General Discussions

[DJC]

Ablett’s lawyer was on the wireless today spruiking a settlement.  I guess she’s hoping that her client won’t have to give evidence.

[LP]

Ablett’s lawyer was on the wireless today spruiking a settlement.  I guess she’s hoping that her client won’t have to give evidence.

I bet the lawyer hopes the AFL is scared of the potential skeletons.

Who is currently involved in the game that might need to hide some past indiscretions, and has a big enough profile to worry about it?

PS; I don't think it makes much difference to Gloch and some of the other executive types, but there may be a vintage players currently in admin roles that are squirming a bit!

[kruddler]

True, but even so the testing then wasn't what it is now.

Even if we do not know, the AFL surely do!

We see this growing trend for players to take some time away from the game, it is often written off as mental health, it won't be all cases but I'm certain some of them will be strikes that we the general public know nothing about. The problem is we do not want to the speculation, it helps nobody, but it's surely up to the player to expose their own issues if they feel fit to do so!

I suspect eventually the culture will change, and these issues will be discussed more freely.

I listened to a podcast that had Ricky Nixon talking about Cousins, Carey and his own Cocaine issues.
Depending on the player and specifically their metabolism. The drug can be out of your system within 24 hours.

So the AFLs drug policy is a 'gold star' in terms of optics.
However, in terms of finding and/or fixing the problem. Its like throwing darts at a dartboard blindfolded. Hitting what you want, when you want is nothing short of a miracle.
Further to that, players often get a heads up on when they are going to be tested. So if you think you will get done, you 'self-report' and avoid the strike system altogether.

I'd like to think its less of an issue than it once was, but i think players are a lot more educated now on how to beat the system now so they take more risks.

[Thryleon]

So the answer is let them play on illicit drugs and lets not pretend they are all schoolboys (or at least not the private school boys I knew/know who like their bags)?

[LP]

So the answer is let them play on illicit drugs and lets not pretend they are all schoolboys (or at least not the private school boys I knew/know who like their bags)?

So, do I presume you would be OK with your children emulating their sporting heroes?

Like it or not, they are role models, I realise it's a big ask, but given how many young blokes take their own life the last thing we need are more of them in debt to criminals, or suffering the side-effects of addiction.

We certainly do not need youth emulating their wayward heroes!

[DJC]

I listened to a podcast that had Ricky Nixon talking about Cousins, Carey and his own Cocaine issues.
Depending on the player and specifically their metabolism. The drug can be out of your system within 24 hours.

So the AFLs drug policy is a 'gold star' in terms of optics.
However, in terms of finding and/or fixing the problem. Its like throwing darts at a dartboard blindfolded. Hitting what you want, when you want is nothing short of a miracle.
Further to that, players often get a heads up on when they are going to be tested. So if you think you will get done, you 'self-report' and avoid the strike system altogether.

I'd like to think its less of an issue than it once was, but i think players are a lot more educated now on how to beat the system now so they take more risks.

That's unlikely.

From the American Addiction Centres website:

"After last use, cocaine or its metabolites typically can show up on a blood or saliva test for up to 2 days, a urine test for up to 3 days, and a hair test for months to years. A heavy user can test positive on a urine test for up to 2 weeks.

But other factors can influence how long it stays in someone’s body, such as metabolism, weight, dose, and frequency of use. Drinking while taking cocaine may also slow its elimination from the body."

Hair testing has been part of the AFL drug testing regime since 2016.  However, like risk takers generally, drug users may take the chance that they won't be tested until traces of illegal/banned substances are undetectable ... and they can always self-report and avoid a strike if they have been caught or self-reported before.

[kruddler]

That's unlikely.

From the American Addiction Centres website:

"After last use, cocaine or its metabolites typically can show up on a blood or saliva test for up to 2 days, a urine test for up to 3 days, and a hair test for months to years. A heavy user can test positive on a urine test for up to 2 weeks.

But other factors can influence how long it stays in someone’s body, such as metabolism, weight, dose, and frequency of use. Drinking while taking cocaine may also slow its elimination from the body."

Hair testing has been part of the AFL drug testing regime since 2016.  However, like risk takers generally, drug users may take the chance that they won't be tested until traces of illegal/banned substances are undetectable ... and they can always self-report and avoid a strike if they have been caught or self-reported before.

Chicken Nixon did say the both he and cousins were in the 99.9th percentile and their individual stories are very much unique.
But how many people would even know what metabolic percentile they would even be in....or of it was even a thing?

As for the testing, my understanding is that they don't do all 3 tests at the same time, despite having all available to them. I don't know the logistics of it, but players are well aware of them.

If you get super worried, just do what Ben cousins did and shave off all his hair when he was due to get tested. That was in his doco. Can't do hair tests if you have no hair to test.

Perhaps all players with shaved heads are ones we should be more wary of?

[DJC]

Chicken Nixon did say the both he and cousins were in the 99.9th percentile and their individual stories are very much unique.
But how many people would even know what metabolic percentile they would even be in....or of it was even a thing?

As for the testing, my understanding is that they don't do all 3 tests at the same time, despite having all available to them. I don't know the logistics of it, but players are well aware of them.

If you get super worried, just do what Ben cousins did and shave off all his hair when he was due to get tested. That was in his doco. Can't do hair tests if you have no hair to test.

Perhaps all players with shaved heads are ones we should be more wary of?

The AFL wasn’t doing hair testing when Cousins was playing.  While he shaved down to avoid testing, I think that it was club testing and/or a contractual requirement.

I’m not sure that I would trust anything Nixon has to say and how would he have established that he and Cousins were in the 99.9th percentile?  Probably wishful thinking.

As for shaved heads, it’s the coves with no eyebrows and full body waxes that you’d be suspicious of … and it’s damn hard to get rid of your nasal hair ?

[Baggers]

And, like repeated blows to the head, what are the long term effects of cocaine use on the brain... brain damage and illness, that's what. People doing bags and lines are playing Russian Roulette with their mental health... for the remainder of their lives. Not like hitting the turps for too long, the body will recover given the right diet and circumstances, but once you're brain damaged due to cocaine use - it's permanent, and you're rooted.

[Gointocarlton]

And, like repeated blows to the head, what are the long term effects of cocaine use on the brain... brain damage and illness, that's what. People doing bags and lines are playing Russian Roulette with their mental health... for the remainder of their lives. Not like hitting the turps for too long, the body will recover given the right diet and circumstances, but once you're brain damaged due to cocaine use - it's permanent, and you're rooted.

I genuinely hope Ablett gets awarded millions which the family of the late Alisha Horan then sue him for double that amount.