Regarding Ryan Cook’s court appearance on Monday, the Collingwood Football Club announced today a $3500 sanction, fully suspended for 12 months. Ryan will also attend counselling with regards to conflict resolution.

The club supports the right for its players to defend themselves, and notes that in this particular instance the Magistrate accepted Cook’s explanation of self defence, and further acknowledged that the victim had been partially responsible for bringing the matter upon himself.

However the decision also reflected that Cook’s self defence was of an excessive nature, and as such Cook will undergo counselling in order to equip him with skills that will hopefully allow him to avoid a similar situation in the future.