St Kilda’s pre-season from hell has moved offshore with four players suspended, fined and counselled following the misuse of prescribed medication and use of alcohol during a recent training camp in New Zealand.
Zac Dawson, Rhys Stanley, Paul Cahill and Jack Steven will all be suspended for six weeks and receive the maximum fine allowable under the AFL players code of conduct.
The club did not elaborate whether the matter related to one incident, saying in a statement: “four players breached team behavioural standards, including the use of alcohol, misuse of prescribed medication and leaving the team hotel against a player established policy.”
The incident follows a horror offseason for the club which was embroiled in a nude photo controversy.
In the photos, which were distributed on Facebook and Twitter, club captain Nick Riewoldt was pictured nude and team-mates Dawson and Nick Dal Santo partially naked.
A teenage girl had published the photos and caused a major stir in the media and with the club before the Saints reached a settlement with her.
Dawson was also banned from driving for a month last year.
That all came off the back of a frustrating end to the 2010 season for the Saints, who drew with Collingwood in the AFL grand final but went on to lose the replay convincingly.
The New Zealand camp, held in the rugged South Island, was intended to push the players out of their comfort zone in the lead-up to the 2011 season.
They arrived back in Australia on Saturday.
The statement said all four players met with the club’s leadership group and key senior players along with coach Ross Lyon and chief executive Michael Nettlefold.
During the suspension the players will be allowed to train with VFL affiliate Sandringham as well as being” required to find full time employment for the duration of their suspension” and “participate in relevant community programs in the City of Frankston area.”
An AFL spokesperson said the club would be handing it a full report on the incident.
karlos
Guest
Outside of NRL juristiction and another reason the game needs to be streamlined into the commision setup.
db swannie
Guest
Awww poor Nick ..still playing the victim ."They are out to get us." Seriously what "Other reality" do.these people live in.? Maybe ,just maybe if these idiots put their hands up & said ,yeh i did it ,instead of blaming the world ,then maybe their rampant stupidty,bad behavior etc wouldnt get a weekly run in the media. Grow up & take responsibility for your actions.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
St Nick defends the Saints: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/people-are-trying-to-break-us-down-nick-riewoldt/story-e6frf9jf-1225999786056?from=public_rss
Redb
Roar Guru
So basicially the QRL investigated itself.
karlos
Guest
Steve Ricketts | July 28, 2009 01:43pm A QUEENSLAND Rugby League investigation has cleared the Maroons of misbehaviour, including prescription party-drug and Red Bull use, before the third State of Origin match. Queensland coach Mal Meninga and manager Steve Walters were at QRL headquarters today for an Origin debrief with managing director Ross Livermore. Captain Darren Lockyer was co-incidentally at Suncorp Stadium and joined the discussions for a period. Livermore said the QRL's investigation had "proved negative". .............I would say the QRL are as bad as the AFL.
BigAl
Guest
. . Yes - huge Saints Legend - and Son Of Tassie . . R.I.P.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
hate to refer to a Saints legend under such circumstances, but just heard that the Doc has passed away
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
St Kilda has been inundated with job offers for the suspended four: http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=107243&utm_medium=RSS
Redb
Roar Guru
" seemed like a good idea at the time” That's what Sam Gilbert thought when he snapped those pics. :)
BigAl
Guest
Red . . . Malcolm Blight was not a culture changing coach at St Kilda - he was lazy and dis-interested ! The fact is that he was well past his best as an 'active' football person ! - at the time he was retired and living on the Gold Coast for heavens sake ! It was one of those coaching appointments that . . ." seemed like a good idea at the time"
Redb
Roar Guru
For the 3 younger players I think the 6 weeks and other programs,communtity service is about right. For Zac Dawson I would suspend him for 12 weeks. He is 24 almost 25, was already involved in the nude pics scandal, not so much as the instigator but in the photos,etc and therefore should have kept a very low profile and respected the rest of the players and the club. Regardless, to be consistent they probably had to hit him with the same penalty, but I wouldnt be surprised if Dawson struggles this year as his commitment is clearly lacking and if I was his coach he would have to work harder then anyone to rebuild faith. What would you suggest Karlos? What penalty did the QLD origin players suffer after it was discovered they were using a concoction of red bull, prescrip drugs,etc?
karlos
Guest
I understand they are getting a 6 week suspension. I would guess that would not include any comp games. Soft discipline again fellas?
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Derryn Hinch's take: http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/blog-with-derryn-hinch/at-least-no-sheep-were-involved/20110201-1ac6h.html
Redb
Roar Guru
St Kilda long had a reputation for tolerating off field cultural issues and on field bad boys. Tony Lockett, Barry Hall, Spider Everitt all a product of the Saintz machine. They moved those boys on and they straightened up mostly. They have long chewed up coaches as well who tried to change the culture. eg: Malcolm Blight. Over the last decade they have largely shed this image, St Kilda from the mid 2000s were respected as a club and built a very good list. It appears to be falling part at the seems. There is undoubtedly a culture problem at the club. I dont think its the coach Ross Lyon, but part of the club is seriously missing the point. There is talk today that the Saintz have not utilised many of the development programs offered by the AFLPA. That will change for sure. The good news is that St Kilda are vulnerable. :) See ya at the NAB Cup 18 Feb lads.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Given the training they receive, the endless publicity and the fact that just about everyone has a phone with a camera to record their misdeeds are these players just dumb? Could it be that this sort of behaviour is rife throughout sport and the few stories that get airplay are in fact a very small fraction of the events so the players think that the odds are they can get away with it? Or is it the old story of hubris? I'm a sports star so I can get away with anything?
st kilda insane
Guest
I can't believe the coach was saying that there's no culture problem because they're winning on the field.
The Answer
Guest
Great pre-season for the Saints. No cultural issues in that club whatsoever, I'm now waiting for the "whatever doesn't kill us will make us stronger" and "this adversity will bring the playing unti together" line. Can't wait.