Tony consumed alcohol at a private party with friends on Wednesday night. He decided to leave at about 12.30am and foolishly chose to drive. He was then stopped by police and a breath alcohol analysis registered a reading of .213.
This reading resulted in his car being impounded for seven days and an automatic loss of his driver’s licence for a year.
The police officers involved have advised the Club that Tony was co-operative, remorseful and apologetic.
However, the Club is angry and bitterly disappointed with Tony’s choice to drive when he was well aware he would be over the legal limit, especially after the amount of alcohol education and counselling supplied to the players through the Club and the AFLPA.
The club is just grateful that Tony did not injure or kill himself and also that no-one else was injured or killed as a result of his decision to drink and drive.
The only positive was that he was caught so the Club can now work with Tony to help him to understand the right choice in case he is ever faced with a similar situation in the future.
The Club has also advised Tony that his decision not to inform the Club about the incident is very poor behaviour and will be taken into consideration in determining a club-imposed penalty. The Club will within the next month work with the AFL, the Club’s behaviour committee and the leadership group to determine an appropriate Club imposed penalty beyond that imposed by the law.
- Phil Harper, Football Operations general manager
There will be no further comment from the Club at this time.
