A teenage Brisbane Lions draftee faces an AFL investigation after allegedly directing a homophobic slur at a Coburg player during a VFL match on Saturday.
Koby Evans, 18, reportedly made the comment, prompting officials to intervene. The young half-forward apologized both on the field and after the game. Brisbane Lions and Coburg clubs have since discussed the matter, which now rests with the AFL integrity unit.
Club Responds to Incident
The Brisbane Lions confirm awareness of the incident and ongoing collaboration with Coburg and the AFL. Officials note that Evans has apologized multiple times, expressing extreme remorse and accepting full responsibility.
“The club is disappointed the incident occurred but supports and educates the player,” the statement reads.
AFL Statement
The AFL acknowledges the issue from the VFL Round 6 clash between Coburg and Brisbane Lions, referring it to the integrity unit for review.
Player Background
Drafted as pick 38 in the 2025 AFL draft, Evans has featured in five VFL games for Brisbane this season.
Recent Precedents in AFL
This probe follows a pattern of similar cases. Last month, St Kilda’s Lance Collard received a nine-game suspension from the AFL tribunal for a homophobic slur, with two matches suspended; he had prior six-game ban in 2024.
Other players sanctioned over the past three seasons include Adelaide’s Izak Rankine, Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson, West Coast’s Jack Graham, Gold Coast’s Wil Powell, and Sydney’s Riak Andrews.
