Ronnie in trouble

[Stiffy_18]

Roonie is set to face court on drink driving charges. Apparently he was involved in a car accident overnight and was over the limit. Apart from being an idiot he escaped with only a few scratches.

I heard this on Ch10.

 

[Blues_Girl]

We must have missed that bit of the news then Kristie!

 

[Macca19]

Brett Burton lives a couple of doors down from me and he had a huge party yesterday and most of the Crows players and Eagles players were there. No doubt Ronnie would have been at that.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Re: Re: Ronnie in trouble

Originally posted by Macca19
Brett Burton lives a couple of doors down from me and he had a huge party yesterday and most of the Crows players and Eagles players were there. No doubt Ronnie would have been at that.

Accodring to the article on the club website it was on sunday morning. Apparently he turned 31 on saturday at Kadina and rolled his car around the corner from his place.

 

[macca23]

On his own in his 4 wheel drive at 3 am.

Sober as a judge I would have thought.

Lucky not to be badly hurt, as he got away with a few scratches and bruises.

 

[Stiffy_18]

I think the club should come down heavy on Ronnie. Its not the first time in his career that he has had an off-field trouble with alchohol.

Throw the book at him I reckon. The club must be strong and let others know that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.

 

[Jerome]

From afc.com.au

Burns OK after car crash
6:24:47 PM Mon 15 March, 2004
Alan Shiell
Sportal
Adelaide forward Ronnie Burns has escaped serious injury in a car accident.

Burns’ four-wheel-drive vehicle struck a gutter and rolled over near his home at Tennyson, a north-western suburb of Adelaide, early on Sunday morning.


Adelaide communications manager Matthew Robran said on Monday Burns ‘suffered no major injuries – just a few cuts and bruises’, and ‘no-one else was involved in the accident’.

“Ronnie will resume training on Wednesday and is not expected to miss any matches,” Robran said.

Burns had his 31st birthday on Saturday when he played for the Crows against Port Adelaide in a Wizard Regional Challenge Series match at Kadina.

The elusive left-footer is starting his second season with Adelaide. He played 18 AFL matches last season after 134 with Geelong from 1996-2002.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Not the best start to the season for Ronnie. He wouldn't want to push his luck.

 

[Crow-mosone]

No mention of booze though.

can't imagine he was sober, but if not caught you can't discipline someone for a car accident.

 

[Leigh Roy]

He should miss a gutful of matches.

 

[Still Crowing]

Sorry for posting this twice (once on the main forum) but I feel so strongly over this I will break netiquette here.

========================

A fine of $2500 and counselling is not enough.

When will people learn, that Drink Driving is as unacceptable as manslaughter. Getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence is equivalent to waving a loaded firearm around. Burns is lucky he didn't kill or injure someone.

Not only is he a high profile person, but he sets himself up as an example to youth (Aboriginal and otherwise). If they see him get away with this realtively unscathed (oh, $2.5k.....i'll just get my other pants), what sort of example does this set. The AFC will be getting a very strongly worded email from me today as a Gold Member (member since 1991) suggesting they not only go beyond this paltry slap on the wrist, but that they do it publically.

Or is this just anther case of footballers getting away with what others cannot?

=========================

The AFC have a chance to make a stand here, if they don't, I will be very very disappointed and angry!

 

[Fergus]

Originally posted by Still Crowing
Sorry for posting this twice (once on the main forum) but I feel so strongly over this I will break netiquette here.

Or is this just anther case of footballers getting away with what others cannot?

=========================

The AFC have a chance to make a stand here, if they don't, I will be very very disappointed and angry!

I agree with your sentiments over the dangers of drink driving and the fact that Ronnie has let himself down badly with this incident. He holds himself up as a role model to young Aboriginals and has clearly done the wrong thing in this incident and as such should be penalised by the club as well as any legal penalties.

However, I don't know what you mean by "Or is this just anther case of footballers getting away with what others cannot?".
Ronnie will face the law just as you or I would. He will also get penalised by the AFC. What is he getting away with that others cannot?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

The club clearly need to make a strong stance, particularly given Ronnie is a repeat-offender (given Ayres would be aware of his Geelong history). Ronnie has done his chances for making the team in round 1. Not sure what action should be taken (apart from the $2,500 fine, etc), but it probably should include community work. Will Ronnie make it back in the team at all?

 

[napsyd]

Originally posted by Still Crowing
Sorry for posting this twice (once on the main forum) but I feel so strongly over this I will break netiquette here.

========================

A fine of $2500 and counselling is not enough.

When will people learn, that Drink Driving is as unacceptable as manslaughter. Getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence is equivalent to waving a loaded firearm around. Burns is lucky he didn't kill or injure someone.

Not only is he a high profile person, but he sets himself up as an example to youth (Aboriginal and otherwise). If they see him get away with this realtively unscathed (oh, $2.5k.....i'll just get my other pants), what sort of example does this set. The AFC will be getting a very strongly worded email from me today as a Gold Member (member since 1991) suggesting they not only go beyond this paltry slap on the wrist, but that they do it publically.

Or is this just anther case of footballers getting away with what others cannot?

=========================

The AFC have a chance to make a stand here, if they don't, I will be very very disappointed and angry!

Not sure that I agree fully with this. It is a crime and a very bad one at that, but how exactly does he get away with anything more than anyone else?

The player is getting it from four sides:

1. The courts, where everyone receives their penalty.
2. The club, who will both publicly and no doubt privately dress him down. His immediate playing future is clearly in jeopardy.
3. The public, who will undoubtedly tear him to pieces!
4. His family who would no doubt be disappointed in Ronnie and ashamed as this is in the public arena.

Ronnie may be an example to youth and a public figure, but he is also a human being with human faults and weaknesses. This may well be more than a "whoops, I had one to many sherries" case. He may well have a problem. Public ridicule and the club tearing him a new one might well be the last thing that Ronnie Burns, the person, requires. The club must tread carefully in my view.

 

[Jars458]

He will be fined by his employer as well as by the law which does not happen to most people.

drink driving is bad but it appears to me that he left at 3am as he thought he was under the limit. He is more likely to have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Not condoning it whatsoever, but the law will run its course.

The shock of turning your vehicle would be a big wake up call of itself.

I think he will definitley struggle to play in Round 1 which is good news only for the Port Magpies.

 

[Fergus]

I think the fine was $3,500 plus counselling. They also mentioned that the Crows considered sacking him but chose not to.

 

[Jerome]

My mail today is that he is will be de listed sooner rather than later. The Coach is not happy.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by Jerome
My mail today is that he is will be de listed sooner rather than later. The Coach is not happy.

Will we still have the oldest list then?

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
Will we still have the oldest list then?

Dunno Kane, when was it compiled?...

 

[Jars458]

Originally posted by Jerome
My mail today is that he is will be de listed sooner rather than later. The Coach is not happy.

Can they delist him for that??

Would have to at least pay out his contract I would imagine

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by Jars458
Can they delist him for that??

Would have to at least pay out his contract I would imagine

You can axe a player at anytime but you have to pay their contract out in full - ie Capuano and St. Kilda last season. Just prepare to incur the wrath of Caroline Wilson and Mick Malthouse.

In Ronnie's case it'd be smarter to keep him on the payroll until season's end, what with Geelong paying part of his wages (are they still?).

 

[Mong]

Get rid of him. I'd rather his field time go to someone else such as Schuback or Ladhams.


****

 

[naughty monkey]

if we delist him that means we can promote a rookie?

 

[marvin]

Punishment determined by expendability? .

I've got no time for drink drivers.

I've also never rated Ronnie as a footballer.

HOWEVER, if the AFC is going to dump him for this, they better be prepared to do it to anyone else who blows over 0.05 - whether it's Roo, Macca, Watts, Smith or Tommy Porridge.

Otherwise, leave it to the courts.

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by marvin
Punishment determined by expendability? .

I've got no time for drink drivers.

I've also never rated Ronnie as a footballer.

HOWEVER, if the AFC is going to dump him for this, they better be prepared to do it to anyone else who blows over 0.05 - whether it's Roo, Macca, Watts, Smith or Tommy Porridge.

Otherwise, leave it to the courts.

Terrific post. I agree with all of it except the not rating Burns bit; in his prime he was one of the best small forwards going around.

Didn't St Kilda face this sort of double standard with Lawrence and Gehrig last year?