Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade is refusing to “jump at shadows” after explosive claims of illicit drug use made by Karmichael Hunt were made public on Sunday.
Just hours before the Suns took the field against Carlton for their 100th AFL match, the club announced that they would launch an investigation into allegations of cocaine use made by Hunt during his time at the club that were published by NewsCorp Australia outlets on Sunday morning.
An injury-depleted Gold Coast side suffered a 34-point defeat at the hands of the Blues – Eade said he had not raised the issue with his players before the game and was unsure if it had played any part in their performance.
He said that he would leave the investigation to club chief executive Andrew Travis and the AFL, and would continue to go about his task of trying to move the besieged club off the bottom of the ladder.
“We’ll wait until we get facts – there’s going to be an investigation and there’s no sense jumping at shadows,” Eade said.
“There hasn’t been any facts presented previously, there’s no facts at the moment (but) there’s been a fair amount of mud slung.
“It’s interesting that the story would come out on the day that we play our 100th game. Our intel says that they probably knew the story a few weeks ago, so it’s interesting that it comes out now.
“You can read into that what you like.”
There was, at least, some good news on a dark day for the club, with skipper Gary Ablett declaring he would almost certainly return from his much-discussed shoulder injury next week against North Melbourne.
Ablett said that the club’s medical staff had ruled him out of the clash with the Blues, which was expected to mark his return from the injury that has kept him out since round two.
“There was talk in the paper that it was my decision whether I would be out there but that wasn’t the case at all,” Ablett told 3AW.
“I sat down with the medical staff and they said the right decision would be to give the shoulder another week of contact work. If it holds up to that then I’m very confident I’ll be out there.”
Knoxy
Guest
The AFL will fine Gold Coast players for 'not' taking drugs just like they fined Melbourne for 'not' tanking.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
If only there was a 3 strikes rule for ignorance.
Bruce
Guest
Here we go - the cover ups on. This will be dealt with under the 3 strike rule - no one will be named, no one will suffer consequences. The AFL will walk away happy with another smother.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Well a lot of things that were rumour and innuendo on the GC have been brought firmly into the spotlight by Hunt. The questions that need to be answered by the GC in my mind are as follows: 1. How much did Guy McKenna know about all this? McKenna earlier this year in his one-on-one with Mike Sheehan claimed total ignorance about players off the rails during his West Coast days and also ignorance about any Collingwood players using the self reporting loop-hole while an assistant at the Club. All these issues developed under his time as Head Coach of the GC. 2. How much did Travis Auld know? He was the CEO of the Club and must have been privy to any failed drug test results - if not the player names at least the number that failed tests. He now works a cushy role at AFL House and as per McKenna above this culture developed while he was in charge on the GC. 3. How did the Suns possibly think they could ignore everything that went on last year around the Mad Monday binge if reporters like Barrett had so much info? They could not have honestly expected this to go quietly into the night. 4. Where is the Chairman John Witheriff and why is he silent on almost everything and anything to do with the Club other than two ridiculous press conferences last year, the first announcing the Suns to win a flag in 3 years and the second a very embarrassing presser when they sacked McKenna. 5. Who would want Hunt as a teammate? Happy to name names to save himself and throw everyone under the bus. The AFL should be considering what they can do in relation to the negative press he has brought to the game and the Suns after being paid millions to promote the Club and the AFL Brand.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Two things - All sports cover up when the shit hits the fan, if you think your favourite sport doesn't do this on occasion then you are either delusional or naive. Secondly Eade was only appointed as the head coach of the Suns after the season had finished and after K Hunt had left the Club - not exactly sure how any of those issues can possibly be his fault when he wasn't even involved at the Club. Guy McKenna and Travis Auld (former CEO now working at the AFL) have plenty to answer for
jax
Guest
Damien Barrett said that the GCS had a drug problem on April 1st. He approached the club and told them what he knew. They sat on their hands and told Barrett that he was wrong and to move on. GCS did not learn anything new with Hunt's allegations this weekend. They knew all of this back in March. The club looks to have a number of serious problems.
joe b
Guest
The ARU, and Queensland Reds, must be scrambling to ensure he can't infect their players. Suns will have to make some tough decisions with some of the playing group, alcohol and drugs seem to be an issue with the younger players. They might want to talk to Worsfold and see if he has any sage advice on handling players who won't acknowledge a drugs problem.
Nick
Guest
Have to laugh the bloke the AFL brought in to be the Face of AFL in Qld and for a hefty sum is possibly the ruin of AFL in Qld Maybe if they hadn't paid him so much for so little he couldn't have afforded the drugs.
Bruce
Guest
The AFL is a fundamentally dishonest sport. From top to bottom everyone will lie, cover-up and obfuscate on any issue that may bring the code into disrepute. Now Eade is saying that it is a conspiracy that this news came out before the Suns 100th game because their 'Intel" told them so. Maybe his Intel should have been keeping an eye on the drug taking players rather than monitoring the press. Absolute joke.