Adelaide Crows players Brad Crouch and Tyson Stengle have been caught with illicit drugs and face fines and possible suspension from the AFL.
Crouch and Stengle were stopped and searched by police early Monday morning in inner Adelaide.
Police won’t charge the pair but have referred them to counselling, the Crows say.
But Crouch, a newly-turned free agent weighing offers to join rival clubs, and Stengle, who the Crows banned earlier in the year for drink-driving, face certain sanctions from their club and the league.
The Crows and police didn’t detail the specific substance found on the pair.
“The alleged conduct is serious and we will continue to ask questions and make sure we have all of the facts before settling on a definitive position going forward,” Adelaide’s head of football Adam Kelly said in a statement.
“The club will also liaise closely with the AFL and AFL Players Association during this process, including working through any consequences under the AFL’s illicit drug policy.
“What is absolutely clear is that all players across the league are well educated about drug use and relevant policies.
“As an organisation, we take a very strong stance against any behaviour of this kind.”
Kelly said the Crows understood neither player would be charged by police.
Stengle in April was banned by the Crows for four games after police caught him drink driving and driving an unregistered car.
The 21-year-old was due to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court next month to answer those charges.
Crouch has fallen off contract with the Crows, becoming a free agent when Adelaide’s season ended nine days ago.
Crouch, Adelaide’s 2019 club champion, was to have met with Crows management this week to decide his future.
But he and Stengle now face fines of up to $5000 among other sanctions.
Under the AFL’s drugs policy, a player is issued a strike when found to possess or use an illicit drug or returns a positive test for such substances.
A player will receive a $5000 fine for a first strike while also undergoing counselling and target testing.
In the event of a second strike, a player’s name is made public and he is suspended for four games. A third strike incurs a 12-match suspension.
An anti-doping violation, leading to year-long bans, is only issued when a player tests positive to illicit drugs on a match-day.
HR
Roar Rookie
'Shrooms.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
The odd thing is that the police say that they followed the 2 lads after observing them make the deal on CCTV yet they have not arrested the dealer! What is that about? Surely the dealer should be priority 1 (arresting them stops a lot more deals from occurring)? Again I smell fish!
AD
Guest
Thanks! Don't mind if I do!
Russ
Roar Rookie
Or they were doing it Mummy style in the back of the cab, dont know if you can get $100 notes anymore or Crouch called it in given he didnt want to leave the Crows
Russ
Roar Rookie
Crouch didnt want to go maybe this was his grand plan? albeit he will be poorer for it.
Ditto
Roar Rookie
So police are sitting in front of monitors scanning the streets of Adelaide, at 5.15 am, looking for people that appear wasted, then deploying a police car to intercept taxis, so they can search perpetrators and issue them with orders to attend drug education classes. My theory is that they were targeted because Stengle is aboriginal.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Sounds like we'll see if the marriage can be given another go!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Marijuana?
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Touche Rowdy - not many would have got that. Long live Gunther Toody, oo-oo !
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Yeah Danger is your trump card when he goes forward - a la Dusty and Robbie Gray. This will be a fascinating contest with the loser destined to struggle from then on.
Willie
Roar Rookie
Not sure if it is true, but it was said on radio 5AA that it was cocaine.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Well at least we pretty much know what happened in the Crouch/Stengle incident. The Jack Watts hit run situation on the other hand ... the plot thickens!
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Yeah same. Funny that. Saw him at the chip shop once but he didn't look well.
HR
Roar Rookie
You know, you might be on to something there...
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
I hope that the punishment is condign and commensurate with the offense. Wait,you can't have both... Imagine having a police officer pontificating about the virtues of CCTV in your apprehension.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Met him at a BBQ! You?
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I read just up the page they were just young fellas having a little harmless fun, just like all the other young fellas about the place (who are stuck with the lower priced poorer quality fun admittedly). They are not harming anyone, they said. They are not harming themselves, they said. What is all the fuss about?
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Oh you know Benny too
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
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