{"id":4869,"date":"2026-05-05T03:34:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T03:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/4869\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T03:34:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T03:34:09","slug":"brisbane-co-captain-hugh-mccluggage-concedes-regret-for-including-jaxon-priors-partner-in-whiteboard-saga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/4869\/","title":{"rendered":"Brisbane co-captain Hugh McCluggage concedes regret for including Jaxon Prior\u2019s partner in whiteboard saga"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hugh McCluggage says the Brisbane Lions<\/a> regret including Jaxon Prior\u2019s partner in their opposition analysis which got leaked to the public last week, but insists the club\u2019s culture should not be in question.<\/p>\n

The co-captain on Tuesday addressed both the Essendon whiteboard list that raised eyebrows and investigation into draftee Koby Evans\u2019 use of a homophobic slur in a VFL game.<\/a><\/p>\n

Asked if there is a cultural issue at the two-time defending premiers, McCluggage poured cold water over it.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t agree with that at all,\u201d McCluggage said of the suggestion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we can see the bad things at times and they take up a lot of the coverage, but there\u2019s a lot of good as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of journalists and outside people come into our club over the last two years and I think all of them would say that it\u2019s a really inclusive environment, it\u2019s a fun environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe set the foundations and the rules, and sometimes there are going to be people who make mistakes \u2014 it\u2019s life, that\u2019s what happens in all walks of life, and when it happens, we educate, we learn and we get better.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs leaders, we play a massive role in making sure that that happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

A photo of a whiteboard at their Brighton Homes Arena base, listing Bombers\u2019 players strengths and weaknesses, was leaked by a member of the public in the lead-up to Saturday\u2019s defeat of Essendon in Melbourne.<\/p>\n

\"Brisbane\u2019sBrisbane\u2019s whiteboard was leaked by the father of an Auskick player. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was pretty strange when you win a game and then you come off the ground and there\u2019s guys getting worded up about what\u2019s going to get asked, something we haven\u2019t dealt with before,\u201d McCluggage said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s obviously regrettable that that got out. It wasn\u2019t meant to be in the public, we\u2019ll learn from it, privacy and security needs to be lifted around the place.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s got plenty of air time and we\u2019ve worked our way through it pretty well.<\/p>\n

But the All-Australian midfielder conceded listing former teammate Jaxon Prior\u2019s partner as a \u201cstrength\u201d was a mistake.<\/p>\n

The pair were housemates when Prior was at the Lions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve spoken to \u2018Priz\u2019,\u201d McCluggage said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we had our time again, we wouldn\u2019t have involved his partner in it, it\u2019s as simple as that.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut things stand in a really good place. I\u2019ve called him, I\u2019ve spoken to him about his partner as well, and we\u2019ll leave it at that, out of respect for the two of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"JaxonJaxon Prior played at the Lions for five years. Credit: ADAM TRAFFORD\/AAPIMAGE<\/p>\n

A remorseful Evans is the latest AFL player facing suspension for homophobic language after an incident involving the 18-year-old during last Saturday\u2019s VFL game against Coburg.<\/p>\n

It comes less than a fortnight after the league sacked its appeals board chairman Will Houghton, in the aftermath of St Kilda player Lance Collard\u2019s ban for calling a VFL opponent a \u201cf****** f****t\u201d last month.<\/a><\/p>\n

Houghton was axed after saying racist, sexist or homophobic language was \u201ccommonplace\u201d in the AFL when adjudicating St Kilda\u2019s appeal.<\/p>\n

\"KobyKoby Evans is under investigation for an alleged homophobic slur. Credit: Instagram<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen these incidences in the AFL industry, but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s isolated to that,\u201d McCluggage said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think leaders in every walk of life have a responsibility to call this behaviour and this language out that\u2019s offensive to people.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to create environments where everyone feels welcome, everyone feels safe and we\u2019re probably not where we want to be as a society yet in that area.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s disappointing it\u2019s happening in the AFL environment, and hopefully everyone learns from this, not just elite sports.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Kane Cornes forced to step down from official AFL role<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

AFL young gun on \u2018watch\u2019 after bad habit uncovered<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

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