'Hurtful, offensive': Suns player slammed over slur

UPDATE: AFL Players' Association CEO Paul Marsh has backed the lengthy ban handed to Gold Coast Suns defender Wil Powell for directing a homophobic slur towards a Lions rival on Sunday.

Powell has been slapped with a five-week ban after admitting to using the slur.

"We are disappointed at the homophobic language used by Wil Powell towards a Brisbane player on Sunday," Marsh said in a statement on Thursday.

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"Wil's words are hurtful, [and] offensive, and don't belong on or off the football field, and we acknowledge the impact these situations cause the LGBTIQA+ community.

"I have personally spoken to Wil and he is extremely remorseful. He will use this as an opportunity to educate himself and, as he said today, ensure this doesn't happen again.

"I have also spoken to Brisbane players who have accepted Wil's apology.

"Given the AFL's recent public position, we are not surprised by the size of this sanction, but we continue to believe the industry needs a formalised and consistent sanctioning framework. We have begun constructive discussions with the AFL about this."

In a club statement, Gold Coast said Powell informed them of the comment during the match. He also apologised to the player mid-game, at the conclusion, and then again hours later.

The statement said Powell fully co-operated with a now-completed AFL Integrity Unit investigation.

"As soon as the word came out of my mouth, I knew I had made a terrible mistake," Powell said on Thursday.

"I have offered my apology to the Brisbane player and would like to publicly apologise for my comment. I will take full responsibility for what I said.

"I know there is no place for comments of that nature and I will accept the repercussions for my actions. I should have known better and I need to prove this with my actions moving forward."

AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said the league was disappointed "to be dealing with a similar incident in only a matter of weeks", referring to a three-week ban given to Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson for similar comments.

Meade said extra weight was placed on Powell's comments given the proximity to the Finlayson incident.

"The AFL acknowledges Powell's remorse and cooperation, and while it has considered the circumstances in which the comment was made, there are no excuses for this conduct in our game," he said.

"We foreshadowed both publicly and privately that after what transpired at Gather Round if a similar incident were to happen there would be further consequences.

"There could be no clearer message - homophobia has no place in our game, nor in society. We want all people in the community to feel welcomed in our game and comments such as Powell's only takes away from this. 

"As a code, as a community, we all must be better."

The AFL also said the vilification component of annual training given to all AFL and AFLW players would be reviewed and expanded.

Suns chief executive Mark Evans said the club condemned the comments but would support Powell's "endeavour to redeem himself".

"Wil's comment was completely unacceptable, and in no way reflects what we stand for as a football club," Evans said.

"We have spoken to Wil to ensure he understands the severity of his comment and the effect comments like these can have on others. He has committed to work hard to educate and better himself and he will have the club's support to make those improvements."

Powell will be out until the Suns' round 15 clash against Fremantle in Perth.