Drinking Dees’ quartet could face Carlton, Viney, Tyson facing uphill injury fights
FOUR Demons who were not considered for selection after a drinking session last week will be available to face Carlton, but Jack Viney and Dom Tyson are facing injury battles.
Melbourne
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MELBOURNE’S booze bunch will be available for selection against Carlton on Sunday, but co-captain Jack Viney and Dom Tyson are facing fresh injury battles.
The Herald Sun exclusively revealed that Jay Kennedy-Harris, Dean Kent, Ben Kennedy and Jake Spencer were all ruled ineligible for Friday night’s loss to Sydney after breaking team drinking rules.
The quartet enjoyed a few beers after last week’s VFL win.
Drinking before a six-day break has long been disallowed at the Demons and All-Australian Max Gawn yesterday said the players were “disappointed” in their teammates.
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“This week was probably a week where we needed three of those boys that were out having a beer, with Jeffy Garlett going down,” Gawn said yesterday.
“We’ve obviously had a lot of injuries, we’ve had reports from Round 1 and so we’ve always had missing players due to different circumstances.”
In Round 1 Bernie Vince was given a one-match ban for striking and in Round 2 Jordan Lewis (three matches) and Jesse Hogan (two matches) were also rubbed out for undisciplined hits.
Tom Bugg is facing a possible six-match ban for punching Sydney’s Callum Mils in an incident dubbed a “dog act” by fellow Swan Luke Parker.
Viney (foot) and Tyson (knee) were on crutches on Saturday morning and are in doubt for the clash against the Blues at the MCG.
But Hogan, 22, could return less than two months after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The Demons have not commented publicly, but Gawn and emerging star Christian Petracca yesterday confirmed the Herald Sun’s story while speaking on 3AW and Channel 7 yesterday.
“The VFL had a seven-day break so they were allowed to have a few beers, but they’ve probably got to realise that halfway through the game (against West Coast), Jeffy Garlett came down injured and so did (Christian) Salem,” Petracca said.
“It’s just a thing we’ve got to take care of. We’ve moved on pretty quickly and hopefully they can play some good VFL and come back into the team.”
Coach Simon Goodwin left the four players off the emergency list despite their strong VFL form, with little-known draftee Dion Johnstone named in the 25-man squad.
The Demons replaced Garlett and Salem with youngsters Mitch White and Josh Wagner against the Swans, the club’s first home Friday night game in five seasons.
White was promoted off the rookie list on Thursday and former Dees coach Paul Roos said he expected Kennedy-Harris and Kent to play before learning about the indiscretions.
“It’s a strong statement,” Roos said on Triple M yesterday.
“Obviously the players have agreed on (drinking rules) and a few have gone back on it. From a club point of view it’s disappointing.
“Every single thing that you do as a person reflects on your football. You need to be thinking 24 hours a day, ‘I am an AFL footballer’.
“As a footballer it’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every single day of the year.”
The Demons last week announced that Kennedy-Harris had signed a one-year contract extension for next season.
Originally published as Drinking Dees’ quartet could face Carlton, Viney, Tyson facing uphill injury fights
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