I lost 10 years to drugs and wish i could tell lot's of young men what i went through.

Thank god for my wife and kids.

Drugs are evil.

well done , most dont make it

glad you have the courage to speak about it

well done , most dont make it

glad you have the courage to speak about it

Seconded. Seen it do a lot of damage to those around me, including immediate family.

Meanwhile, Caro (bless her) has come out swinging. It's gonna hit the fan, especially as the target is Collingwood. Could be the perfect time for the AFL to announce that after an extensive enquiry into alleged tanking, MFC doesn't have a case to answer.

Massive issue, I wouldnt be suprised at all if it was a problem for all clubs weather they know it choose to ignore it or dont have a clue. I am 24 and have never touched one illegal drug but I am the only person around my age group I know who hasnt

Caro names names. Swan the biggest, then Sam Fisher......

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/pies-must-tackle-bad-behaviour-20121128-2aef8.html

Sack Swan if they havnt already? Something she isnt telling us? This is big, and will get bigger...

Mentioned Fisher and Swan but not Dustin Martin. Go figure.......

Buckley on radio saying she never rang him and there isn't one direct quote from anyone at COllingwood.

Good to see others getting the 'treatment'!!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's the first time a "CEO" from an AFL club has put this on the agenda, is it not? If it isn't, it has been a long, long time. I can't recall.

Maybe I should re-phrase; I don't think the problem is new.

It's been around for a long time, whether acknowledged or not.

Big kids with massive incomes are at more risk as they can pay for their addictions. It is a massive issue. One life ruined is massive.

I don't think it's any more an issue at AFL level, than in general society.

I guess the difference is that more people have vested interests in the success of the players, i.e. I don't care if a kid from WA wants to experiment, but I damn well care if that kid is Jesse Hogan.

It's true that AFL players are more at risk, for the reasons I pointed out, but any addict will find a way.

They just have the resources to do it legally.

Caro names names. Swan the biggest, then Sam Fisher......

http://www.theage.co...1128-2aef8.html

Is she allowed to do that?

I'm not convinced that young men working in a specific role in the AFL (the players) should be subject to recreational drug tests that the rest of the AFL and the media that covers it would object to. If it's not performance enhancing, they are an adult, and it won't lead them to harm anyone else, then it's no ones elses business.

I know if my employer asked me to take a recreational drug test, I'd tell them to go take a flying F#$K! irrespective of weather or not I'd indulged recently. Why are footy players any different to our politicians, journalists and business owners.

The challenge is best dealt with by educating the young about how to minimise risk in a world abundant with recreational drugs (both legal i.e. alcohol, and illegal).

* what I mean is, they have the resources to legally generate the funds to feed their habit.

The AFL 'rigging' the testing is a weak conspiracy as far as I can see.

ASADA test random subjects and I assume any contracted company would do the same.

There is no evidence that suggests players on two strikes are protected from their third strike.

Caro names names. Swan the biggest, then Sam Fisher......

http://www.theage.co...1128-2aef8.html

No Richmond reference. Hardly surprising !!

Nonetheless, this is a disturbing article. Gary Pert is smart. He would not have put this on the agenda without thinking it through. Smoke .. fire.

DO you know why player resort to drugs to feel good.

Its because they get thrashed on the track all summer. Go to battle everyweekend. Get scrutinised at every fault, and are treated like robots or even worse, cattle.

Drugs offer an escape and good feelings. Its hardly a surprise that players do it. And often, it is the hardest, toughest players that get on it.

The human condition is not designed to play football at this level. For most players, they have been thrashed or been thrashing themselves since the age of 14.

Drugs offer an easy way to feel human again, and not a blood thirsty warrior.

I do not condone the use of drugs, but I would not condem a man for indulging. For some, it is just like having a drink.

Go easy on blokes, especially 18 year olds like Garlett.

If they want to get tough on the players then the media ,the player agents ,the corporate sponsors the AFL admistrators, umpires and everyone else with AFL accreditation should be subject to the same tests and scrutiny.

If the media were tested there would barely be anyone left to print the lies and make the mind numbing TV that the commercial stations deliver .

Give them some official leave from the treadmill where they can do what they please as individuals .

Why do footballers get stuck into drugs on their holidays? Because four weeks (I think it's four weeks) on the gear has less effect when they restart training than four weeks on the [censored]. In fact, since varieties of amphetamines are performance enhancing, four weeks on the gear combined with the runs most footballers go for on their holidays can even kick-start their pre-seasons.

DO you know why player resort to drugs to feel good.

Its because they get thrashed on the track all summer. Go to battle everyweekend. Get scrutinised at every fault, and are treated like robots or even worse, cattle.

Drugs offer an escape and good feelings. Its hardly a surprise that players do it. And often, it is the hardest, toughest players that get on it.

The human condition is not designed to play football at this level. For most players, they have been thrashed or been thrashing themselves since the age of 14.

Drugs offer an easy way to feel human again, and not a blood thirsty warrior.

I do not condone the use of drugs, but I would not condem a man for indulging. For some, it is just like having a drink.

Go easy on blokes, especially 18 year olds like Garlett.

Your view seems contradictory to me: these guys are just ordinary blokes, blokes under pressure, cut them some slack and treat them differently than you would treat ordinary blokes.

My view is that if they want to endanger their employment in the offseason by getting high and risking their conditioning they can - just don't do it the other 11 months.

As for Garlett - giving him 'a chance' does not mean 'a contract.'

He needs to play AFL, in the same way that diabetics need Maccas...

Your view seems contradictory to me: these guys are just ordinary blokes, blokes under pressure, cut them some slack and treat them differently than you would treat ordinary blokes.

My view is that if they want to endanger their employment in the offseason by getting high and risking their conditioning they can - just don't do it the other 11 months.

As for Garlett - giving him 'a chance' does not mean 'a contract.'

He needs to play AFL, in the same way that diabetics need Maccas...

God They must be desperate!

God They must be desperate!

I was thinking more along the lines of Type II diabetics:

"I know I have lost me left foot due to the Big Mac and sundries, but I needs me mid-morning burger! It gives me them energies to operate the scooter. I also has the diet coke, coz I am trying to lose some weight."

I was thinking more along the lines of Type II diabetics:

"I know I have lost me left foot due to the Big Mac and sundries, but I needs me mid-morning burger! It gives me them energies to operate the scooter. I also has the diet coke, coz I am trying to lose some weight."

So close to the truth it is scary.

So close to the truth it is scary.

Even you need your little white pills OD .

I recall when you lost them you thought you were a Swans supporter for a period .

The 3 strike policy is just so wrong.

Why should the AFL put itself above societies laws.

I have taken my share of drugs over many years. I have never been caught or charged, but i always knew it was possible.

3 strikes is just hiding more damming information that Vlad & Anderson do not want to acknowledge.

They're protecting the "perception" of the game, rather than the reality. This is 'Pretence'. Deceit.

the modern boards ways, of telling people what they should hear, rather than Honesty. just further removes the people from the game itself.

What are we, sheep, to be fleeced, and sent back the the paddock.

they don't trust themselves, or the game, or the supporters.

They're protecting the "perception" of the game, rather than the reality. This is 'Pretence'. Deceit.

the modern boards ways, of telling people what they should hear, rather than Honesty. just further removes the people from the game itself. What are we, sheep, to be fleeced, and sent back the the paddock.

they don't trust themselves, or the game, or the supporters.

Yep-thats it .

The PA system reinforces this for them .

I can see a whole lot of "Drugs are Bad KAy?"TV ads with some of the more squeaky clean players getting to speak.

I wonder if they ever do drugs at TV stations?

DO you know why player resort to drugs to feel good.

Its because they get thrashed on the track all summer. Go to battle everyweekend. Get scrutinised at every fault, and are treated like robots or even worse, cattle.

Drugs offer an escape and good feelings. Its hardly a surprise that players do it. And often, it is the hardest, toughest players that get on it.

The human condition is not designed to play football at this level. For most players, they have been thrashed or been thrashing themselves since the age of 14.

Drugs offer an easy way to feel human again, and not a blood thirsty warrior.

I do not condone the use of drugs, but I would not condem a man for indulging. For some, it is just like having a drink.

Go easy on blokes, especially 18 year olds like Garlett.

Come off it mate, drugs are an issue for all not just AFL players. By the sounds of your argument every player must be on drugs to survive their miserable existence, hardly and it's a long bow then to bring Garlett into the argument. I would have thought the Swan and Martin situations might have pushed you away from that one but it seems you haven't had to deal with someone with a drug problem. Lucky you, if you had you would know it's not just about having a little something every now and then, it gains a life of it's own and brings with it lies and deceit, unreliability, clouded thinking, all the things you don't need to have in a football club where you need to trust one another.

I'm not running down what is involved in playing AFL these days but it is a charmed existence compared with what most do and earn.

If you ask most people on here if they would like to work their regular job doing hard hours (9 to 5 doesn't exist anymore) with little time off, trying to look after their families, or would they like the lifestyle and income of an AFL footballer that could set them up for life what do you think they would say.

Come off it mate, drugs are an issue for all not just AFL players. By the sounds of your argument every player must be on drugs to survive their miserable existence, hardly and it's a long bow then to bring Garlett into the argument. I would have thought the Swan and Martin situations might have pushed you away from that one but it seems you haven't had to deal with someone with a drug problem. Lucky you, if you had you would know it's not just about having a little something every now and then, it gains a life of it's own and brings with it lies and deceit, unreliability, clouded thinking, all the things you don't need to have in a football club where you need to trust one another.

I'm not running down what is involved in playing AFL these days but it is a charmed existence compared with what most do and earn.

If you ask most people on here if they would like to work their regular job doing hard hours (9 to 5 doesn't exist anymore) with little time off, trying to look after their families, or would they like the lifestyle and income of an AFL footballer that could set them up for life what do you think they would say.

What business is it of ours if they do take drugs ?You seem to know for sure that they do?

I dont see how it affects your life .

Unless it enhances performance-live and let live .

MYOB.

Come off it mate, drugs are an issue for all not just AFL players. By the sounds of your argument every player must be on drugs to survive their miserable existence, hardly and it's a long bow then to bring Garlett into the argument. I would have thought the Swan and Martin situations might have pushed you away from that one but it seems you haven't had to deal with someone with a drug problem. Lucky you, if you had you would know it's not just about having a little something every now and then, it gains a life of it's own and brings with it lies and deceit, unreliability, clouded thinking, all the things you don't need to have in a football club where you need to trust one another.

I'm not running down what is involved in playing AFL these days but it is a charmed existence compared with what most do and earn.

If you ask people on here if they would like to work their regular job doing hard hours (9 to 5 doesn't exist anymore) with little time off, trying to look after their families, or would they like the lifestyle and income of an AFL footballer that could set them up for life what do you think they would say.

Have you ever done a pre-season. Have you ever played a game. Have you ever gut run until you spewed, and do it day after day.

Footy is the hardest proffession around. The most intense pressure.

Do you know that muslims think we are all drug addicts because we drink alcohol?

Are we?

It is all about perception.

Nothing is a problem unless it is harming you.