Yep, I was wrong. But Stokes pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and that's still more actual evidence of drugs within the AFL than any current Collingwood player. Sure plenty of ex-AFL footballers have come out about drug use during their careers and post-career and it is sad. I did a Sports Policy class last year and focused my assessments around Drug Agencies and all that shit and it was truly fascinating to see how many athletes admit to using drugs. There's no doubt that there are some AFL players that have been involved with drug use but until there's evidence that they have used drugs or been involved with drugs in any illegal manner, then there's no need to publicly assume a certain player does.
It certainly is sad to see a player like Gavin Crosisca, who I admired in my earlier days admit to strong drug use during his days and in all fairness and respect, even Ablett had some serious troubles with the nasty shit which have been well-documented. It's absolutely shit to see careers and reputations be diminished and we as a footy community around the nation shouldn't "celebrate" opposition players for being "druggies". It's an awful situation and the majority of athletes that use drugs do so as a coping mechanism for serious mental conditions and diseases. I don't believe that any supporter at all should continue to create slanderous claims about athletes without any evidence because it is completely unnecessary and it just makes the sport uglier and uglier and even though I can say my opinion on the matter, I know that I am not going to be able to change a thing sitting behind a computer.
I think sport fanatics sometimes forget that athletes are real people with real troubles and real lives and they aren't "unbreakable" as people seem to believe. I hate illegal drugs in every dimension and as much as I want the drug culture around the world to stop, we all know just how far away from this that we actually are.
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How about those seats at Spotless Stadium?