Chris Yarran eyeing shock return to AFL in 2019 despite drug revelations

CHRIS Yarran wants to play AFL again despite revealing his ice addiction as the AFL defended the medical model of its illicit drugs policy that sees players sidestepping positive tests.

Chris Yarran has played six games in the WAFL reserves. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

CHRIS Yarran is eyeing a shock return to AFL football in next year’s national draft as the league on Friday defended its contentious illicit drug policy.

Yarran has sensationally admitted to being addicted to ice during his first year at Richmond, but says he has now found God and is clean.

He injected and smoked methamphetamines last year, joining Hawthorn’s Dayle Garlett and Ben Cousins as a player lost to the game through ice addiction.

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He has played six WAFL reserves games for Swan Districts and believes at 26 he can still fight back and play AFL in 2019.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Friday it was likely Yarran was in the AFL’s “recovery” phase of its illicit drugs policy in 2016.

That phase means players are not drug tested as they work with their club doctor and the AFL to overcome their issues.

Chris Yarran has played six games in the WAFL reserves. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

The Herald Sun revealed last year in rare cases some players who are still playing AFL football on weekends are not subjected to strikes as part of the illicit drugs code.

“It is very plausible he was actually being treated by his club’s medical officer and the AFL medical officer because he wasn’t playing,’’ McLachlan said.

“Part of the model is you have a problem or vulnerability it is identified through the program and then you are not able to play and you are treated.”

WATCH CHRIS YARRAN’S SHOCK ICE ADMISSION IN THE VIDEO ABOVE

Richmond football boss Neale Balme said on Friday it was aware of many of Yarran’s problems when it recruited him in late 2015.

The AFL backed in its policy on Friday, with football boss Andrew Dillon saying the balance between punishment and rehabilitation was correct.

Richmond said on Friday all of its players were hair-tested twice a year, with clubs able to pay for an extra round of testing above the AFL’s yearly hair-testing.

Around 2000 illicit drugs tests are carried out by the AFL, which means players are tested as many as five times a year through blood and hair testing.

Chris Yarran did not play a game for Richmond after being traded to the club from Carlton. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“The AFL’s illicit drugs policy is founded on the following principles — to send a strong message about the use of illicit drugs, to change behaviours, and to support vulnerable players through medical intervention and treatment,’’ AFL chief medical officer Peter Harcourt said.

“We are confident we have the balance right. We remain committed to medical support and intervention to assist players.”

Despite introducing a tougher two-strikes code in 2016, not a single player has been named and shamed for use of illicit drugs.

AFLPA player development manager Brett Johnson backed the recovery phase that saw players sidelined from positive tests.

“That is critically important. Those players are still regularly tested to monitor their progress but for the group that is managed medically, it gives us the opportunity to go through the appropriate education and counselling,” he said.

“That addresses the issue before it becomes serious and before players transition out of the game and get into real hardship. We are really confident the illicit drugs policy is working.”

Chris Yarran worked with a personal trainer last year in a bid to return for Richmond but failed and left the club to return home to Western Australia. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Yarran said he was introduced to ice by a family member in his eighth year of football — his first year at the Tigers — and it quickly ruined his life.

He would need to put together a full year of football at Swan Districts but he is prepared to prove himself at WAFL level next year.

Then he would be prepared to play at any club that would take a risk on him as an elite half back with great foot skills.

The AFL has established a drugs unit to manage players battling drug abuse.

That panel, headed by Harcourt, assesses whether a player’s drug use is linked to mental health or recreational use.

Dr Harcourt revealed in an anti-doping summit in Zurich in 2013 three AFL players had been forced into retirement by the league due to drug addiction.

Originally published as Chris Yarran eyeing shock return to AFL in 2019 despite drug revelations