Urgency over ‘massive’ drug culture in grassroots Adelaide footy say Andrew Jarman and Sean Jackson
TWO of SA’s most respected suburban football coaches - one a Crows legend - are demanding an immediate education program to combat the “massive” illegal drug culture in grassroots Adelaide footy.
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TWO of the state’s most respected suburban football coaches are demanding that the State Government or SANFL immediately establish an education program to combat the “massive” and growing illegal drug culture in grassroots Adelaide football.
Adelaide Crows legend, now Gaza Football Club coach, Andrew Jarman, and SA Amateur League 2016 state coach, Sean Jackson, said the explosion of cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis use among players is tormenting football clubs and ruining young lives.
Jarman has backed a plea by Jackson for the SANFL, SA football’s ruling body, or the Government to immediately set up a drug-education program based on the Metropolitan Fire Service’s Road Awareness Program, which takes the victims and families of road crashes to speak at schools.
Jarman, who has been associated with amateur league club Gaza FC for more than four decades, says he is shocked at the acceptance of social and even performance-enhancing drugs by some players.
When he returned to Gaza this year after coaching in the Hills, Jarman said he banished “four or five’’ people from the club whom he had suspected were using illegal drugs.
“I know there were some individuals who were taking drugs in the carpark (the season before) and when I got the position back at Gaza, I cleaned all that out ... straight away,’’ he said.
Jackson has coached four amateur league clubs over 12 seasons and says social drugs use among footballers has grown steadily in the past five years.
“Illicit drugs are a real concern for all football clubs and something needs to be done about it.
“My (playing) days were innocent, all about families and a few beers but now it’s hard drugs and they’re ripping communities apart.
“I’m one of hundreds of coaches who are here to coach footy clubs but now I have to be a father figure and a drug educator and we’re not qualified to do it.’’
His comments come three weeks after former Gepps Cross Football Club players — Brenton McEwan-Stephens, 23, of Paralowie, and Jake Spriggs, 21, of Craigmore — confessed in an Adelaide court to drug trafficking.
A St Peter’s Old Collegians footballer, 27, of Fullarton, was arrested in the carpark of The Maid Hotel, at Magill, last week in possession of 59 ecstasy tablets and a substance believed to be cocaine.
After 25 years of coaching young men at SANFL and SAAFL level, Jackson said officials were powerless to stop the problem without education and strategies so youngsters could grapple with the peer pressure that can lead to drug use.
“I have a duty of care and I don’t want to sit on my hands doing nothing,’’ said Jackson, who coached Gepps Cross from 2005-07.
“I’ve had (other coaches) say they know their players take drugs. One said he told his players that if he catches them doing it at the club, he’ll sack them but what they do away from the club is their business.
“I’m just not comfortable with that. I don’t want to coach a kid and know that he’s fallen into something and 10 years down the track they end up like (former West Coast star now drug addict) Ben Cousins.’’
Mr Jackson, who was sacked by fourth-placed Rostrevor Old Collegians FC three weeks ago, said the use of illegal drugs was a social epidemic and all football leagues must admit there is a problem - and then set up education programs.
“The problem is, the people who could have an impact are just saying it’s too hard,’’ Jackson said.
“The AFL made a stand against racial vilification and now you don’t hear it in any league. So why can’t we do the same with drugs?’’
Jarman said coaches from across the state would backed a campaign for a drug-education program available to all SA clubs.
“We need real leadership and resources and a drug-education program and we need to education the kids starting with under-12s and under-14s,’’ he said.
“I haven’t seen drugs inside our clubrooms but we know they’re rife (in society) and footy clubs are part of it but what are we doing about it?’’
While Jackson made no allegation of drug use at Rostrevor FC, he said he did not have a clear understanding on why he was sacked after being told: “culturally, we don’t think you fit the Rostrevor footy club”.
Rostrevor president Anthony Medhurst confirmed that statement, but attributed Jackson’s termination to “a host of reasons”.
“The drug thing, he didn’t raise with me or the club until after he left,’’ Mr Medhurst said. Jackson rejects that.
Amateur Football League chief executive John Kernahan said they had strategies to deal with drug issues and “albeit limited’’ resources which were provided to member clubs.
“Sadly, drugs are part of the community ... and there will be times when a member of the broader community (involved in drugs) is also a member of a sporting club, workplace or family … that will inadvertently be tarnished as a result,’’ he said.
SANFL general manager of football Adam Kelly said the league’s newly appointed Integrity Officer, former Victoria Police detective, Sean Toohey, was forming a drug education policy.
“Key elements to this response will include the formation and delivery of educational programs, support for community club volunteers and the development of an Illicit Drugs policy in consideration of our overall integrity framework,’’ he said.
A spokesman for SA Health said the State Government would “welcome” discussing with the AFL, SANFL or SAAFL how to add more drug education but “illicit drug abuse is a society-wide problem.’’
Without specific data, the Government was reluctant to single out amateur footballers as more prone to drug use than other sections of society, the spokesman said.
“Young men in general are typically more prone to risky behaviour, including illicit drug use, so it could be the case that drug use in football clubs is more visible due to the concentration of young men,’’ he said.
He added: “The Government funds a range of programs tackling drug and alcohol abuse, some specifically targeting sports clubs, through various agencies.”