Round 17.
“In consultation with the Rainbow Swans, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and the St Kilda Football Club, we felt it was appropriate to shift our 2026 Pride match to ensure the game has the positive impact that is intended,” Sydney said in a statement on Wednesday night.
The team has been playing the Pride Game against St Kilda since 2016, with the club saying the match is all about celebrating inclusivity within the LGBTQIA+ community.
“It is one of the most significant matches on our calendar and resonates deeply with our LGBTQIA+ supporter base and the wider Pride community,” the Swans said.
“We stand with the LGBTQIA+ community and believe that sport has the power to bring people together and celebrate inclusivity. That’s why the Pride Game matters.”
Paul Bisby, co-Chair of the Rainbow Swans, the LGBTQIA+ fan group for Sydney Swans, told ABC Breakfast that the decision came about after consultation between the groups.
“The Pride Game has such a positive impact on our community and I think those events would have distracted from that impact,” he said.
Bisby says the game doesn’t need the distraction that the game against St Kilda may have brought, as it’s intended to be a celebration of inclusion.
“The Sydney Swans have always been very supportive of the Rainbow Swans and our community, they march in Mardi Gras consistently every year now” he said.
“It’s about organisations having that consistency of message and when they see something that is not in line with their own values, they call it out.”
Bisby said he still hoped that the AFL would one day create a Pride Round for all teams to get involved in.
“Our message is always that everyone is welcome at the footy, whether you want to play AFL or watch AFL, you shouldn’t feel like you’re not comfortable,” he said.
It follows the recent tribunal case involving St Kilda’s Lance Collard, who was penalised for using a homophobic slur in the VFL earlier this year.
He was found guilty of using the slur and was initially handed a nine-game suspension, which was challenged by St Kilda at the AFL Appeals Board.
The Appeals Board found the penalty was excessive, reducing it to four matches, with a further two games suspended until the end of 2027.
The board’s finding was criticised by the AFL, with CEO Andrew Dillon saying such language was not commonplace on the field.
“The AFL specifically rejects the Appeals Board’s reasoning, which stated, ‘it is commonplace that players can employ language from time to time which is racist, sexist or homophobic whilst on the field’,” he said.
“The AFL strongly rejects the statement not only that such language is commonplace, but also any implication that this may be a factor in determining the severity of the sanction.”
Appeals Board chair Will Houghton KC was later sacked as a result.
Collard has always denied the allegations, but has admitted to using a homophobic slur towards an opponent in 2024.
St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena said the club understood the Sydney Swans’ decision and thanked everyone involved for the constructive discussions.
“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,” he said.
“We remain deeply committed to LGBTQIA+ and First Nations inclusion in sport at every level. We are proud advocates for respect and inclusion and remain committed to continuing that work across our club and community.”
