live updates from disciplinary hearing for alleged homophobic comment in VFL match

Collard’s lawyer suggested to Lambert that he yelled at the umpire

“Did you hear that ump, repeat offender”

Lambert denies that immediately and says he actually said “did you hear that ump, he said the ‘f’ word. Did you hear that ump?’

Lambert said he called Collard ‘weak’ but could not hear what anyone else may have said after the incident in which Collard felled Frankston Jackson Voss during play.

Bailey Lambert alleges that Collard said: “Darby, you are a f___g f___t”.

He said he was looking at Collard when the alleged phrase was said. When asked how certain he is of what was said his response: “100 percent. I would not be here otherwise”.

He said he yelled at the ump and said did you hear what was said as he thought he might get a 50-metre penalty. He did not feel like he got the umpire’s attention immediately.

Lambert said they also had training that it’s not a phrase you can use on a football field.

He later approached the umpire at ¾ time to ask how you report a homophobic slur. He then did not speak to the umpire later as he thought it was his teammate Hipwell’s issue to deal with.

Michael Borsky KC argues the Frankston player misheard the word used and it was in fact ‘maggot’ rather than the allegation being made.

Hipwell had said he had never heard the word ‘maggot’ used on a football field which Borsky KC argues increases the likelihood - given he knew Collard’s previous offence – that he thought what he heard was ‘f___t’ rather than what was said.

Hipwell remains adamant that is not the case.

Collard’s lawyer Michael Borsky KC reveals the AFL has proposed suspending Collard for 10 matches if found guilty of the allegation.

Collard’s lawyer Michael Borsky KC is giving Darby Hipwell a grilling as he tries to ascertain who, apart from Hipwell, may have heard the alleged comment from Collard.

There are several players including Hipwell’s teammate Bailey Humphrey and the umpire Morgan in the vicinity of the incident as a melee had occurred.

Borsky KC is going through the investigators record of interview with Hipwell to establish whether what was recorded is accurate.

He has now asked him whether it was possible he misheard Collard

“There is no possibility I misheard him,“Hipwell said.

Frankston’s Darby Hipwell says he rang the umpire Morgan from the change rooms after the game and decided to report the alleged incident. He had also discussed the incident with his teammate Bailey Lambert.

He is disputing the version of events being put to him from Collard’s representative Michael Borsky KC who said the conversation between the umpire and Hipwell occurred over the phone in the presence of the Frankston’s football manager.

Hipwell says he and Lambert have spoken about the process but not what was said since the incident and the investigation. Borsky suggests Collard spoke to Hipwell in a quiet voice rather than in an aggressive tone as he alleges.

He is trying to establish whether anyone else could have heard the words used.

Darby Hipwell has denied under cross-examination he directed a derogatory term towards Collard. He claimed he told Collard he was an idiot and to calm down. He is being asked whether he discussed the incident with a teammate at three-quarter time and after the game on game day.

The details of the investigator’s record of interview is being shown to the tribunal.

He told investigators he was not looking at Collard when the alleged slur was said but had earlier told Woods he recognised the voice as a former teammate and he knew who was holding his jumper.

Hipwell told the investigators according to the report he was shocked when he heard the word although he was not personally offended. He smiled and laughed at Collard during the final quarter but did not speak to him.

Frankston’s Darby Hipwell, who played football with Collard at Sandringham, has alleged that Collard leaned into him during a melee and said in his ear ‘you f—g f—t or ‘you are a f—g f—t’. He said his teammate immediately told an umpire.

“I could not be more confident,” Hipwell said when asked how confident he was the phrase was used in that moment.

He says he has never heard the alleged phrase used before on a football field.

He is now being cross-examined.

Carlton utility Will Hayward has copped a one-match ban after his swinging arm to the stomach of North Melbourne’s George Wardlaw was deemed as an intentional strike.

The former Swan will be missing from the Carlton side for their brutally tough assignment against Adelaide to kick off Gather Round in South Australia on Thursday night.

After prolonged debate about Hayward’s case and where it fitted in the light of the AFL’s off-season crackdown on “gut punches”, the AFL Tribunal ruled that Hayward’s strike was intentional – a ruling chairman Jeff Gleeson KC said was “irresistible” to reach.

With Carlton also missing defender Jacob Weitering due to concussion, the Blues’ challenge to save their season after a 1-3 start and reduce pressure on besieged coach Michael Voss is suddenly much harder.

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