- Apr 25, 2011
- 2,224
- 4,736
- AFL Club
- Fremantle
How much more evidence do you need?
The club statement for a start - which we have now. So that is now enough evidence for me, they have taken action based on all the relevant information that could be mustered from both Harley and the nightclub.
There was a bit of gum flapping in the media and Bigfooty and elsewhere about missing training, people were just as indignant at that as the incident at the club the night before. It could very well be that he had a ticket of leave for any of a number of reasons, be it a prearranged appointment elsewhere - or stood down and not expected to come in. Or, he just didn't come in and Bond chose not to address that in his statement.
“Harley has not met our expected standards and also those of an elite AFL player,” Bond said. “In this instance, he consumed an excessive amount of alcohol the day before a training session"
Based on the clubs statement on the issue, he's had 15 grand taken out of his wages - and not by the courts, but his workplace, for having a drink the night before going to work. He might be on a big salary compared to the rest of us, but that is still a hefty amount of dosh to lose even for that salary, if it were you or me we'd be screaming at the payroll staff. He's banished from the playing group for 2 months and if it were me, the biggest punishment is going to counselling - if he's like me he'd hate those gabfests.
I'm happy with this, he's in contract until the end of the year and we can't just put up a job ad at seek.com or get a temp to replace him. I can't imagine him being allowed any more misdemeanours without being sacked. I think it unlikely but I hope that 15k proves a good education for him, at least to be a better person in the long term, maybe it let's him get on with his footy career.