Brisbane Lions welfare program torn apart by ban handed out to Craig Lambert

BRISBANE has become collateral damage in the AFL’s investigation into Lachie Whitfield, with its welfare program torn apart on the eve of the AFL Draft.

Craig Lambert, Brisbane Lions player welfare manager. Picture: Jono Searle

BRISBANE has become collateral damage in the AFL’s prosecution of allegations of drug use against Lachie Whitfield, with their welfare program torn apart by a year-long ban to Craig Lambert on the eve of the draft.

The Lions need answers on whether they will be compensated for the loss of a senior football department figure for actions committed while at his previous club.

Lambert and Collingwood footy boss Graeme Allan have accepted AFL deals for one-year bans for attempting to hide former No.1 draft pick Whitfield from potential drug tests while in senior positions at GWS.

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Whitfield will also accept a six-month ban.

The trio’s actions came to light when Whitfield’s former girlfriend sent an email to ASADA last year alleging his drug use.

However, the bans fall under the AFL’s rules for conduct and not ASADA rules which potentially carry far more severe penalties.

Craig and Mel Lambert with sons Billy 16, Baily, 15 and Bodey, 12.

Lambert has not formally told the Lions of his intentions but the AFL deal was contingent on all three agreeing to the terms.

Although Allan had pleaded his innocence and initially vowed to fight to clear his name, Collingwood have confirmed he will take the 12-month penalty offered by the AFL.

It is understood Collingwood has already made plans to replace Allan as head of football.

However, Brisbane have done no planning on filling Lambert’s position and the issue is complicated because Lambert is part of a husband and wife team.

Lions CEO Greg Swann will now seek clarification from the AFL on the exact restrictions that will be placed on Lambert and how that would impact wife Melissa’s ability to do her job.

Swann said the club would need to replace Lambert given the importance of the welfare program to the club following several years of poor retention, which reached a peak with the departures of the “go-home five” – Elliot Yeo, Sam Docherty, Billy Longer, Jared Polec and Patrick Karnezis – in 2013.

Craig Lambert and former Giant Sam Frost at a school clinic.

“That is a critical position in our footy club, welfare and player retention is a big issue for both Queensland clubs but especially for us after the go-home five,’’ he said.

“We will wait for detail from the AFL, we need to know exactly what this means, it may have ramifications on whether a player can go to their house even though Melissa is doing her job.’’

The AFL Commission will meet today where the issue of any further penalty to GWS will be discussed.

Currently, the Lions and Collingwood have fared worse than GWS. Brisbane say they were not made aware of the investigation when they hired Lambert at the end of 2015.

It is expected the Commission will address the question of whether to strip GWS of first and second round draft picks — picks 15 and 37 — in the upcoming national draft.