Latest news with #MitchCleary
Perth Now
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Shocking twist emerges in Giants' X-rated party scandal
Greater Western Sydney's end-of-season party scandal has taken a fresh twist with the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel facing sanctions for an alleged breach. A probe by local authorities has uncovered vulgar new details by the players' behaviour at the infamous event. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Giants' wild party sparks pub investigation. The theme of the party was 'troubled couples', which saw players dress up as controversial figures and act out skits. Six players were suspended for a combined 14 matches and a further seven fined for a total of $35,000 for the wild night out. Now, the pub where the party took place is in the firing line and could be stripped of its licence. 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, who broke the initial story last year, revealed the Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) are ordering the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel to face an independent hearing for allowing the chaos to unfold on its premises. 'Giants players dressed in the theme of troubled couples peforming skits relating to each pairing, including re-enacting the September 11 attacks and sex acts,' Cleary said. 'Alarming CCTV showed players skolling warm beer and vomiting, as well as simulating masturbation, nudity, fornication with blow-up dolls and players pouring their own alcohol.' Alarming CCTV revealed the Giants' behaviour. Credit: Channel 7 While it was a private function, some acts were seen by patrons, including from the rooftop and verandah, Cleary added. The hearing is expected to be heard in the coming months, but there will be no further punishment for the players involved. 'The Wooloomoo Bay Hotel, which is owned by prominent Sydney family — The Laundy Hotel Group will be grilled and CCTV is expected to be shown,' Cleary said. 'At worst the pub could be stripped of its licence and staff members removed from the industyr. 'The Giants and AFL won't take this any further and feel the matter is closed. 'It's important to note the Giants' own investigations cleared the players of any illegal activity. 'And NSW Police hasn't been and isn't involved.' The Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) released a statement confirming their investigation has been completed. 'The investigation considered alleged indecent conduct on the premises and failure by the venue to take reasonable steps to prevent behaviour likely to encourage the misuse and abuse of alcohol,' the statement read. 'L&GNSW determined that the alleged breaches warranted referral to the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority which will now consider two disciplinary complaints. 'L&GNSW is committed to holding licensed venues accountable and reminds operators that serious penalties may apply for breaches of liquor laws, licence conditions or failures in the responsible service of alcohol.' Last year, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said some of the skits were 'completely unacceptable' and totally at odds with the codes values. He revealed their investigation found Josh Fahey dressed up as ex-NRL player Jarryd Hayne, who spent time in jail before having rape charges dropped, and Jake Riccardi went as a taxi driver. 'In the course of a skit, Fahey simulated inappropriate acts on a sex doll,' Dillon said at the time. 'Riccardi was not involved in that part of the skit. 'Toby McMullin and Cooper Hamilton simulated the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre in costume related to that event. 'Harvey Thomas dressed as a particular professional sportsman and Joe Fonti as a girl acting inappropriately during their skit. 'Connor Idun and Lachie Whitfield enacted a scene from the Django Unchained, characterising slavery.'
7NEWS
29-07-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Shocking twist emerges in Giants' end-of-season party scandal as pub to face independent hearing
Greater Western Sydney 's end-of-season party scandal has taken a fresh twist with the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel facing sanctions for an alleged breach. A probe by local authorities has uncovered vulgar new details by the players' behaviour at the infamous event. The theme of the party was 'troubled couples', which saw players dress up as controversial figures and act out skits. Six players were suspended for a combined 14 matches and a further seven fined for a total of $35,000 for the wild night out. Now, the pub where the party took place is in the firing line and could be stripped of its licence. 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, who broke the initial story last year, revealed the Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) are ordering the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel to face an independent hearing for allowing the chaos to unfold on its premises. 'Giants players dressed in the theme of troubled couples peforming skits relating to each pairing, including re-enacting the September 11 attacks and sex acts,' Cleary said. 'Alarming CCTV showed players skolling warm beer and vomiting, as well as simulating masturbation, nudity, fornication with blow-up dolls and players pouring their own alcohol.' While it was a private function, some acts were seen by patrons, including from the rooftop and verandah, Cleary added. The hearing is expected to be heard in the coming months, but there will be no further punishment for the players involved. 'The Wooloomoo Bay Hotel, which is owned by prominent Sydney family — The Laundy Hotel Group will be grilled and CCTV is expected to be shown,' Cleary said. 'At worst the pub could be stripped of its licence and staff members removed from the industyr. 'The Giants and AFL won't take this any further and feel the matter is closed. 'It's important to note the Giants' own investigations cleared the players of any illegal activity. 'And NSW Police hasn't been and isn't involved.' The Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) released a statement confirming their investigation has been completed. 'The investigation considered alleged indecent conduct on the premises and failure by the venue to take reasonable steps to prevent behaviour likely to encourage the misuse and abuse of alcohol,' the statement read. 'L&GNSW determined that the alleged breaches warranted referral to the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority which will now consider two disciplinary complaints. 'L&GNSW is committed to holding licensed venues accountable and reminds operators that serious penalties may apply for breaches of liquor laws, licence conditions or failures in the responsible service of alcohol.' Last year, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said some of the skits were 'completely unacceptable' and totally at odds with the codes values. He revealed their investigation found Josh Fahey dressed up as ex-NRL player Jarryd Hayne, who spent time in jail before having rape charges dropped, and Jake Riccardi went as a taxi driver. 'In the course of a skit, Fahey simulated inappropriate acts on a sex doll,' Dillon said at the time. 'Riccardi was not involved in that part of the skit. 'Toby McMullin and Cooper Hamilton simulated the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre in costume related to that event. 'Harvey Thomas dressed as a particular professional sportsman and Joe Fonti as a girl acting inappropriately during their skit. 'Connor Idun and Lachie Whitfield enacted a scene from the Django Unchained, characterising slavery.'
7NEWS
15-07-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Richmond exploring proposal to play home games in Tasmania over next two years
Richmond are exploring the possibility of playing home games in Tasmania over the next two years in a new proposal. 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary exclusively revealed details of the potential move that is being orchestrated by the Tasmanian government. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Under the proposal, that is still in the early days, the Tigers would effectively replace North Melbourne as the team to play at Hobart's Ninja Stadium. The Kangaroos have enjoyed a 14-year association with Tasmania, but won't play any home games in the state after this year. The Tasmanian government want the Tigers to fill the void ahead of the Devils' likely entry into the AFL in 2028. Cleary said the proposal would likely involve Richmond's home games at Marvel Stadium, which generally don't draw big crowds. 'Richmond are still working through this prospect and will determine it over the next couple of months, but we know Richmond have got a couple of games each year at Marvel Stadium. Their fans just don't rock up. They averaged 21,000 over the last five games at Marvel Stadium,' Cleary said on The Agenda Setters. 'The proposal has the Tigers moving a game or two down to Hobart to fill the void before the Devils come in because we know Hawthorn will play four games a season in Launceston for the foreseeable future, but when the North Melbourne Footy Club move their two games to Marvel from next year and get out of Tassie completely, there will be a void, a big hole down in Hobart, and the Tasmanian State Government want Richmond to fill that void. 'We know Richmond have had a strong history down in the Apple Isle. You think Ian Stewart, Royce Hart, Matthew Richardson, Michael Roach, some of the legends of the Richmond Footy Club from the Apple Isle. 'The two biggest games ever attended down in Tassie, both include Richmond. They've got history down there, and this is something the Tigers will work through in the next couple of years.' Cleary added that the money, which could be in the millions, will help fund the club's redevelopment of Punt Road Oval. 'This is not a cash-strapped club by any stretch. They'll find a way, but an extra $1 million or $2 million for your club to work through something like this will help,' he continued. 'And we know the Tassie government want to spend up big because they want content down in Tassie before the Devils arrive. They can't have a gaping hole in the Hobart side of things for the next two years.' AFL great Luke Hodge said it made sense for the Tigers to take up the offer given they are in a rebuilding stage. 'If you're making that decision ... they're not going to play finals over the next three or four years with all the young list and the turnout they've had, so why wouldn't you take them down there? Make some money before Tassie get a team,' he said. Daily Thomas also agreed, especially if it's just taking away a game that would normally be played at Marvel Stadium. 'I think it makes sense, if it's just the Marvel swap, it probably makes more sense. They don't like it (Marvel Stadium). Dimma (former coach Damian Hardwick) said he hated it, and the fans agreed,' he said.
7NEWS
02-07-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
AFL players blindsided by umpire contact crackdown as new policy comes in mid-season
AFL players could now be suspended for accidental umpire contact in a change that has blindsided players who have been retrospectively fitted with track records. Any player with four incidents of umpire contact over a two-year period will now be sent directly to the tribunal where they could be suspended at worst, or further fined at best. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: AFL cracking down on umpire contact. The AFL confirmed the change in a statement released on Monday. 'When an offending player is sanctioned for a fourth or subsequent offence for careless contact with an umpire from across the last two AFL years, the MRO or the EGM football performance will now likely directly refer the player to the tribunal,' the statement reads. The AFL may then seek from the tribunal an alternative sanction for the offence, which may include an increased fine and/or where applicable, a suspension at the tribunal's absolute discretion.' It's a move that has riled up the playing group, who say they were given no heads up. 'The players have today released a statement to us here at The Agenda Setters saying they actually asked the AFL for a statement and a sit-down, the players and the AFL, a couple of weeks ago,' Mitch Cleary told The Agenda Setters on Monday night. 'That was denied, and they learnt of this today when the AFL released it for the first time.' Dale Thomas added: 'They were so frustrated, the players, and they came up with all these things; between the MRO and the way that has been adjudicated, some of the rule changes — and especially this one, with the threshold changing from what was actually umpire contact. 'And by no means is that dismissing the seriousness of some of those injuries, with the whiplash, the concussions — that's not a part of that. 'The players are talking (about) purely how they're going to be fined for this contact and what constitutes being fined. 'They got to the point where they went to the body, the AFLPA, and said, 'Alright, we want you to organise a sit-down with the AFL and we want to have a seat at the table to work through all these issues, because at the minute, we have no clarity on any of it, and it seems the goal posts are moving week in, week out'. 'It'll be, by the end of this year, over the 24-month period, $1m the players have given back in fines to the AFL through various sanctions.' It means there are several players who are already one mistake away from being sent to the tribunal. Matt Rowell is already up to four incidents in the past two years, as is Jack Macrae, while Adam Cerra has two. 'So if Matt Rowell essentially gets one more of these umpire contacts, he can be sent to the tribunal and potentially suspended and be out of the race for the Brownlow,' Cleary said. 'But they only learnt of it today; the players weren't warned.' Caroline Wilson didn't have as much sympathy for the players. 'You know what? Tough. Tough. They were warned a year ago,' she said. Kane Cornes fired back with an example of Josh Dunkley accidentally clipping the foot of an umpire despite not even facing him while focusing on his opponent. 'I get you on some of those; some of those you're right, some of those they've set up in the wrong spot,' Cornes said. 'But there are others that players have been fined (for), which is just an accident. 'Do not suspend a player or fine a player for that. 'That's just a clip of the heels, it's a tough game, there are a lot of people on a football field, he's not even looking. 'To think that Josh Dunkley could potentially miss a final for an incident like that, or even be fined, is ridiculous, so I still think there needs to be some discretion in how serious the incident is on a case-by-case basis.' Interestingly, the decision has been made while incoming football performance boss Greg Swann is overseas and yet to even begin his role, with Geoff Walsh acting as his stand-in replacement, since the responsibility was taken out of Laura Kane's portfolio.
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Mystery as it's claimed Sydney Swans AFL coach John Longmire made a VERY suspicious move on grand final day
John Longmire's decorated coaching career has taken a bizarre turn following revelations about a missing recording from the 2024 AFL Grand Final. The former Sydney Swans coach, who stepped down at the end of that season, failed to return his coach's audio from the Swans' 60-point thrashing at the hands of the Brisbane Lions. That audio was intended for the AFL's annual Sound The Alarm documentary, which gives fans an inside look at the biggest game of the season through real-time coach recordings. Since 2019, the series has featured mic'd-up audio from both coaches on Grand Final day, capturing pre-game addresses, coaching box exchanges and three-quarter time instructions. But for 2024, the audio from Longmire has vanished - and according to AFL insiders, it never even made it back to the league. Channel Seven reporter Mitch Cleary broke the story on The Agenda Setters, revealing Longmire simply never returned the SD card containing the recording. 'John Longmire was mic'd up on the day,' Cleary said. 'But post-game, when he handed back the equipment to the AFL, he took the SD card and, to this day, the AFL don't have the SD card - he never gave it back.' Cleary went on to say that Longmire tried to get the card working with his son after the game, without success. The coach has since declined payment for his participation in the audio project, given the content was never recovered. Though Cleary acknowledged clubs always have final say over what gets aired, the key difference here is that the AFL never got the chance to review it. 'It's up to the clubs and coaches to give approval,' he said. 'But in this case, the AFL never even received the content to begin with.' That has left many wondering what was said inside Longmire's coaching box during the Swans' heavy defeat. Longmire, known for his passionate style and infamous 'sprays,' has a history of giving intense feedback in the heat of battle. Former Swans players such as Dan Hannebery, Steve Johnson and Josh Kennedy have all spoken about fierce verbal exchanges with the coach. Kennedy has previously revealed Longmire's scathing halftime address against Essendon, while Jordan Dawson has spoken about a stern post-game conversation that shifted the course of his career. Cleary believes the missing audio may contain similarly fiery commentary. 'I think there were things said in that coaches' box on the day that shouldn't see the light of day,' Cleary said. 'Some of it may have been about players, some of it just heat-of-the-moment stuff.' Chris Fagan, who coached in the 2023 Grand Final and participated in the same series, said he understood why a coach might want to listen back to their own recordings. Longmire's departure from the role adds another layer to the story. He resigned two months after the Grand Final, despite having a contract for 2025. His coaching record remains impressive: 333 games, 208 wins, one premiership in 2012, and four losing Grand Finals, including three by massive margins. He now serves in a performance director role at the Swans, with Dean Cox stepping up as senior coach.
