Legal and Disciplinary Updates Regarding AFL Personnel
Introduction
Recent court and administrative decisions have been reached regarding a disciplinary case involving Lance Collard and criminal charges against Dion Prestia and Steven May.
Main Body
The Australian Football League (AFL) recently decided a disciplinary case involving St Kilda player Lance Collard, who was accused of using a homophobic slur during a VFL match. There was a debate over which rule to apply, as the complainant, Darby Hipwell, did not personally share the attribute targeted by the slur. Consequently, the case was handled under the rule regarding 'conduct unbecoming.' Although Collard was initially given a nine-week suspension, an appeals board reduced this to four matches. The appeals chair, Will Houghton, argued that Collard's age and background were mitigating factors and claimed that such language is common on the field. However, the AFL disagreed with this reasoning and dismissed Mr. Houghton from his position. The league has now announced a full review of how its tribunal operates. At the same time, the Frankston Magistrates' Court dropped all charges against current player Dion Prestia and retired player Steven May. The two men had been charged with fighting and causing serious injury after an incident in Sorrento on December 27, 2024. The prosecution decided to withdraw the charges because there was no surveillance footage and the witnesses gave conflicting stories. Magistrate Tony Burns ordered that the defendants be paid their legal costs, as they had always denied taking part in the fight.
Conclusion
The AFL is now reviewing its disciplinary rules following the Collard appeal, while the criminal cases against Prestia and May have been settled in favor of the players.
Learning
⚡ The Power of 'Softening' and 'Formalizing' Your Words
At the A2 level, you likely say: "He said it was a mistake because he is young." To move toward B2, you need to use Mitigating Language and Formal Nouns. This changes your tone from a simple conversation to a professional argument.
🔍 The B2 Shift: From Simple to Sophisticated
Look at how the text describes the situation with Lance Collard. Instead of saying "things that make the crime less bad," the text uses:
"Mitigating factors"
Why this is a B2 move: Instead of using a long sentence to explain a reason, you use a specific professional term.
- A2: "There are reasons why he shouldn't be punished so much."
- B2: "There are mitigating factors to consider."
🛠️ Vocabulary Upgrade: The 'Legal' Layer
To sound more fluent, stop using generic verbs like 'give' or 'say' when talking about official decisions. Replace them with these Action Verbs found in the article:
| A2 Word (Simple) | B2 Upgrade (Formal) | Context in Article |
|---|---|---|
| Give | Impose / Issue | (A suspension was issued/imposed) |
| Stop/Cancel | Withdraw / Dismiss | (Charges were withdrawn) |
| Think/Say | Argue / Claim | (Houghton argued that...) |
💡 Pro Tip: The 'Result' Connection
Notice the word "Consequently."
In A2, you use "so" (e.g., "He was young, so he got a shorter ban"). In B2, we start a new sentence with Consequently to show a logical result. It makes your speaking and writing feel structured and academic.
Example: "The witnesses gave conflicting stories. Consequently, the charges were dropped."