Report Indicates Drug Culture Was Rampant at West Coast Blues Tyro
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44 SPORT WEDNESDAY MARCH 22 2017 Report indicates drug culture was rampant at West Coast Blues tyro FROM BACK PAGE four days in hospital after col- sion. club and my family and mates Gillard criticised ‘restric- setting The report even goes back lapsing in a nightclub. “We all have emotional really helping me through it.” tions on testing and the confi- as far as 1998, mentioning Fletcher, who pleaded times throughout our careers The Gillard report said dentiality obligation which lofty goals three players ‘observed behav- guilty to cocaine offences in and our lives and I guess it’s there was ‘evidence that some restricts a club dealing with a ing in a highly stimulated fash- 2010 but avoided conviction, the challenge of how we get days before the incident, Flet- potential drug problem’. ion despite not drinking rarely spoke of the incident ex- through them,” he told Mel- cher in a highly-stimulated The report is critical of in midfield alcohol’. cept to describe it as ‘life- bourne publication The Age in state, was showing players and coach John Worsfold — now Gillard also wrote of the changing’ until last year, when 2016. others in a nightclub, an image at Essendon — and Eagles ALREADY bearing a heavy post-season trip to Las Vegas he opened up an interview “The support network was a on a digital camera of what ap- chief executive Trevor Nisbett, load on his young shoulders, where Chad Fletcher spent about his battle with depres- big one for me with the footy peared to be the drug ice”. the Herald Sun reported. Carlton star Patrick Cripps wants to join the ranks of Nat Fyfe and Patrick Dangerfield as a goal-kicking midfielder in his third AFL season. Cripps is a certain starter in tomorrow’s season-opener against Richmond at the MCG after spending three months on the sidelines with a stress reaction in his lower back. The 22-year-old has fast be- come arguably the Blues’ most important player as they enter the second year of an aggress- ive list rebuild. But he is determined to take his game to the next level, identifying Brownlow medall- ists Dangerfield and Fyfe and Western Bulldogs prodigy Marcus Bontempelli as players he hopes to emulate. “I want to get forward a bit more this year and try and hit the scoreboard a little bit more,” he said. “If you look at the elite midfielders in the comp — Dangerfield, Fyfe, Bontempelli — they kick goals. “I think if midfielders can start kicking goals that really hurts the opposition and puts scoreboard pressure on them.” Scoring is one of a number of areas the Blues must im- prove this year if they are to si- lence their doubters, with many pundits and bookmakers tipping a bottom- four finish. Playing as a full-time onbal- ler, Cripps booted 10 goals last season compared to Danger- field’s 24 and Bontempelli’s 26. With Matthew Wright’s 22 majors leading the Blues’ tally — the lowest return of any club’s leading goal-kicker — it’s little surprise they strug- gled. Cripps should receive DOG’S BREAKFAST more midfield support this year from skipper Marc Mur- Magpies atar Jordan De Goey has received various punishment from the AFL and Collingwood after originally lying about his hand injury Picture: MICHAEL KLEIN phy, who played just 10 games last year, as well as former MICHAEL RAMSEY De Goey, who insisted al- speaking to media on Monday. coaches and all of the other several weeks with a broken Geelong recruit Billie Smedts. cohol was not a factor in the “You won’t believe me — he people at Collingwood who are finger in February last year. Sending Cripps forward COLLINGWOOD midfielder incident, underwent surgery was playing with his dog,” here to help him be the best There was speculation at more often could also reduce Jordan De Goey has been on Monday and is set to be Buckley said. “If we don’t player and person he can be. the time Howe was hurt during the risk of his back injury flar- slapped with an AFL suspen- sidelined for up to a month. laugh, we’ll cry about it — or I “He now has the challenge a game of cricket but the Mag- ing up again. sion after breaking his hand Collingwood have imposed will, anyway.” in front of him to win back the pies remain adamant it hap- during a fight and deceiving a three-match suspension, to Magpies football boss Geoff confidence and trust he has pened while playing frisbee AFL PREMIERSHIP - ROUND 1 the Magpies about the injury. be served once he is fully re- Walsh says it was made clear lost and we hope that Jordan with his dog. De Goey initially told the covered from his injury, and to De Goey that it would not will turn this moment in his ca- De Goey has emerged as Magpies he had caught his fined De Goey $5000. be easy for him to regain the reer to his advantage by com- one of Collingwood’s most hand on the edge of a door He will also undertake 10 trust of the club and his team- mitting to being an promising young midfielders while throwing a toy for his weeks of community service. mates. “Jordan is a young man outstanding footballer, team- and was expected to be an im- dog. But the 21-year-old admit- The ordeal is an embarrass- who made a mistake. That is mate and ambassador.” portant contributor in his third ted to club officials late on ing distraction for the Magpies one thing,” Walsh said. The bizarre explanation De AFL season. CARLTON V Monday that he had in fact on the eve of the AFL season, “The issue we have had to Goey originally offered for the He joins a growing injury RICHMOND hurt his hand while involved in especially considering coach deal with over the last 24 hours injury echoed a similar tale in- list including star recruit Dan- TOMORROW, MCG, 5.50PM a fight at a bar in St Kilda last Nathan Buckley repeated De is how he compounded that by volving teammate Jeremy iel Wells, Jamie Elliott and WATCH LIVE ON Friday night. Goey’s original story while misleading his teammates, Howe, who was sidelined for Levi Greenwood. Phillips in line for post-season gongs after year to remember JESPER FJELDSTAD end of the football season — was March 28. On that night, fellow significance of the event when this is the inaugural season and nominated for her matchwin- Crow Ebony Marinoff is also in asked to compare it to her bas- although it’s only a national- ADELAIDE’S women’s team is ning goal against Carlton at The- contention for the rising star ketball highlights, which include wide competition,” Phillips said.\ predictably led by co-captain barton Oval in Round 3 and her award for the best player under two WNBA championships — “But it almost feels like win- Erin Phillips when it comes the mark over Melbourne’s Mel the age of 21. one with the Indiana Fever and ning a gold medal at an Olym- competition’s inaugural post- Hickey in Darwin in Round 6. There will also be awards for one Phoenix Mercury — and a pics or world championships. It’s season honours. Voting for both competitions the competition’s leading goal- silver medal with the Opals at going to be absolutely up there Phillips, 31, has been short- can be done on line and will be kicker and the player voted best the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. (in achievements) if we do pull it listed for both the AFLW Goal of open until 11.29pm on Thursday. afield in the grand final. Phillips also won a gold medal off. It’ll be very special.” the Year and Mark of the Year. The awards for the aforemen- But first on Phillips’ agenda is with the Opals at the world Phillips is the daughter of The professional basketballer tioned categories will be handed the grand final against Brisbane championships in Brazil in 2006. Greg Phillips, an eight-time — who will return to WNBA du- out on the AFLW’s awards night on the Gold Coast on Saturday. “It’s hard to kind of put in per- premiership player with Port Ad- ties with Dallas in the US at the in Melbourne on Tuesday, She did not the underplay the spective how big this is because elaide Magpies in the SANFL. NTNE01Z01MA - V1.