Jonathon Patton alleged sexting: Mark Robinson says Hawthorn forward should be banned from football if found guilty

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says AFL players are “sheltered from the real world”, but as Mark Robinson writes, that’s no excuse not to respect women.

Jonathon Patton is being investigated for alleging sending lewd images to women. Picture: Sarah Reed

Jonathon Patton remains in hospital with mental heath issues — almost three weeks since he was admitted — and football at this point is not a consideration.

It’s possible 27-year-old Patton will walk away from the game.

It’s also possible the AFL will not allow Patton to resume his career.

If the allegations are true about sending unsolicited “wanking’’ videos to at least one woman, and lewd photographs to others, the AFL should, without hesitation, deregister Patton for conduct unbecoming.

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If true, and the anecdotal evidence seems overwhelming, Patton surely has forsaken his right to represent Hawthorn at the code.

His behaviour, if true, is outrageous.

He is not an 18-year-old with a new iPhone 12 recently introduced to dating sites.

He is a 27-years-old with almost a decade of education in the AFL system from the Hawks and the league.

In mid-January, the Herald Sun reported “at least seven women had come forward with claims’’ against the Hawk.

It’s believed more women have directly contacted the AFL since their integrity department investigation began.

The investigation has semi-stalled because the AFL has yet to speak to Patton about the allegations.

Jonathon Patton is being investigated for alleging sending lewd images to women. Picture: Sarah Reed

It’s not yet known if Patton’s alleged behaviour is a police matter.

Whether it is a police matter or not, the AFL must not pay lip service to its respect and responsibility policy — nor to all the women and girls who support the game.

If Patton recovers in hospital and returns to the game in, say Round 6, the AFL would stand accused of being weak on substance.

The league can’t chest-beat about the importance of women in the game then be soft in reaction to such alleged actions.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson spoke the Patton situation and admitted he was unsure if Patton would play again.

Clarkson called the situation “murky” and that because players were “sheltered from the real world”, sometimes they were not equipped with “coping strategies”.

Seriously, how thick and delusional is this AFL bubble if a 27-year-old man doesn’t know it is wrong to send lewd videos to women who did not ask for them?

New-age courting strategies via use of social media are more adventurous than the strategies employed by men of Clarkson’s vintage, as Clarkson hinted on Thursday, but surely there remains a right from wrong, even if you’re a footballer with more privileges than most?

The AFL is yet to speak to Patton. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Patton’s mental health is clearly a major issue.

“In a lot of instances I think that’s (public scrutiny) enough punishment for anyone. It’s the public scrutiny that gets these guys more than anything else,’’ Clarkson said on SEN.

Agreed, the scrutiny and discussion about Patton is at a high level, but it also must be noted, it was bought on by his own behaviour.

Or, it might be determined, his mental health contributed to his behaviour.

Patton, nevertheless, has abused his privilege of being an AFL player and his sacking should be deemed as necessary and important.

Put it this way, if an AFL executive was in Patton’s situation, they would be sacked.

So, too, would anyone else employed by the AFL.

At Hawthorn — the Family Club — if it were Clarkson or Jeff Kennett or CEO Justin Reeves in a similar position, they would be removed.

If it were Paul Marsh, the boss at the AFL Players Association, he would also be gone.

So, why shouldn’t Jonathon Patton face the same punishment — if he is guilty?

Originally published as Jonathon Patton alleged sexting: Mark Robinson says Hawthorn forward should be banned from football if found guilty