St Kilda forward Lance Collard will face a historic AFL disciplinary tribunal over his alleged homophobic slur as he continues to proclaim his innocence.

Collard is alleged to have directed a homophobic comment towards a Frankston opponent in St Kilda’s VFL loss last week, a claim which he has vehemently denied, insisting he called an opposition player “a maggot.”

A statement from the league said a disciplinary hearing will take some time next week to investigate the matter under the alleged breach of AFL Rule 2.3 (a) (Conduct Unbecoming).

It will be the first time an AFL player has faced a tribunal on those grounds, with an exact date and time to be determined.

The 21-year-old was suspended for six games in 2024 and was ordered to undergo a Pride in Sport education program after admitting to using multiple homophobic slurs against VFL opponents.

He is already facing a three-week suspension for collecting Jackson Voss with a high swinging arm, sparking an all-in brawl from the same match.

Collard is contracted at the Saints until the end of next year, but if found guilty of once again using homophobic remarks, there have been calls to strip him of his AFL contract.