Sydney Stack has walked free from prison after taking his fight for bail to the Supreme Court

After winning his bid for freedom, Sydney Stack’s agent spoke on his behalf saying his mental and physical health would be the utmost priority after his jail ordeal.

AFL young gun Sydney Stack — who was allegedly caught breaching COVID-19 quarantine after being embroiled in a Northbridge brawl — has walked out of WA’s toughest prison after a “sobering” 19 days behind bars.

The WA-raised Richmond player had been remanded in Hakea Prison since his arrest almost three weeks ago. He was denied bail by a magistrate hours after his arrest in the early hours of December 20.

But, after taking his bail bid to WA’s Supreme Court Friday — appearing by video-link from the remand centre in prison greens — the 20-year-old was granted his freedom.

He was whisked away from the Canning Vale jail wearing a black cap in a car with his manager Paul Peos who released a short statement.

“We are very relieved and pleased to have Syd released on bail and grateful that the Supreme Court agreed with our position on the matter,” Peos said.

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Sydney Stack has been released from prison. Picture: Instagram

“We have been overwhelmed with messages and offers of support from all around Australia for Sydney and must also say a public thank-you for the ongoing support of the Richmond Football Club in terms of his welfare.

“It has been a terribly challenging time for Sydney and our focus is on his near and longer term well-being. He has a significant period of physical, mental and spiritual healing and rehabilitation in front of him and we request some privacy as he works through these immediate challenges.”

Stack is due to miss the start of Richmond’s pre-season training on Monday and his future with the club remains unclear, given his bail conditions require him to report at Midland police station twice a week. Richmond declined to comment.

Stack’s release came after an agreement had been reached between Stack’s lawyers, including high-profile barrister Tom Percy, and prosecutors, who did not oppose bail.

That, prosecutor Les Hobson said, was because Stack’s circumstances had changed since his arrest. He had finished serving his isolation period and had tested negative for COVID-19.

Mr Hobson said it was “not inevitable” given “facts personal” to the footballer, including his lack of criminal record, that he would receive an immediate term of imprisonment if convicted.

The 20-year-old Tiger spent multiple weeks behind bars.

The maximum penalty for failing to comply with a direction under the Emergency Management Act is one-year imprisonment.

Delivering her reasons, Justice Hill said it was accepted by the parties that the magistrate who denied Stack bail made the right decision at the time, with the protection of the public the primary consideration.

Justice Hill noted that, prior to his arrest, Stack had never been in custody.

“The evidence before me is this has been a sobering experience for him,” she said, adding the outcome is likely to have an impact on his professional football career.

Justice Hill said the bail conditions proposed by Stack’s lawyers were “stringent” and, as well as reporting conditions, dictated that he live with his aunt.

A $10,000 personal undertaking and a $10,000 surety — signed by Mr Peos — was also put in place.

Tiger Sydney Stack after his boozy Gold Coast episode. Picture: Ten News Adelaide

Shortly after his arrest, a court was told Stack would have to start 14 days of isolation from the date he was remanded in custody, but it is understood he was released into the general population after his first quarantine period expired on December 24.

Outside court, Mr Percy said the court’s decision was based on a view that if Stack was to be convicted “it wasn’t inevitable that he would be imprisoned”.

Mr Percy added “it may be some time before he is dealt with to finality and, in those circumstances, given appropriate arrangements could be made to secure his attendance, the court found that it was appropriate to release him to bail”.

“I understand it’s been a difficult time for him, but hopefully he can get over that and we can move ahead,” he said.

“Being in custody over the Christmas period for the first time is a bewildering experience for anyone.”

Mr Peos said it had been difficult to speak with Stack while he had been behind bars, but said he would be “very pleased”.

“It’s been very hard, I haven’t been able to get much communication with him over the past couple of days but I’ll organise to get him out and chat to him then,” Mr Peos said.

He said Richmond had been supportive of Stack through the process.

“They just want to see him out like we do,” he said.

Stack had been a revelation for the Tigers before his woes. Picture: Michael Klein

He said it was too early to say when Stack, who was handed a 10-week ban in September after it was revealed he left the Gold Coast AFL hub to go to a strip club, would return to train with his teammates.

Stack flew into Perth from South Australia on December 10 for “cultural healing” after his grandfather’s death. He allegedly left his nominated address in Northam two days later and drove to Belmont, following a family argument.

Police patrolling Northbridge’s nightclub district say they handed Stack a move-on notice about 1.10am on December 20 after he was involved in a punch-up.

Officers only allegedly realised Stack should have been in isolation after checking his details against his driver’s licence.

Stack is due back in court on January 20. He has not entered a plea to the charge.

Originally published as Sydney Stack has walked free from prison after taking his fight for bail to the Supreme Court