Wil Powell reveals family pain after homophobic slurs as he vowes to stand up in the future

Gold Coast defender Wil Powell has opened up on the fallout from his use of a homophobic slur and says he “hurt the people he loves”, including his two gay brothers.

As the AFL was hit with another scandal surrounding a homophobic outburst, with St Kilda forward Lance Collard copping a six-week ban this week, Powell said his own comments earlier this year were “stupid and illogical.”

Powell’s outburst in the Suns’ round eight match against Brisbane came just a month after Jeremy Finlayson was banned for three games following his Gather Round indiscretion against Essendon.

The West Australian product was banned for five weeks, but Powell said the biggest pain was knowing that he had hurt the people closest to him.

“As soon as I said it, I knew it was stupid and illogical, and no one should ever say something like that to another person,” Powell told AFL.com.au.

“I’ve had some hard conversations with family members. I’ve got two gay brothers. I was very apologetic to them.

“I deeply regretted it, and now for the rest of my career, it’s hanging over my head, and I have to live with what I’ve done. I feel stupid for doing it.”

In addition to his ban, Powell was required to undergo mandatory education but says the lessons he learnt from speaking with family will not be wasted.

“I think I learnt the most off my brothers because they’re family members I’ve hurt, and to hear them speak ... it really narrowed down that what I’d done was very severe,” he said.

“I personally hurt the people I love. And hurt a whole wide community. It hurts.

“It’s on my shoulders now to call it out, whether it be on the field or even if I hear it as a back comment in the changerooms, even out in public. It’s just to stand up for that sort of thing now.”

His brothers will join him this weekend as Powell prepares to run out for his 100th game against GWS.

“The other boys that have hit milestone games have had videos, and their families talk about them,” he said.

“I’m living young fellas’ dreams out, and to play a brand of footy that kids can look up to and know that my family are proud of and my teammates are proud of is a really special feeling.

“It’s just seeing the people around you that you love so proud of you for what you do.”