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Young Collingwood defender, Marley Williams, is providing yet another headache for the image conscious bosses down at AFL house.
As we all know by now, Williams has been found guilty of grievous bodily harm after breaking a man’s jaw in an incident that took place out front of an Albany nightclub in December 2012. The victim was felled with one punch.
Williams’ punishment, which could include a gaol term, will be decided at a sentencing hearing to be held in April.
While Collingwood have vowed to stick by their young player and have indeed suggested that he will play in this weekend’s final pre-season game against the Gold Coast Suns, the AFL are not so sure.
The keepers of the code, led by CEO Andrew Demetriou, are ever vigilant when it comes to ‘brand protection’ and the thought of having a convicted criminal running about in its ranks must be giving them palpitations.
After all, it’s not a good look, and we all know how much the league hates it when one of those develop!
Even if Williams plays this weekend, the league will have the final say on the 20-year-old’s immediate playing future, a point made loud and clear yesterday by AFL spokesman Patrick Keane.
“Our position,” he said, “is that the AFL is reviewing the full circumstances of the Marley Williams case and will hold discussions with the Collingwood Football Club before making a determination on his playing eligibility for the home-and-away season.”
While the league has no specific ruling that precludes Williams from lining up for the Magpies on match day, one suspects that they will turn to their tried and tested catch all, the one we all know and love, that favourite of favourites – bringing the game into disrepute.
Oh how they love trotting that one out.
But is banning the boy – and let’s face it, that is probably what is going to happen – really necessary at all?
Yes, he was very foolish to become involved in such a skirmish, even if, as suggested in some quarters, it was in self defence.
But, as he has already been found guilty by law and will be handed what the justice system will deem to be an appropriate penalty in April, does the AFL really need to punish him further?
I waver wildly on this one and would be interested to hear what other Roarers think.
On one hand we’ve got Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, and in fact the whole club, seemingly in Williams’ corner, and all credit to them for supporting the youngster in what must be a difficult time.
But on the other hand we can’t forget about the victim either.
Someone somewhere suffered through the actions of Williams and was left with a shattered jaw and that, we must remember, is unacceptable.
By all accounts, Williams has been the model citizen since the incident and no doubt greatly regrets what happened. Given his time again I am sure he would have handled things differently.
As Buckley said last weekend, “We don’t condone violence in any shape or form and Marley has shown great remorse for his actions, but his behaviour and his actions since that day have been exemplary.”
This is all good to hear, but is it enough to allow him to escape unsanctioned by the AFL?
Players have been punished for less, and while it may become a mute point anyway if Williams does receive a gaol sentence, what happens if he is penalised financially or given community service of some description?
How does the AFL react then? How do they arrive at an appropriate penalty?
One wonders if they should be even handing out a penalty if the main reason for doing so is to protect their precious ‘brand’. Surely sympathy for the victim or genuine concern for the violence on our streets would be a better reason.
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