(L-R) Joe Anderson, Jeff Garlett and Eddie Betts - Carlton AFL players.
Amidst the festive season frivolities have been a number of stories, which surely must remind famous, young sportspeople about the dangers of taking their Christmas and New Year celebrations too far.
There’s no doubt, this is the time of the year to relax for many of us and just last week I received a number of emails from AFL clubs who too confirmed they were shutting up shop for a few weeks off over the festive period.
And for many from the younger generation, a couple of weeks off over the Christmas and New Year period brings the silly season. After all, it is a time for enjoyment and an opportunity to let your hair down.
But there are unique temptations for young sportspeople, especially considering their levels of disposable income and fame, such as our AFL stars.
Indeed, last week Carlton management were left with a mess after their players went on a ‘booze cruise’ on Port Phillip Bay, which club CEO Greg Swann described as the ‘players’ unofficial end of year celebrations’.
The carnage was a range of well-publicised issues involving players Andrew Walker, Ryan Houlihan, Eddie Betts, Mitch Robinson and newcomer Levi Casboult.
And then the story emerged of St Kilda’s troubled new recruit Andrew Lovett, who had been suspended by his club after it was confirmed police were investigating him over allegations made by a woman after a night out at a Richmond pub.
And at a time when footy isn’t being played, issues like these are hardly what club management needs, with a lack of stories elsewhere in the sport certain to ensure these issues draw keen scrutiny.
Alcohol clearly played a role in all these dramas and I dare say excess consumption was the evil.
Indeed, taking things to excessive levels is the unique worry which rich sports stars must deal with, given their income and fame.
And a couple of weeks off, offers them the chance to exploit that tempting opportunity and it clearly has been by a few.
But beyond our borders in the last few days, a frightening story emerged about another sports star.
Promising Argentina and River Plate football star Diego Buonanotte was at the driver’s seat when he lost control of his Peugeot 307 and slammed into a tree in a fatal accident in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Buonanotte’s three passengers, all childhood friends of his, were killed in the accident.
The 21-year-old footballer, who was part of the Argentina team which won Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008, was the only survivor in the crash.
The crash occurred at 6.45am as they were returning home after reportedly spending the night in a nightclub, although it should be acknowledged it hasn’t been revealed if speed or alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Indeed, the details of the accident haven’t yet fully emerged and whether or not Buonanotte was at fault hasn’t been revealed. But the circumstances are worrying.
It has been said by the River Plate club doctor that he didn’t expect Buonanotte to play for at least seven months.
But the mental trauma which the incident will cause him is obviously unmeasurable. It is believed he is yet to be informed of his childhood friends’ deaths.
Not wanting to accuse Buonanotte of anything, it is an awful reminder of the dangers of overindulgence, whether it be drinking too much alcohol, driving an expensive car too fast or even staying out too late.
After all, it is the season to be jolly, not sorry.
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"That's the worst plan I have ever heard in my life!"
How could you, Hughesy!
A few weeks ago, I dubbed Carlton and Geelong as the premiership frontrunners - at a time when they sat, respectively, fourth and first…
An innocuous incident - but any trouble for the Chad?
Safe to say Hodgey was fighting a lone battle with this take!
Surely this had to be recalled!
