Western Bulldogs suspend Lachie Hunter for four AFL games and fine him $5000

As well as losing the vice captaincy, a remorseful Lachie Hunter has also been suspended by the Western Bulldogs following last week’s alleged booze-fuelled crash. See the full sanctions and his response here.

WESTERN Bulldogs premiership star Lachie Hunter was hit with a four-match suspension and $5000 fine for a drink-driving offence that left two of his teammates under investigation.

The Bulldogs were also set to strip Hunter of the vice-captaincy he received just four months ago until the midfielder decided to relinquish the title on Monday.

“It’s never responsible to get behind the wheel after you’ve had a drink,” Hunter said in a video statement.

“I let down a lot of people here, my fiancée and my family first.

“The leadership group and the club, my teammates, Billy (Gowers) and Bailey (Smith) for dragging them into a situation they should never have been in, and the wider community who are going through a really hard time with COVID-19.

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“Clearly, I should’ve been at home. I decided it was best that I step down from the vice-captain role this year.

“It just wasn’t fair on my teammates and would’ve put them in uncomfortable positions going forward.

“I’ve obviously lost the respect of a lot of people over this time. It’s going to hurt a lot watching my teammates run out without me there, and knowing I caused that myself.

“I’ll have that date circled in my calendar when I’m allowed to get back out there.”

Lachie Hunter will set down as vice-captain of the Western Bulldogs.

Hunter did not wear club attire in the video. His next game could come as late as August.

The Bulldogs entered 2020 as one of the premiership fancies.

But they are now reeling from a 52-point loss to Collingwood in Round 1 and the absence of their 2018 best-and-fairest winner for the next four games.

It is likely that clubs will need to win 9-10 matches in a 17-game season to finish in the top eight.

Dogs legend Brad Johnson said the punishment was “spot on” and presented a great opportunity for new captain Marcus Bontempelli to make his mark.

But Johnson conceded there was no obvious replacement as Bontempelli’s deputy from the remaining members of the leadership group.

Hunter will be left with a damage bill of up to $150,000 for the four cars he smashed in Middle Park last Thursday.

Two of those belonged to the family of Smith’s girlfriend.

Smith, who was staying with his partner, drove Hunter to Gowers’ place and it is there where police breathalysed Hunter. He recorded 0.123.

Police also fined Hunter and Smith $1652 for breaching social distancing rules and let Gowers off with a warning.

Smith, 19, was cleared by the Bulldogs. Gowers was handed a suspended $5000 fine.

Hunter is also required to undertake alcohol education and counselling and a form of community service.

WHAT THE INVESTIGATION FOUND

In a club statement the Western Bulldogs detailed what their investigation revealed.

· Hunter was involved in an accident close to his home in Middle Park, involving four parked cars

· Hunter consumed alcohol before driving his vehicle and his driving was adversely affected by his alcohol consumption

· At the scene of the accident, Hunter provided his contact details to some, but not all of the owners of the damaged vehicles

· Two of the damaged vehicles belonged to the family of Bailey Smith’s girlfriend, whose house Bailey was staying at the time. The location of the accident outside the house where Bailey and his girlfriend were was, we are satisfied, entirely coincidental.

· Bailey went outside in response to the crash and found his teammate in an understandably distressed state immediately after the collision. In response to a request from Lachie, Bailey drove Lachie to Billy Gowers’ apartment. Bailey did not exit his vehicle at Gowers’ apartment, and he then immediately returned to his girlfriend’s house.

· Police ascertained from Bailey that he had taken Hunter to Billy Gowers’ apartment and they followed up and located Lachie there. Following a preliminary breath test and a subsequent evidentiary breath test, Hunter returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.123

RELATED:

MAMMOTH COST Of HUNTER’S CRASH REVEALED

DOUG HAWKINS URGES DOGS NOT TO STRIP HUNTER OF ROLE

LACHIE HUNTER SMASH THE MISTAKE THE AFL WAS DREADING

Originally published as Western Bulldogs suspend Lachie Hunter for four AFL games and fine him $5000