Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Gold Coast ruckman Max Knobel is the latest AFL player under investigation for an alleged homophobic slur.
7NEWS understands the 21-year-old made a comment towards a Brisbane Lions opponent in Saturday’s VFL match at People’s First Stadium.
“The Gold Coast Suns are aware of an incident involving one of its players in Saturday’s VFL match against the Brisbane Lions,” a Suns spokesperson told 7NEWS.
“The club is currently cooperating fully with the AFL’s Integrity Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.”
The league also confirmed it was investigating.
“We have been made aware of a matter arising from the VFL Round 11 match between the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions, which has been referred to the AFL Integrity Unit,” an AFL spokesperson told 7NEWS.
Based on recent precedent, Knobel is looking at a four or five-match sanction if he is found guilty.
Last month Brisbane’s Koby Evans received a four-match penalty for a homophobic slur in a VFL match.
It came just weeks after St Kilda’s Lance Collard was hit with a two-match ban (and further two matches suspended) for his second incident of the same nature in three years. He was previously suspended for six matches in 2024.
Since the start of 2024, a further five AFL players have been sanctioned for homophobic slurs.
Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson (three matches), Adelaide’s Izak Rankine (four), West Coast’s Jack Graham (four), Sydney’s Riak Andrew (five) and Gold Coast’s Wil Powell (five) have all been penalised.
Knobel — the son of former Brisbane, St Kilda and Richmond ruckman Trent — was first drafted to Fremantle in 2022.
Delisted at the end of 2024 with a view to being re-listed by the Dockers, Knobel was instead snapped up by the Suns ahead of the 2025 season.
He has yet to earn an AFL debut but has had 37, 33 and 39 hit-outs in his past three VFL games for Gold Coast.
Meanwhile, Suns forward Bailey Humphrey has been cleared of major damage following a late hit to his chest in the AFL clash between Gold Coast and Brisbane later on Saturday afternoon.
The 21-year-old headed to hospital after the game for precautionary scans.
