Taylor Walker banned for 6 matches for Peek Rule offence

Prominent Australian Rules footballer Taylor Walker of the Adelaide Crows has received a 6-match ban and $20,000 (AUD) fine after a racial vilification investigation under the League's 'Peek Rule'.

After the investigation and conciliation process Walker admitted to making offensive racial-based comments about an indigenous reserve footballer, Robbie Young, in a game Walker attended on 17 July 2021.

In a statement released by the Australian Football League ('AFL') they said an official laid a complaint against Walker, alleging he engaged in prohibited conduct under Rule 35 of the AFL Rules.

Peek Rule

Rule 35 of the AFL Rules, known as the 'Peek Rule' named after the late AFL administrator Tony Peek, deals with discrimination, including racial, religious, sexual and disability vilification incidents connected with the game.

The AFL recently expanded the rule's scope to include amateur and community, as well as professional, football and extended mechanisms to report allegations. Walker is the first high-profile case to come under this expanded jurisdiction.

Rule 35.1 provides:

'No person ... shall act towards or speak to any other person in a manner, or engage in any other conduct which threatens, disparages, vilified or insults another person ..."

The Rule provides for conciliations to be held usually in strict confidentiality.

Only unsuccessful conciliations are referred to a disciplinary tribunal.

The Walker conciliation, held in Adelaide on 5 August 2021, successfully reached an outcome.

Rule 35.7 provides:

"Where a complaint is resolved by conciliation, the only public statement that shall be made concerning the complaint and its resolution shall be that agreed upon by the parties."

Sanction

Walker expressed in the AFL statement that he was deeply "embarrassed, ashamed and remorseful" over the incident. In addition to the fine and suspension, his other sanctions, which all parties agreed to through the conciliation process, included Walker undertaking an education program and privately addressing players from the football clubs involved, it was announced.

Walker will not be eligible for selection at any level until round 4 of the 2022 AFL season.

AFL Public Statement (6 August 2021)