Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has taken goal on the AFL‘s illicit medication coverage within the wake of the Collingwood star Jack Ginnivan’s bombshell admission.
Ginnivan was out with teammates and different pals in January when he was filmed by a member of the general public in a resort rest room cubicle with a bootleg drug.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jack Ginnivan’s unique interview.
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He confessed to utilizing a bootleg substance in an unique interview with 7NEWS as a part of a particular investigation.
The 20-year-old has been hit with a strike beneath the league’s illicit medication coverage, and has additionally been suspended for 2 matches and hit with a suspended $5000 effective.
Underneath the coverage, a second strike ends in a four-match suspension and the participant’s identify being made public, whereas a 3rd strike incurs a 12-match suspension.
Strikes should even be given inside a four-year interval of one another.
No participant has been suspended or named publicly after recording a second strike for the reason that coverage was revised in 2015.
A quirk of the coverage is gamers can self report and enter a medical program to keep away from a strike.
And in one other quirk, AFL medical administrators and the participant’s membership physician – however not membership administration – are the one ones instructed of the primary constructive take a look at.
“I’ve at all times thought the AFL medication coverage is inappropriate and inadequate,” Kennett instructed 7NEWS.
“The membership ought to correctly learn – not simply the physician – the president as effectively so the membership and physician can put care round him and hopefully guarantee it does not occur once more.
“There isn’t any level ready till the participant is called to the membership as strike three… the membership has a duty from strike one.”
Regardless of requires a zero tolerance coverage, 7NEWS reporter Tom Browne believes there will not be any large modifications to the coverage.
In the meantime, Collingwood soccer boss Graham Wright believes Ginnivan’s drug use is an “remoted incident” and denies the membership has a serious challenge with illicit substances.
Wright stated he believes the Magpies are in a very good place in terms of drug use.
“Completely we really feel like we’re,” he instructed reporters on Sunday.
“I believe that is an remoted incident and that is the best way we’re treating it.
“It isn’t a sample of habits in any respect for him or anybody else on the membership.”
Requested if drug use is an issue for the AFL as an entire, Wright stated: “I hope that it wasn’t a serious challenge however gamers are a part of society and medicines are a part of society.
“We actually hope our gamers do not partake in illicit medication, however I do not assume it is a huge challenge within the competitors and we actually do not assume it’s right here.”
Video of Ginnivan with the illicit drug – taken at a Torquay resort on a gamers’ break day after a pre-season coaching camp on Victoria’s Surf Coast – emerged when it was provided to a media outlet.
Wright stated Collingwood then turned conscious of the incident on Thursday evening and knowledgeable the AFL integrity unit, which interviewed Ginnivan and located the participant responsible of unbecoming conduct.
Ginnivan confessed to his drug use when fronting Collingwood’s leaders and the AFL, and later apologized for his “poor decision-making”.
“As a membership we’re extremely dissatisfied to be on this state of affairs,” Wright stated.
“We offer schooling for all of our gamers and employees in relation to the appropriate behaviors and each individual is supposed to take care of these.
“Jack has come ahead and owned his habits and he is extremely remorseful for that.”
Ginnivan has usually discovered himself within the highlight since his debut in 2021 and received the Anzac Day Medal for a shocking five-goal efficiency towards Essendon final yr.
He booted 40 objectives in a breakout second season in 2022, enjoying a key function in Collingwood’s sharp rise to a preliminary remaining.
However the livewire ahead has additionally come beneath hearth for ducking his head to attract free kicks and admitted final yr the fierce scrutiny on his method to the sport had taken a toll on his psychological well being.
“They’re Jack’s personal points round his psychological well being … however on this case he stated that had nothing to do with any of his actions on this regard,” Wright stated.
“He is owned it from that standpoint however that is ongoing, coping with our psychologist and our different medical folks. However on this case it wasn’t a difficulty.”
Ginnivan will miss the opening two video games of the season – towards Geelong and Port Adelaide – and faces a battle for his spot within the group alongside the likes of recent recruit Bobby Hill.
“He clearly forfeits his spot within the first few rounds and we’re not fairly certain when he’ll get in, so it is a vital price for him,” Wright stated.
“We’ll miss him however clearly another person should step up.”
– with AAP
