Off Field Issues Through The Ages

[Jasper84]

In light of our most recent player having a significant off field issue, I thought we could back through AFL history and discuss some of the biggest off field issues that have plagued players and clubs. There is obviously the well known ones which have been talked about to death (Essendon doping posters look elsewhere).

What I would like to hear is the less known off field issues that clubs managed to keep under wraps or tried to in vain (Hawthorn in the 80's and West Coast about a decade ago for example.)

 

[Ketchup]

Couldn't post about Essendon in this thread anyway. It is off-field issues. Clearly PED's are an onfield issue.

 

[Trickster]

In light of our most recent player having a significant off field issue, I thought we could back through AFL history and discuss some of the biggest off field issues that have plagued players and clubs. There is obviously the well known ones which have been talked about to death (Essendon doping posters look elsewhere).

What I would like to hear is the less known off field issues that clubs managed to keep under wraps or tried to in vain (Hawthorn in the 80's and West Coast about a decade ago for example.)

Well known, but the Carey scandal at North in early 2000s. One of the biggest I can think of...

I'd be interested in hearing some of the lesser known ones also.

 

[Vicky Park]

We've had plenty of our own in the last decade, although they are well documented. Heater's gambling misdemeanor of 2011; he and Didaks' driving 'incident' of 2008; Didak's even better effort of going for a 'joy ride' with Christopher Hudson in 2007 (what was he thinking?).

But Carlton are right up there, surely, for the white collar stuff, in having club presidents with question marks (if not outright legal battles) hanging over them?

 

[HeathySure]

The St Kilda Schoolgirl was pretty big!!

 

[Bring_Back_Brad]

I heard there was a bit of a drug problem at west coast a while ago.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Plenty come to mind, but most are best forgotten.

 

[Black_White]

Millane/Banks and a bus.

 

[Black_White]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...biggest-scandals/story-fni5f22o-1226696466937

I like the 1910 scandal.
The Bloose were at it even back then.

 

[Jasper84]

It is interesting looking back at how clubs are willing to overlook and tolerate players "issues" when they are still at the top of their game. Then moving them on when their form starts to wane.

Here is a few examples (correct me if I have the facts wrong).

Ben Cousins. Stripped of the captaincy though still retained for the premiership team. Let go after the AFL stepped in.

Brendan Fevola. Apparently could get away with anything while he was their Coleman winning forward. Finally drew the line when his form started to decline.

Jason Akermanis. Always outspoken though remained an integral member of their 3peat. Let go in his later, less productive years.

Chris Tarrant. Malthouse admitted that he would of dropped him for his off field behaviour if he wasn't one of our top players.

Barry Hall. On field anger problems which nearly got him suspended for the grand final. Final straw a few years later when he wasn't the top forward anymore.

It makes you wonder, are our current AFL stars the perfect clubmen or are the issues just overlooked/dealt with internally?

 

[dansa]

We've had plenty of our own in the last decade, although they are well documented. Heater's gambling misdemeanor of 2011; he and Didaks' driving 'incident' of 2008; Didak's even better effort of going for a 'joy ride' with Christopher Hudson in 2007 (what was he thinking?).

But Carlton are right up there, surely, for the white collar stuff, in having club presidents with question marks (if not outright legal battles) hanging over them?

How could you forget Micheal Christan having the affair with Leigh Mathews's wife.

Edit: Never heard how all that ended up. Did they get married and live happily ever after?

 

[Damon_3388]

Brendan Fevola. Apparently could get away with anything while he was their Coleman winning forward. Finally drew the line when his form started to decline.

He kicked 89 goals in his final year at Carlton (2009), after 99 the year before, playing every game in both seasons. They were the two best seasons he ever had. He wasn't on the decline at all.

 

[vjknight]

to date the greatest crime in our game remains zoning 1967-1986....with 5 years of after effects.

destroyed a number of clubs (2 dont exist now) and ensured 15 premierships within a 25 year period were hand delivered to 2 clubs by a carlton supporting vfl president.

to this day there is absolutely no press on this. people believe carlton & hawthorn were great teams with great recruiters. wrong.