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7 months ago
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Port Adelaide star Jeremy Finlayson has revealed that he's 'p***ed off' with his three-week ban for an on-field homophobic slur as his wife Kellie also lashed out at his treatment.
Finlayson was banned for three weeks and ordered to attend and pay for a Pride In Sport training program after using the term 'f****t' to describe an Essendon player in the Power's round four match.
While appearing on wife Kellie's 'Sh!t Talkers' podcast this week, the AFL star spoke briefly about how he feels about the sanction.
'(It) p***ed me off that I got a three-week suspension, that's it, that's tipped me over the edge,' he said.
'We'll leave it there and [at] that.'
Suspended Port Adelaide player Jeremy Finlayson says he's p***ed off with suspension
Finlayson (pictured with wife Kellie) was hit with a three-week ban for a homophobic slur
When the story was reported on by the Adelaide Advertiser, Kellie took to social media to slam the publication - despite writing a column for the paper.
'The fact that this is the grab that you've taken from such a powerful podcast episode highlighting the daily struggles that a man has gone through while still showing up to perform for the incredibly AFL community and playing the game he loves is incredibly embarrassing,' she wrote in a since-deleted post.
'You had the chance to highlight the incredible man that he is, the unbelievable devastating few years he's lived and you chose to beat him up and tear him down after only weeks ago reporting on the affects the media has on these boys' mental health.'
The podcast episode primarily dealt with Finlayson fielding questions from listeners about wife Kellie's battle with cancer, and juggling his role as a professional footballer with being a husband and dad.
Finlayson formally apologised for making the slur as he waited for the outcome of the AFL's investigation.
'I take full responsibility for what happened Friday night,' Finlayson said in a statement released by Port Adelaide.
'The word I used is very unacceptable in the game of football. We need to stamp it out and I'm very remorseful.'
'I knew straight away that it was not acceptable and I take full responsibility,' Finlayson said.
Kellie Finlayson lashed out at the way her husband's remarks were reported by the same newspaper she writes a column for
Kellie, who is bravely battling cancer, said her husband has had 'an unbelievably devastating few years'
Finlayson apologised for his comment during the game, saying he took full responsibility - before blasting the length of his ban
'I addressed it at the time and ... let everyone know what happened, and it's now in the hands of the AFL to investigate.
'I'm continuing to reflect and improve myself, getting all the education I can to make myself better.'
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