St Kilda will seek to overturn Lance Collard’s massive nine-week suspension as they attempt to clear his name over his use of a homophobic slur.

Collard was slapped with a nine-week ban, with two weeks suspended, on Tuesday after a lengthy AFL tribunal hearing, which said Collard’s language was “entirely unacceptable.”

His sanction was to be served consecutively with a two-week ban he received for striking in the same match, effectively ruling him out for nine weeks.

However, the saga is not over with St Kilda revealing they will now challenge not only the sanction but also the guilty verdict as Collard has maintained his innocence throughout the process.

“As a club, we will continue to stand by Lance, who maintains his position of innocence. This process has had a considerable impact on Lance, and we are committed to ensuring he is not only supported but that his integrity is defended through the appropriate process,” they wrote in a statement.

“We also recognise and empathise with the impact the ongoing and public nature of this matter has had, particularly on members of the LGBTQIA+ and First Nations communities.

“The AFL will now determine the timing of the appeal hearing, which is expected for next week. As the process remains ongoing, the club will not be making any further comment at this time.”

Collard has maintained his innocence throughout the process, including signing a statutory declaration, insisting he called Frankston’s Darby Hipwell a “maggot.”

Coach Ross Lyon said the AFL had created a “firestorm” over their handling of the case.

“It has been lit up, hasn’t it; like it’s a firestorm and the AFL is in the middle of it and the processes are in the middle of it,” Lyon told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.

“And I’m not across all the minute details.

“But I think all of us from club-land are concerned about our individual players and the stress that they’re put through and potential damage to that individual, whether it’s Butters or Collard or the people being caught up on the other side of the fence.

“It’s very challenging, and there’s no doubt there’s going to be losers and people that are damaged ... that sits really heavily.”

The AFL Players’ Association also took a dim view of the process, saying they would continue to support Collard as they called for a more effective and united approach.

“The industry remains aligned in wanting to rid the game of homophobia, but this process again highlights the need for a more effective and united approach,” Gallagher said.

“The Tribunal has, rightly, acknowledged that ‘issues such as racism and homophobia are difficult and sensitive issues and the manner of dealing with them is not enhanced if the starting point is a fierce debate over whether the words were used’.

“Lance has maintained his innocence, and this has been consistent throughout. We’re disappointed the Tribunal did not accept that evidence. We’ll continue to fully support him and the club through this process including exploring any options to appeal.

“A holistic solution that doesn’t focus solely on punitive measures can only be realised through meaningful engagement with LGBTIQA+ community leaders, education that reflects diverse backgrounds and experiences of players, alongside a disciplinary process that is fit for purpose, minimises and remedies the harms caused and shifts behaviour.”