Former AFL player cops secret ban in SA state league
Blake Drury, who played 10 AFL games for North Melbourne before joining Adelaide's SANFL side this season, was picked to play in a game between South Australia and Western Australia's state leagues.
But at a promotion for the May 17 state game, Drury and another player, Central District's Aiden Grace, were caught on video making "unacceptable" comments about a SANFL female staffer.
The staffer discovered the comments when editing footage.
The pair were suddenly withdrawn from SA's team for the state game - no reason was given at the time but it has now emerged the duo were secretly banned for one game by the SANFL.
The Crows, in a statement, said they were "angered" at the incident and supported the SANFL's sanction.
"Adelaide Football Club can confirm one of its SANFL-listed players was sanctioned for making inappropriate comments about a SANFL staff member," the Crows said.
"The club is extremely disappointed and angered by the incident, and it endorsed the SANFL's sanction."
Drury, who was delisted by North Melbourne at the end of last season, has been sent for counselling and an education program, the Crows said.
The 21-year-old nominated for the AFL mid-season draft on Wednesday night but was overlooked.
The SANFL said the comments about the female staffer represented "unacceptable conduct".
"We were extremely disappointed by the inappropriate comments made by the players and continue to provide support to our staff member impacted," the state league said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
a few seconds ago
- 7NEWS
Max Gawn joins debate on West Coast's polarising request for AFL draft assistance
Melbourne champion Max Gawn says he is unsure West Coast should be receiving draft assistance from the AFL. The Eagles want a priority pick or picks in this year's draft, with CEO Don Pyke confirming this week that the club would proceed with the drastic measure and make the request to the AFL. North Melbourne was the last club to get draft assistance, with the AFL commission in 2023 approving a deal of three extra end-of-first-round draft selections that were spread across two years. North received one end-of-first-round selection in 2023 and two end-of-first-round selections in 2024. They were also granted two additional rookie list spots. The bandaid package came after four consecutive seasons where North finished last or second last, and had 12 wins in an 84-game stretch. Despite the fact that North Melbourne has not appeared in a grand final this century, rival clubs did make considerable noise when the package was approved, with Geelong coach Chris Scott blasting the decision. Speaking on Triple M's Mick in the Morning on Friday, Gawn did note that West Coast last won a premiership in 2018. 'I'm way out of my pay-grade here ... I know we got one,' Gawn said (Melbourne had pick 1 and 2 in the 2009 draft but also had a request knocked back in 2014). '(West Coast) have been down the bottom for a while, but they did just win a flag in 2018 … it's not that long. 'You need an even competition so you can see why the AFL do it, but it's interesting who gets it.' Melbourne won a flag in 2021 but prior to that they last tasted premiership glory in 1964. St Kilda great and Channel 7 expert Nick Riewoldt also thought there were issues with the West Coast request. '(The Eagles last premiership) was not that long ago ... The Saints haven't won (a flag) since '66,' Riewoldt said. 'West Coast have got plenty of levers (to pull) in terms of being a massive club, big-drawing power that footy club.' Gawn said West Coast, along with Collingwood was 'the biggest club in the land'. Triple M co-host Titus O'Reily said the priority pick had become some sort of reward for clubs who made their own mistakes. 'They've become insurance for bad administrators,' he said. 'So, if the club makes a series of bad decisions, the next group come along and go, 'Give me a priority pick'.' The Eagles played finals in 2020 and only just missed out on the top eight in 2021. In 2022 West Coast had two wins, and 20 losses and in 2023 they had three wins and 20 losses and finished last. In 2024 the Eagles had five wins, and 18 losses, but they have only managed one win this season. 'The unfortunate situation we find ourselves in, looking at our numbers - whether it be games won, quarters won, percentage over the last five years - we find ourselves right in the position where if you apply it across clubs who have recently received assistance... we're well and truly in the window for that,' Pyke recently said on SEN.
Perth Now
a few seconds ago
- Perth Now
Max Gawn joins debate on West Coast's polarising request
Melbourne champion Max Gawn says he is unsure West Coast should be receiving draft assistance from the AFL. The Eagles want a priority pick or picks in this year's draft, with CEO Don Pyke confirming this week that the club would proceed with the drastic measure and make the request to the AFL. North Melbourne was the last club to get draft assistance, with the AFL commission in 2023 approving a deal of three extra end-of-first-round draft selections that were spread across two years. North received one end-of-first-round selection in 2023 and two end-of-first-round selections in 2024. They were also granted two additional rookie list spots. The bandaid package came after four consecutive seasons where North finished last or second last, and had 12 wins in an 84-game stretch. Despite the fact that North Melbourne has not appeared in a grand final this century, rival clubs did make considerable noise when the package was approved, with Geelong coach Chris Scott blasting the decision. Speaking on Triple M's Mick in the Morning on Friday, Gawn did note that West Coast last won a premiership in 2018. 'I'm way out of my pay-grade here ... I know we got one,' Gawn said (Melbourne had pick 1 and 2 in the 2009 draft but also had a request knocked back in 2014). '(West Coast) have been down the bottom for a while, but they did just win a flag in 2018 … it's not that long. 'You need an even competition so you can see why the AFL do it, but it's interesting who gets it.' Melbourne won a flag in 2021 but prior to that they last tasted premiership glory in 1964. St Kilda great and Channel 7 expert Nick Riewoldt also thought there were issues with the West Coast request. '(The Eagles last premiership) was not that long ago ... The Saints haven't won (a flag) since '66,' Riewoldt said. 'West Coast have got plenty of levers (to pull) in terms of being a massive club, big-drawing power that footy club.' Gawn said West Coast, along with Collingwood was 'the biggest club in the land'. Triple M co-host Titus O'Reily said the priority pick had become some sort of reward for clubs who made their own mistakes. 'They've become insurance for bad administrators,' he said. 'So, if the club makes a series of bad decisions, the next group come along and go, 'Give me a priority pick'.' The Eagles played finals in 2020 and only just missed out on the top eight in 2021. In 2022 West Coast had two wins, and 20 losses and in 2023 they had three wins and 20 losses and finished last. In 2024 the Eagles had five wins, and 18 losses, but they have only managed one win this season. 'The unfortunate situation we find ourselves in, looking at our numbers - whether it be games won, quarters won, percentage over the last five years - we find ourselves right in the position where if you apply it across clubs who have recently received assistance... we're well and truly in the window for that,' Pyke recently said on SEN. - With The West Australian
Perth Now
11 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Luke Beveridge caught in awkward scenes as Roaming Brian drops in
Luke Beveridge's frosty relationship with the media does not look like it will be thawing anytime soon. And things took an awkward turn on Thursday night when star Seven commentator Brian Taylor tried to talk to the Western Bulldogs coach for BT's highly popular Roaming Brian segment. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Luke Beveridge avoids Roaming Brian. Taylor spotted Beveridge chatting to Bulldogs great Brad Johnson and star midfielder Tom Liberatore after the thumping win over GWS. 'We'll see if we can sneak up on him and just grab a quick word ... just having a chat here to the coach,' Taylor said as he roamed the Dogs' rooms. As Taylor approached, Beveridge turned to him and appeared to give him the evil eye. Luke Beveridge's frosty relationship with the media keeps rolling on. Credit: Seven 'I don't know whether we can have a quick word,' Taylor said to Beveridge but the coach then walked away. 'Can we just grab one question with you?' Taylor continued. Beveridge then circled around Taylor and ducked as he walked behind him. 'Don't you do Channel Seven anymore, Bevo?' Taylor inquired. Beveridge muttered something to Taylor and then appeared to say, 'I don't like you.' Of course, the professional Taylor took it all in his stride. 'Bevo not all that happy with things here,' he said. Beveridge has a ban on expert AFL commentator Kane Cornes, who has been critical of the coach over his defensive strategy (or lack of). Cornes believes the Bulldogs have one of the best lists in the AFL and thinks they should be performing better than where they are currently positioned. The Dogs are in a scrap to make finals this year and Cornes believes the Bulldogs have underachieved since Beveridge guided them to a drought-breaking flag in 2016. Beveridge, in his time as coach, has had many sour relationships with journalists and media types over the years. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. He had a high-profile feud with Damian Barrett who works with AFL Media and Nine, and later Beveridge refused to appear at off-the-record chats with AFL Media reporters (that all the other coaches attended) ahead of the season. In 2022 Beveridge had an explosive blow-up with reporter Tom Morris who was working with Fox Footy at the time. Morris had reported that Lachie Hunter was going to be left out of the team and Beveridge accused him of gutter journalism. 'You've got the nerve to ask me a question, and even be here,' Beveridge said to Morris after the game against Melbourne in 2022. 'You barrack for Melbourne, Tom Morris. You've been preying on us. You've been opening us up and causing turmoil within our football club by declaring our team well before it needs to be declared. 'Is that the gutter journalist you want to be?' Not long after that blow-up, Morris lost his job for a separate issue. Earlier this year Beveridge was involved in another tense exchange with Cornes when the Bulldogs played at Geelong. The pair faced off at GMHBA Stadium ahead of the match, when Beveridge walked past Cornes on the boundary line. Beveridge is also believed to be the reason AFL great Chris Grant has had a falling out with his beloved Western Bulldogs. Last month Grant did not attend the Western Bulldogs' centenary gala where the club named its top five greatest players of the past 100 years. It was later revealed that Grant was seriously urged to go to the event, where he was named in the top three of the club's all-time greats, behind only EJ 'Ted' Whitten (the spiritual father) and modern-day great Marcus Bontempelli. Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson said it all stemmed from Grant's time at the club when he was football director, and a frosty relationship that developed with Beveridge after an internal review.
