‘People come out damaged’: Power, Ross Lyon warn of the AFL tribunal’s human toll

Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson has called for sweeping reform of the AFL’s tribunal system following the fallout from the Zak Butters case, declaring the current process “too legalistic” and damaging to those caught up in it.

Speaking as the Power prepare to appeal the Butters verdict on Monday, Richardson stressed Port’s stance was not about the outcome, with the club instead highly critical of the AFL’s processes.

While declining to discuss the specifics of the appeal, he said the events of the past week had exposed serious flaws in how the game handles disciplinary matters.

“This week has put a player, an umpire and an official in a situation which should have been handled so much better,” Richardson said. “All three individuals deserve better than what this week has put them through.”

Richardson argued the tribunal’s structure was out of step with the AFL’s responsibility as the country’s leading code.

“The tribunal process needs to be reformed. It is too legalistic, it’s too adversarial, and it places people under a level of scrutiny and stress that is disproportionate to the nature of the incidents,” he said.

Richardson warned the current system was causing harm beyond those directly involved.

“This week we’ve subjected people to a process that has caused unnecessary stress and harm to them and their families,” he said, adding that the AFL had the resources to build a better model, one that prioritised people over procedure.

“We’re the premier sport in Australia … we’ve got the resources to make sure we manage these situations properly and put the people involved at the core of that process,” he said.

Richardson’s comments came after St Kilda coach Ross Lyon warned the AFL of the human toll inflicted by the tribunal system – declaring players caught up in high-profile cases are being placed under “incredibly challenging” stress that can leave lasting damage.

Speaking in Glenelg ahead of St Kilda’s clash with Adelaide on Saturday night, Lyon drew a line between the club’s situation involving young forward Lance Collard and the ongoing controversy surrounding Butters and umpire Nick Foot, arguing the process itself weighed heavily on all involved.

Collard was banned for nine weeks after he was found to have used a homophobic slur in the VFL – a case Lyon described as “delicate” – while Butters was fined $1500 after being found guilty of using abusive and insulting language towards Foot. Port Adelaide believe Butters has been branded a liar by the tribunal, which found it was “implausible that Mr Foot would invent the offending comment”.

“There’s been a lot of commentary, hasn’t there? A lot of noise,” Lyon said.

“It’s such a lit-up issue – a real firestorm – and I’ve been in the middle of it before. When you’re not across every detail from start to finish, it’s difficult to comment precisely.

“But what I will say is that, from clubland, we’re all concerned about our players and the stress they’re put under – and the potential damage to individuals.”

Lyon stopped short of criticising the tribunal directly, but his concern centred on the cumulative impact of the process on players, witnesses and officials who are drawn into prolonged and public scrutiny.

“Whether it’s Collard, Butters, or others pulled into these processes, it’s incredibly challenging,” he said.

“There’s no doubt there’ll be people who come out of it damaged, and that sits really heavily.

“At the end of the day, it’s a game – and we want to look after people.”

The Saints coach confirmed he has been in regular contact with Collard as the club weighs its next move, including a potential appeal, with the young forward’s welfare front of mind.

“I’ve been in contact with Lance pretty much every day. He’s a good young man,” Lyon said.

“There’s a lot to play out there and the club’s in a holding pattern, but we’re supporting him as best we can.”

Asked specifically about Collard’s wellbeing amid the fallout, Lyon pointed to the club’s internal support networks, including its First Nations players, but conceded the situation was far from ideal.

“He’s got great peer support … but clearly it’s challenging. It’s not ideal,” he said.

Lyon also acknowledged the broader ripple effects of tribunal cases, particularly when other players or officials are called upon to provide evidence – a scenario that has emerged in the Butters matter – but declined to be drawn on hypotheticals.

“I don’t deal in hypotheticals. That’s for the AFL and the clubs involved to manage,” he said.

Still, his central message was clear: while accountability remains essential, the system must not lose sight of the individuals at its centre.

That perspective took on added weight as Lyon opened his press conference by addressing the tragic circumstances surrounding Jordan Dawson, whose brother’s body was found after he went missing earlier this week.

“It would be remiss of me, on behalf of the St Kilda Football Club, not to acknowledge that sad and hidden situation at the Adelaide Football Club and for the whole Dawson family,” Lyon said.

“I think the footy community wraps its arms around people in these moments. There’s so much going on in the football world, but it does give you a reminder to put things in perspective, doesn’t it?”

Lyon said the incident reinforced the broader responsibilities clubs carry beyond results and performance, particularly in caring for young players navigating professional pressures and personal hardship.

“Football’s important, but it’s not everything,” he said.

“Particularly for young men, it’s about building great people. That’s why AFL clubs take such a holistic approach – no one looks after their players like AFL clubs do.

“Success without building great young men – I’m not sure that’s truly success.”

St Kilda are hoping to come out of this weekend hoping to complete the South Australian double, having defeated Port Adelaide in the final game of Gather Round on Sunday.

What other coaches are saying

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell labelled the Butters case a “debacle”.

“We have the tribunal for a reason, but it’s not for every reason,” Mitchell said on Thursday.

“There are much better ways we could have handled this, as a competition … it has been really messy; no one’s winning out of this battle.”

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan echoed his Essendon counterpart Brad Scott in querying how the tribunal came to its decision on Butters.

“Given all the noise and clutter that goes on out there [on the field], it’s more than possible for a misunderstanding to have occurred,” Fagan said on Thursday.

“Both think they’re right. I don’t know how you decide when there’s no conclusive evidence.

“How do you make a decision one way or the other? That didn’t seem to make any sense to me.”

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, speaking broadly about the tribunal, urged the use of “common sense”.

“We have got to protect the umpires, but the players also need support as well. We’re talking about two cohorts that need to be looked after,” he told reporters in Melbourne.

“I don’t know how that can happen in this situation. It sounds like both parties are under duress, and it’s not ideal.”