Geelong police have revealed a shocking and disturbing practice emerging from suburban and country football clubs in Victoria – the supply and use of the drug ice as a performance enhancing substance.
Reports emerging from the Herald Sun reveal that players as young as 14 have been supplied with the drug, which is used just minutes before running out onto the field.
The purpose of the endeavour is allegedly to harness the drug’s ability to make an individual feel invincible before facing their opponents.
The danger of consuming the drug then becomes not only the adverse physical effects on the taker, but also the risk for opposing players who have to face an opponent with potentially increased levels of aggression.
Tony Francis of the Geelong police, who is leading the town’s fight against ice, spoke to the media on the extent of the problem.
“We know coaches have given players ice and we know players are using ice as a performance-enhancer.
“We know through police channels that it is being used as a performance-enhancing drug and we know kids in the teenage bracket are using it.
“We know coaches who are giving it to people to enhance their performance. It makes people feel like Superman. They are ready to run through brick walls but there are huge side effects with the paranoia and psychosis it can cause.
“It also affects your heart so there are real medical issues associated with it.”
Jackson
Guest
Oh, look ... a clown.
Prefessor
Guest
I have yet to read a single article on this that actually mentions any proof that any players are using ice as a performance enhancer. "We know coaches have given players ice" if that was really the case wouldn't they be making arrests instead of telling all the newspapers? Especially if said coach was providing it to "14 year old players" the sicko would have been all over the front pages. I have read a lot of people saying that they heard or that they think or that old mate from across the street told them but no one has come out with any proof of anything, no arrests, no nothing. It's like a school yard.
Don Freo
Guest
Not really.
Bobbo7
Guest
Very funny!
Ant
Guest
Gee, Ben Cousins might want to hand his Brownlow back. I wondered where he got his aggression and strength from. West Coast's flag should be under intense scrutiny.
Bill
Guest
I am sick of the media's infatuation with Essendon's drug program. Ice is a regularly used by many AFL clubs to aid recovery from sports injuries. Besides, there was nothing in the eskies but cold water. If you say there was ice, prove it.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Excuse me for interrupting on an AFL story, but this must surely be a media beatup. I have no doubt there is an ice epidemic in Geelong, along with probably every smallish town in Aus' , but the idea that a coach is promoting and supplying it to 14 year olds is ludicrous to say the least. I will acknowledge there most definately are some 14 year olds using ice, some before games, because they think in their messed up lives that drugs will help give them an edge. But those kids aren't likely to go to too many training sessions or even commit to being part of a team. I've seen it at the early twenty years age with guys using pre workout powder shakes that they claim it gives them a bit of a speed hit. But apart from of an increase in stamina there's really no benefit in terms of the downside they risk. I have no doubt that this stuff goes on at the elite level, but to make out it's rife is a bit of a stretch. It sounds to me like the full story to this is that a bloke who is involved with a footy club in regional Victoria got busted for supplying ice to some of his mates who happen to be in his footy team. But then again I'm a bit cynical.
yewonk
Guest
Does anyone check on compliance in the afl or have they always relied on influence over authorities to dodge problems.
Hambone
Guest
any prick giving this shit to a 14 year old kid should be hung drawn and quartered. i have seen to many people battle this crap as i grew up and it wrecked alot of them. it is endemic in every country these days and easy enough to fall down this rabbit hole without ur coach handing it to u in the sheds before u run out for a game, pathetic human beings.
BigAl
Guest
I'm sure I saw press photo of James Hird wearing one of those magnet wristbands a few years ago !!!!!!!?????
Steve J
Roar Guru
Yep - I've had a few WA mates claim that ice isn't performance enhancing ... but half the population is a bit of a stretch
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Beer & Ice - the perfect combination...
DB
Guest
What are you talking about?
SpongeBob
Guest
Not sure about performance enhancing, can vouch it makes my drinks colder and more enjoyable though.
Tanami Mehmet
Guest
More than half then DonWestCoast
Dean
Guest
Surely if the Geelong Police 'know' coaches are giving players ice, those coaches would be behind bars. This wreaks of a media beat-up. So some morons think ice will up their performance, I saw players training in those magnet wristbands and just about every other fad available too at different times. There are idiots that will fall for anything, but any coach that thinks something like this will aid their players is not only a criminal but must be the worst coach I've ever heard of.
Baz
Guest
Dear AFL Time to venture down from the moral high ground and accept,that the game has the same social evils that have reared their heads in other codes. Admitting a problem is the first step towards dealing with it.
Don Freo
Guest
Geez you are melodramatic. Half the population...pfff. Most people would have no opinion at all. They just know it is bad. By all means, affirm the warning of Tony Francis but don't get silly about WA's mindset.
Tanami Mehmet
Guest
Living in Western Australia, approximately half the population have always maintained ice is not a performance enhancing substance. Reading this and a few other articles recently has led me to believe they were either ignorant or lying.