DAMIAN Barrett has condemned the control AFL clubs have on players' lives beyond the football field, after Carlton veteran Dale Thomas was suspended for drinking at a charity event 48 hours before a match.
Barrett defended Thomas, who was stood down this week, after drinking at a fundraiser event last Friday night.
Barrett says we're at a "tipping point" with the stranglehold club officials hold over its roster outside of their footy remit.
IN THE GAME Damian Barrett talks to Cats CEO Brian Cook
"For the second time in a month, a footballer is not allowed to have a drop of alcohol pass through his lips in a public forum – and the control that football clubs and football club people seem to think they have over every single moment of an athlete's life is at a tipping point," Barrett said.
But Craig Hutchison was deeply critical of Thomas's conduct, labelling it one of the stupidest acts in his time covering the sport.
"It is one of the silliest, dumbest things I've heard someone of his age do in my time in football. But that is just the height of stupidity. That is career-suicide at this point in his career," Hutchison said.
Episode guide
0.0 – Daisy Thomas's ban
9.00 – The ad the Herald Sun rejected
13.00 – the new quota
14.30 – Brad Scott's resignation
20.30 – Unravelling sources
25.45 – the lack of influence of social media influencers
29.30 – State of Origin
34.00 – Media scuffles with AFL identities
35.30 – AFL broadcast obligations
41.30 – Bernard Tomic
