St Kilda chief executive Carl Dilena insists his club’s removal from the Swans’ 2026 Pride Game fixture “does not alter our commitment” to LGBTQIA+ and First Nations inclusion in sport.

It emerged on Wednesday night that the Sydney-St Kilda clash in Round 13 wouldn’t be the Swans’ Pride Game for this year, with the Swans-Bulldogs clash in Round 17 now the designated match to help the club celebrate and support LGBTIQA+ communities.

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The Swans’ move comes because of the Tribunal and Appeals Board hearings involving young Saints player Lance Collard, who last month was found guilty of using a homophobic slur towards a VFL opponent – a charge he and the Saints have emphatically and strenuously denied — and the fallout. Collard was handed a nine-game ban by the tribunal, but his sentence was cut to four games (two suspended until the end of 2027) at the Appeals Board – a decision that led to the sacking of Appeals Board chair Will Houghton KC due to the reasonings.

It was the second time Collard had been found guilty of using homophobic language during a game after he was suspended for six games in 2024.

“Since 2016, the Sydney Swans have been proud to host Pride Game at the SCG, celebrating inclusivity with our LGBTIQA+ community,” the Swans said in a statement.

“It is one of the most significant matches on our calendar and resonates deeply with our LGBTIQA+ supporter base and the wider Pride community.

“In consultation with the Rainbow Swans, members of the LGBTIQA+ 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. It is important that the focus is on the positive experience we are creating for the communities at the heart of Pride Game.

“We stand with the LGBTIQA+ community and believe that sport has the power to bring people together and celebrate inclusivity. That’s why Pride Game matters.”

The Rainbow Swans released a statement on Instagram to also confirm the news.

“We proudly support the @sydneyswans decision to move the Pride Game fixture,” the group’s statement read. “We look forward to working alongside them, @bulldogprideau and @westernbulldogs to celebrate this year’s Pride Game.”

Dilena, subsequently, wrote a letter to Saints fans.

The St Kilda chief executive said the decision had been made after talks between his club and Sydney, the Rainbow Swans supporter group, Pride Cup and the AFL in the wake of the Collard case and subsequent fallout.

“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,” Dilena wrote in his letter.

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“St Kilda has a long and proud history of inclusion. Alongside Sydney, we helped establish the AFL Pride Game in 2016 because we believe football should be a place where everyone feels welcome, safe and respected. These values are important for our staff, our players, our fans and our community.

“We remain deeply committed to LGBTQIA+ and First Nations inclusion in sport at every level. We are proud advocates of respect and inclusion and remain committed to continuing that work across our club and community.

“Importantly, the change to the Pride Game this year does not alter our commitment. We will continue working proactively with our people, supporters and industry partners to ensure St Kilda remains a club where everyone feels they belong.”

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon last month was highly critical of the Appeals Board’s reasonings for Collard’s reduced sanction.

“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 may be a factor in determining the severity of the sanction.”