The Queensland govt (understandably) wanted action taken to underline its disapproval of what had occurred. That was achieved by the decision to remove our two players from the hub. The speed with which that was done was also understandable. The need to be seen to be taking swift action was served, and the media had its headline.
The decision to immediately impose a further 10 week suspension, coupled with a financial ‘contribution’, was something else again and nothing to do with the Queensland govt.
And crucially both ‘happened’ at the same time with no legal advice and no representation for our players, and with no formal hearing.
These were not seasoned veterans, but two young men making their way with no previous tribunal appearances.
They had also both moved to Melbourne from interstate and like their team mates, were moved to the hub and I am largely guessing, without family, wives or girlfriends, living with them in isolation in the Hub.
Brooke’s situation was of course quite different, not contracted obviously and with nothing parallel to going out for a beer, that might itself, have provided some further caution to CJ and Stacky.
And the idea that our players could be made more likely to be guilty of a second offence, which also entailed a possible greater penalty for the club, because of Brooke’s earlier decision to take a break for a hair styling visit sounds totally weird even now.
(The ladies of Qld don’t react well to limits being placed on such visits, and of course none ever were).
The real issue though was the decision to also impose a penalty of suspension for such a period of time on our two players.
The financial consequences of such a lengthy suspension, for rookies who had come from interstate and had, had to find and pay for new accomodation, were always going to be enormous.
Again they were not represented and unfortunately it seems that every one was still very angry.
Also the financial ‘contribution’, was carried out in anger and IMO was just plain unfair.
The AFL didn’t say it set the club penalty believing it would be passed on. But rather that it was a club penalty intended to emphasise the clubs responsibilities.
(Everyone concerned must have been absolutely livid as others who were no doubt close to and important to the team, were to lose income and possibly their jobs as well).
In such circumstances and although the immediate anger was understandable that same anger should have led to a delay, with others later taking a fully fresh look and listening to and hearing, from both sides.
It did not and as a result our two players suffered most, with Stacky’s ‘deportation’, to WA in particular, leading ultimately to a term of imprisonment.
Like all here I love the club and take great joy from our recent successes. All of this has been due to the unfailing efforts of our players, coaches, administrators and employees
That said I think that in partnership with the AFL, we messed this up, with Stacky caused as a consequence, to suffer the most.
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