Discussion Sam Fisher charged with drug trafficking

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AFL 2022: St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt pleads with AFL after Sam Fisher charged with drug trafficking​

Nick Riewoldt has declared Sam Fisher’s plight as a line in the sand moment for the AFL. And he said the response from the player’s union was deemed inadequate.

Jon Ralph Jon Ralph
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4 min read
May 23, 2022 - 7:32PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom




10:09
Riewoldt's POWERFUL plead to Fisher

AFL: [6:34 pm] Max Laughton (MEL) can we get this Riewoldt chat about Fisher for the site please? Riewoldt on jailed ex-teammate. Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt speaks honestly about his former teammate Sam Fisher being in jail on drug charges. li


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St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt says too many ex-players are slipping through the cracks with issues including drug addiction as he urged the league to make transition from the game the greatest issue in football.
Riewoldt spoke for the first time on Monday about the plight of long-time teammate Sam Fisher, who is in jail after being charged with trafficking a large amount of illicit drugs.
He could face up to 25 years in jail, with Fisher battling to find an identity post-football and spiralling out of control until a major police raid early last Wednesday.
Riewoldt told Fox Footy’s On The Couch in an emotional plea that teammates attempted to intervene when they realised Fisher was in deep trouble but realised it was too late.
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Nick Riewoldt has issued an emotional plea for players post-football. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Nick Riewoldt has issued an emotional plea for players post-football. Picture: Colleen Petch.
He said he asked the player union earlier this year to intervene in recent months on Fisher’s behalf as well as for other ex-players but believed the response was inadequate.
It comes as the AFL throws up radical proposals including not allowing players to sign the second contract of their careers if they are not enrolled in an education program or finding work outside of football.
It is understood the AFLPA had helped Fisher, who retired in 2016, over the years, but the union told the Herald Sun on Monday it has strict confidentiality provisions to safeguard players and would not comment.
“It is a cautionary tale. Enough is enough. There are not a lot of Sam Fisher type incidents but there are a lot of players slipping through the cracks,” Riewoldt said.

“That would be my experience that so many players are slipping through the cracks and when they come out the other side their lives are ending up in pretty horrific condition.
“Let this be the line in the sand moment that enough is enough. This is the cautionary tale.”
“The AFL and the AFL Players Association will concede the players’ transition out of the game is the greatest issue in football. Somewhere along the line it’s not working because the condition too many players are finding themselves in post-career is not at the level it should be. And we can do more as an industry. The AFLPA in particular needs to champion this cause and take the lead on this cause to stop this occurring.”
Riewoldt said the upcoming collective bargaining agreement talks were the perfect chance for AFL players to take less money in their pay packets but invest in programs that helped players exiting the game.
It is understood Fisher was a recreational drug user at times in his St Kilda career but his addiction issues only reached fever pitch when he left the game.
Riewoldt said the issues for players included drug use.
“Drugs are a massive part of it. At the moment the (illicit drugs) policy that exists is one that allows players wiggle room to tap into those things. I think that is an issue. “Players who take drugs in the AFL system do so because the system allows them to.”
The AFLPA told the Herald Sun on Monday night there were extensive services available for past and current players, but would not confirm if it had helped Fisher after his career.
“We have a range of services, including a national mental health and wellbeing network of 300 qualified psychologists and psychiatrists. We also provide assistance for those going through financial hardship and subsidise past player medical costs,” Marsh said.
“Many of the issues players are confronting are complex and, to ensure the best outcome for them, it’s important the AFL industry employs a collaborative approach with all stakeholders – AFL, clubs, players, coaches and player agents – because these are shared issues.
“While we have helped hundreds of players through a range of problems, we won’t speak to the specific support we provide individuals as this damages the confidentiality that is integral to our role. We do the majority of our work behind closed doors and it’s vital it remains that way, so it doesn’t discourage any individual member from coming to us to seek assistance.”
Riewoldt says he and teammates attempted to intervene when they realised Fisher was in dangerous territory but did not have the expertise.
“It landed pretty heavy, for everyone close to ‘Chips’,” Riewoldt said.
“A lot of his close teammates knew he had some issues. To this extent when it was laid bare a lot of us were surprised just how bad the situation had become. Then you do a little bit of inward reflecting on what more could we have done, the reflection on our group, our time as teammates. It has been a pretty tough week for all of us.
“Absolutely you do (feel some guilt) but I also know there have been a lot of Sam’s teammates that have done as much as they could, myself included, and some have gone to extraordinary levels involving conversations with family and friends and those close to Sam
“As a group we did as much as we could for Sam but at a time like this you realise how out of your depth you are when a teammate is facing challenges of the kind Sam has faced. I understand the questions will come about us and our group and our leadership but you can put your head on the pillow knowing you did as much as you could.”
 
Mowman said:

AFL 2022: St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt pleads with AFL after Sam Fisher charged with drug trafficking​

Nick Riewoldt has declared Sam Fisher’s plight as a line in the sand moment for the AFL. And he said the response from the player’s union was deemed inadequate.

Jon Ralph Jon Ralph
Follow
@RalphyHeraldSun

4 min read
May 23, 2022 - 7:32PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom




10:09
Riewoldt's POWERFUL plead to Fisher

AFL: [6:34 pm] Max Laughton (MEL) can we get this Riewoldt chat about Fisher for the site please? Riewoldt on jailed ex-teammate. Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt speaks honestly about his former teammate Sam Fisher being in jail on drug charges. li


AFL News​

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Follow
St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt says too many ex-players are slipping through the cracks with issues including drug addiction as he urged the league to make transition from the game the greatest issue in football.
Riewoldt spoke for the first time on Monday about the plight of long-time teammate Sam Fisher, who is in jail after being charged with trafficking a large amount of illicit drugs.
He could face up to 25 years in jail, with Fisher battling to find an identity post-football and spiralling out of control until a major police raid early last Wednesday.
Riewoldt told Fox Footy’s On The Couch in an emotional plea that teammates attempted to intervene when they realised Fisher was in deep trouble but realised it was too late.
Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
Nick Riewoldt has issued an emotional plea for players post-football. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Nick Riewoldt has issued an emotional plea for players post-football. Picture: Colleen Petch.
He said he asked the player union earlier this year to intervene in recent months on Fisher’s behalf as well as for other ex-players but believed the response was inadequate.
It comes as the AFL throws up radical proposals including not allowing players to sign the second contract of their careers if they are not enrolled in an education program or finding work outside of football.
It is understood the AFLPA had helped Fisher, who retired in 2016, over the years, but the union told the Herald Sun on Monday it has strict confidentiality provisions to safeguard players and would not comment.
“It is a cautionary tale. Enough is enough. There are not a lot of Sam Fisher type incidents but there are a lot of players slipping through the cracks,” Riewoldt said.

“That would be my experience that so many players are slipping through the cracks and when they come out the other side their lives are ending up in pretty horrific condition.
“Let this be the line in the sand moment that enough is enough. This is the cautionary tale.”
“The AFL and the AFL Players Association will concede the players’ transition out of the game is the greatest issue in football. Somewhere along the line it’s not working because the condition too many players are finding themselves in post-career is not at the level it should be. And we can do more as an industry. The AFLPA in particular needs to champion this cause and take the lead on this cause to stop this occurring.”
Riewoldt said the upcoming collective bargaining agreement talks were the perfect chance for AFL players to take less money in their pay packets but invest in programs that helped players exiting the game.
It is understood Fisher was a recreational drug user at times in his St Kilda career but his addiction issues only reached fever pitch when he left the game.
Riewoldt said the issues for players included drug use.
“Drugs are a massive part of it. At the moment the (illicit drugs) policy that exists is one that allows players wiggle room to tap into those things. I think that is an issue. “Players who take drugs in the AFL system do so because the system allows them to.”
The AFLPA told the Herald Sun on Monday night there were extensive services available for past and current players, but would not confirm if it had helped Fisher after his career.
“We have a range of services, including a national mental health and wellbeing network of 300 qualified psychologists and psychiatrists. We also provide assistance for those going through financial hardship and subsidise past player medical costs,” Marsh said.
“Many of the issues players are confronting are complex and, to ensure the best outcome for them, it’s important the AFL industry employs a collaborative approach with all stakeholders – AFL, clubs, players, coaches and player agents – because these are shared issues.
“While we have helped hundreds of players through a range of problems, we won’t speak to the specific support we provide individuals as this damages the confidentiality that is integral to our role. We do the majority of our work behind closed doors and it’s vital it remains that way, so it doesn’t discourage any individual member from coming to us to seek assistance.”
Riewoldt says he and teammates attempted to intervene when they realised Fisher was in dangerous territory but did not have the expertise.
“It landed pretty heavy, for everyone close to ‘Chips’,” Riewoldt said.
“A lot of his close teammates knew he had some issues. To this extent when it was laid bare a lot of us were surprised just how bad the situation had become. Then you do a little bit of inward reflecting on what more could we have done, the reflection on our group, our time as teammates. It has been a pretty tough week for all of us.
“Absolutely you do (feel some guilt) but I also know there have been a lot of Sam’s teammates that have done as much as they could, myself included, and some have gone to extraordinary levels involving conversations with family and friends and those close to Sam
“As a group we did as much as we could for Sam but at a time like this you realise how out of your depth you are when a teammate is facing challenges of the kind Sam has faced. I understand the questions will come about us and our group and our leadership but you can put your head on the pillow knowing you did as much as you could.”
Click to expand...


Nick seemed as flat as a tack on the commentary the other night. I think it's hit him hard.
 
gringo2011 said:
Nick seemed as flat as a tack on the commentary the other night. I think it's hit him hard.
Click to expand...
They seem to be great mates. Think a lot of 09/10 boys seem to have a close bond. Seemed like he and a few others tried to help him and it hadn’t worked. I’m gonna guess like Arno, gilbo tried helping.

Really liked sam, was always a nice guy when I said hello. Wishing him all the best
 

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Mowman said:
Tell that to the parents that are losing their young Kids to drugs and the ice battle
He didn't make a mistake he chose to be a drug dealer, He made that choice most likely through greed
Click to expand...
And the kids that are born to meth addicted parents. Can't think of many worse things than seeing parents that are clearly into meth pushing around prams.
 
gringo2011 said:
Nick seemed as flat as a tack on the commentary the other night. I think it's hit him hard.
Click to expand...
Just saw On the couch with Reiwoldt talking about this.
 
gringo2011 said:
He wobbled his head as he spoke like a nervous tick. The red flushed face looks like his blood is pumping like a fire hose but it could be nerves. He's got a sort of shyness about him, might be why he needs the drugs to feel confident. He's got a kind of country monotone drawl at the best of times.
Click to expand...
Quote: "The red flushed face looks like his blood is pumping like a fire hose..."
Brilliant diagnosis Dr Gringo. By your reckoning Ratten must be on some kind of drug cocktail 24/7.
 
Mowman said:

AFL 2022: St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt pleads with AFL after Sam Fisher charged with drug trafficking​

Nick Riewoldt has declared Sam Fisher’s plight as a line in the sand moment for the AFL. And he said the response from the player’s union was deemed inadequate.

Jon Ralph Jon Ralph
Follow

@RalphyHeraldSun

4 min read
May 23, 2022 - 7:32PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom




10:09
Riewoldt's POWERFUL plead to Fisher

AFL: [6:34 pm] Max Laughton (MEL) can we get this Riewoldt chat about Fisher for the site please? Riewoldt on jailed ex-teammate. Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt speaks honestly about his former teammate Sam Fisher being in jail on drug charges. li


AFL News​

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Follow
St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt says too many ex-players are slipping through the cracks with issues including drug addiction as he urged the league to make transition from the game the greatest issue in football.
Riewoldt spoke for the first time on Monday about the plight of long-time teammate Sam Fisher, who is in jail after being charged with trafficking a large amount of illicit drugs.
He could face up to 25 years in jail, with Fisher battling to find an identity post-football and spiralling out of control until a major police raid early last Wednesday.
Riewoldt told Fox Footy’s On The Couch in an emotional plea that teammates attempted to intervene when they realised Fisher was in deep trouble but realised it was too late.
Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
Nick Riewoldt has issued an emotional plea for players post-football. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Nick Riewoldt has issued an emotional plea for players post-football. Picture: Colleen Petch.
He said he asked the player union earlier this year to intervene in recent months on Fisher’s behalf as well as for other ex-players but believed the response was inadequate.
It comes as the AFL throws up radical proposals including not allowing players to sign the second contract of their careers if they are not enrolled in an education program or finding work outside of football.
It is understood the AFLPA had helped Fisher, who retired in 2016, over the years, but the union told the Herald Sun on Monday it has strict confidentiality provisions to safeguard players and would not comment.
“It is a cautionary tale. Enough is enough. There are not a lot of Sam Fisher type incidents but there are a lot of players slipping through the cracks,” Riewoldt said.

“That would be my experience that so many players are slipping through the cracks and when they come out the other side their lives are ending up in pretty horrific condition.
“Let this be the line in the sand moment that enough is enough. This is the cautionary tale.”
“The AFL and the AFL Players Association will concede the players’ transition out of the game is the greatest issue in football. Somewhere along the line it’s not working because the condition too many players are finding themselves in post-career is not at the level it should be. And we can do more as an industry. The AFLPA in particular needs to champion this cause and take the lead on this cause to stop this occurring.”
Riewoldt said the upcoming collective bargaining agreement talks were the perfect chance for AFL players to take less money in their pay packets but invest in programs that helped players exiting the game.
It is understood Fisher was a recreational drug user at times in his St Kilda career but his addiction issues only reached fever pitch when he left the game.
Riewoldt said the issues for players included drug use.
“Drugs are a massive part of it. At the moment the (illicit drugs) policy that exists is one that allows players wiggle room to tap into those things. I think that is an issue. “Players who take drugs in the AFL system do so because the system allows them to.”
The AFLPA told the Herald Sun on Monday night there were extensive services available for past and current players, but would not confirm if it had helped Fisher after his career.
“We have a range of services, including a national mental health and wellbeing network of 300 qualified psychologists and psychiatrists. We also provide assistance for those going through financial hardship and subsidise past player medical costs,” Marsh said.
“Many of the issues players are confronting are complex and, to ensure the best outcome for them, it’s important the AFL industry employs a collaborative approach with all stakeholders – AFL, clubs, players, coaches and player agents – because these are shared issues.
“While we have helped hundreds of players through a range of problems, we won’t speak to the specific support we provide individuals as this damages the confidentiality that is integral to our role. We do the majority of our work behind closed doors and it’s vital it remains that way, so it doesn’t discourage any individual member from coming to us to seek assistance.”
Riewoldt says he and teammates attempted to intervene when they realised Fisher was in dangerous territory but did not have the expertise.
“It landed pretty heavy, for everyone close to ‘Chips’,” Riewoldt said.
“A lot of his close teammates knew he had some issues. To this extent when it was laid bare a lot of us were surprised just how bad the situation had become. Then you do a little bit of inward reflecting on what more could we have done, the reflection on our group, our time as teammates. It has been a pretty tough week for all of us.
“Absolutely you do (feel some guilt) but I also know there have been a lot of Sam’s teammates that have done as much as they could, myself included, and some have gone to extraordinary levels involving conversations with family and friends and those close to Sam
“As a group we did as much as we could for Sam but at a time like this you realise how out of your depth you are when a teammate is facing challenges of the kind Sam has faced. I understand the questions will come about us and our group and our leadership but you can put your head on the pillow knowing you did as much as you could.”
Click to expand...
What a tremendous captain he must have been to his teammates, still going into bat for them like that when it would be understandable if he wasn't public about this issue.
 
This comes down to whether our society wants to legalise drugs, of all varieties.
Nicotine and alcohol are already legal.
Chips seems to have played his entire career under the influence of drugs.
Do we want to make these drugs legal and open to every player or do we send people to prison for using and dealing them.
 
Present Not Past said:
This comes down to whether our society wants to legalise drugs, of all varieties.
Nicotine and alcohol are already legal.
Chips seems to have played his entire career under the influence of drugs.
Do we want to make these drugs legal and open to every player or do we send people to prison for using and dealing them.
Click to expand...

No it comes down to do you gamble with breaking the law to make money.
If our society wants to legalise drugs , and does it, THEN its ok to sell it. A big win for big pharmacy.

Whilst the nazi's and other solders were on the gear, their bodies tended to adjust to it more so they upped the dose.

There is enough evidence that the kind of stuff Fisher was selling is harmful enough. So do we make meth freely available , while other , less harmful medical drugs are prescription only?

newrepublic.com

The Third Reich Was Addicted to Drugs

At the start of the war, Hitler suffered from gas. Soon, he was taking a cocktail of morphine, crystal meth, and laxatives, a new history reveals.
newrepublic.com newrepublic.com

‘Pilot’s Salt’: The Third Reich Kept Its Soldiers Alert With Meth

For a while, the stuff seemed to be “the ideal war drug.”
www.theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com

The Germans would notice the same side effects—the side effects (thanks, Breaking Bad!) we know so well today. Short rest periods, it turned out, weren’t enough to compensate for long stretches of wakefulness. Some soldiers who used the meth died of heart failure; others ended up committing suicide during psychotic phases. Many others simply became addicted to the stimulant, leading to all the familiar symptoms of addiction and withdrawal: sweating, dizziness, hallucination, depression. Leonardo Conti, the Third Reich’s top health official, moved to limit use of the drug among his forces. He was, however, unsuccessful.
 
I’ve personally never dealt with addiction (obviously making the assumption that is one of Sam’s issues in this instance) so I am pretty reluctant to judge anything going on here without knowing any real facts but I would say a couple of things
  • I am glad he still had some of the st.kilda teammates and community around him then and now into the court case
  • it does seem a little simplistic to just say throw the book at him (especially considering some of the s**t people manage to avoid serious jail time for
  • the whole issue is clearly one that far more prevalent in modern society than many would like to think
 
Present Not Past said:
This comes down to whether our society wants to legalise drugs, of all varieties.
Nicotine and alcohol are already legal.
Chips seems to have played his entire career under the influence of drugs.
Do we want to make these drugs legal and open to every player or do we send people to prison for using and dealing them.
Click to expand...
Do we want to make these drugs legal and open to every young kid out there

Do we want people sent to prison for dealing these drugs ? I do
 

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Sun Ra said:
Quote: "The red flushed face looks like his blood is pumping like a fire hose..."
Brilliant diagnosis Dr Gringo. By your reckoning Ratten must be on some kind of drug cocktail 24/7.
Click to expand...
Explains Battle to the wing last year
 
phantom13 said:
I’ve personally never dealt with addiction (obviously making the assumption that is one of Sam’s issues in this instance) so I am pretty reluctant to judge anything going on here without knowing any real facts but I would say a couple of things
  • I am glad he still had some of the st.kilda teammates and community around him then and now into the court case
  • it does seem a little simplistic to just say throw the book at him (especially considering some of the s**t people manage to avoid serious jail time for
  • the whole issue is clearly one that far more prevalent in modern society than many would like to think
Click to expand...
It's sad , very sad - so many people die from the crap and I've lost a few.
Sam just made some bad choices and he is no loner, the telling thing he had done it multiply times by the sounds and 1kg of chemical is a hell of a lot.
 
Sun Ra said:
Quote: "The red flushed face looks like his blood is pumping like a fire hose..."
Brilliant diagnosis Dr Gringo. By your reckoning Ratten must be on some kind of drug cocktail 24/7.
Click to expand...


My old man reckons Ratts looks like a piss head because of the Barnaby beetroot colouring.
 
Premium said:
It's sad , very sad - so many people die from the crap and I've lost a few.
Sam just made some bad choices and he is no loner, the telling thing he had done it multiply times by the sounds and 1kg of chemical is a hell of a lot.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I knew a heap of musos back in the 90s and we lost heaps of them. Others ruined their lives. I feel sorry for them but it's frustrating that it gets out there. Unfortunately it's a business model. Get them addicted, get them selling and it ends up like a Tupperware scheme.

Sounds like Sam has gone up a level from that again. He's gone state manager level.
 
Mowman said:
Do we want to make these drugs legal and open to every young kid out there

Do we want people sent to prison for dealing these drugs ? I do
Click to expand...


I watched a documentary on Portugal and how they did it. Seems like a pretty good scheme. It was more state managed and wasn't just letting it go to a free for all. A lot was getting on a script and doing programs. It looked really effective. Taking the illegal out of it seemed to make it less desirable. It takes the street dealers out and access harder. If you wanted ice or smack at a Melbourne private school now you could get it easily. It's already there, trying to get rid of it is the hard bit.
 
gringo2011 said:
Yeah, I knew a heap of musos back in the 90s and we lost heaps of them. Others ruined their lives. I feel sorry for them but it's frustrating that it gets out there. Unfortunately it's a business model. Get them addicted, get them selling and it ends up like a Tupperware scheme.

Sounds like Sam has gone up a level from that again. He's gone state manager level.
Click to expand...
Explains the company car.
 
sunny3193 said:
Explains the company car.
Click to expand...

When you see people in super luxury cars i always think the cops could easily figure out if they
a) Have a tech startup.
b) Have a rich dad.
c) Are in organized crime.

You could start at the luxury cars and work backwards to either eliminate them from your list due to legitimate reasons, or work out where the money is coming from.
 
SaintsSeptember said:
When you see people in super luxury cars i always think the cops could easily figure out if they
a) Have a tech startup.
b) Have a rich dad.
c) Are in organized crime.

You could start at the luxury cars and work backwards to either eliminate them from your list due to legitimate reasons, or work out where the money is coming from.
Click to expand...
That’s too sensible.
 
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