St Kilda recruit Jake Carlisle embroiled in ACA footage claims

UPDATE: ST KILDA recruit Jake Carlisle will cut short his overseas trip to face Nick Riewoldt and his new teammates over footage showing him snorting a white powder.

Virgin AFL Grand Final party. Jake Carlisle. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

UPDATE: ST KILDA players will be “ruthless” in their dealings with disgraced recruit Jake Carlisle as the defender faces the prospect of building relationships with his new teammates with drug allegations hanging over his head.

Carlisle spoke with his new coach Alan Richardson overnight and will return early from his overseas trip.

CEO Matt Finnis says the Saints players are “absolutely filthy” about the situation involving their newest teammate, who was a Saint for a mere eight hours before the news of the video broke, and will challenge his behaviour upon his return.

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“He’s now got to demonstrate that he’s capable of performing on and off the field and living a life within (the club) values,” he said.

“We’re very confident that he can do that.

“He’s got a lot of work to do. Our players are very unhappy. They’re very frustrated. The first thing Jake is going to have to do is confront those players as part of him winning their trust and confidence.

“We’re going to challenge his behaviour. Every player that comes into our club gets a chance. Jake’s had his chance and so he comes in from day one, he will have to live up to those standards.”

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St Kilda has made contact with Carlisle’s manager Anthony McConville, who reportedly knew about the video and its content before the deal to get the former Bomber to Seaford was done.

Finnis says there is a keen interest in knowing who knew what and when.

“We’ve spoken with Anthony McConville and there is still some uncertainty around who knew and who knew what and when,” he said.

“That’s all something that we’ve got a strong interest in getting to the bottom of over time, but it’s not our focus at this point in time.”

He also made contact with Essendon and says the Bombers knew nothing of any off-field issues facing Carlisle.

He also says that “it never came” to the club considering sacking its newest charge because Carlisle “was prepared to take full responsibility” for his actions.

Finnis wouldn’t detail any punishment Carlisle may receive from the club, saying the prospect of facing skipper Nick Riewoldt and his new teammates is daunting enough.

“I don’t think there’d be anything more confronting facing Jake Carlisle right now than knowing he’s got to front Nick Riewoldt and our leadership group,” he said.

“They’re absolutely filthy. They’ve done a lot of work to really be clear on what it is that they want our club to stand for. Jake’s going to have to come in and learn very quickly about what that’s all about.”

Carlisle this morning released a statement admitting he “made a very poor decision” following A Current Affair obtaining footage showing him snorting a line of white powder.

Carlisle, who is in the United States, says he is “truly sorry” and is embarrassed, but has not admitted that the substance was an illicit drug.

“I have made a very poor decision and let people down and for that I am embarrassed and truly sorry,” he said in the statement.

“The video casts me in a very poor light and reveals clearly inappropriate behaviour which I regret but am accountable for.

“I would like to apologise to all St Kilda members, supporters and staff, AFL fans as well as my new teammates.

“I am aware of footage being aired of me last night and I want to be upfront and say that I made a mistake.

“I know that in a few weeks’ time when I join St Kilda, I’m going to be expected to be open and honest with my new club so want to start by confirming my error of judgement right now.”

Carlisle has committed to undertaking any club or AFL requirements or educational programs when he returns to Australia.

“I apologise for my behaviour and stress that when I join my new club, I will do everything I can to live up to the standards and values they are building at St Kilda.”

A Current Affair claimed the brief Snapchat clip was filmed while Carlisle was in the US.

RECRUIT: Jake Carlisle traded to Saints as Essendon agrees to deal

Finnis released a statement of his own before facing the media this morning.

“The St Kilda Football Club is incredibly disappointed in Jake Carlisle and this behaviour is not acceptable,” Finnis said.

“Our Board, players and staff are united in the direction we are going and we will not allow this progress to be undermined.

“Jake has signed a contract with the St Kilda Football Club but he is aware that he is now on notice and behaviour of this type will not be tolerated.

“Every player on our list has an obligation to live up to our values and to commit themselves to delivering to their best ability, on and off the field.

“But Jake will start at our club next month with an added obligation to prove that he will live within those values in order to fulfil his potential with St Kilda.”

The Saints had no knowledge of the scandal before completing a trade to bring him to the club.

St Kilda Football Club spokesman Craig Rowston said last night: “St Kilda only saw the ACA footage tonight and was not aware of it before the trade took place.”

St Kilda had secured the defender in a trade yesterday after several weeks of tense negotiations with Essendon.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire this morning said AFL players, as public figures, needed to understand that information being passed on beyond the intended recipient needed to be recognised as what is done these days.

“You warn your kids about all these things (with social media) … but you can take a screenshot, can’t you? These things don’t go away,” he said on Triple M.

“Anyone in the public eye now has to realise that this is going to happen. This is de rigueur now.”

Prior to the release of the footage, St Kilda chief operating officer Ameet Bains said he was “thrilled to have (Carlisle) join the Saints”.

“We were adamant right from the start that we wanted to secure Jake but it had to be the right deal for the club, something agreed with Jake and his management upfront,” Bains said.

“Securing Jake helps us fill a significant need in our list — a key defender.”

Carlisle, 24, played 85 games for the Bombers before the trade.

The Herald Sun has contacted Carlisle’s manager Anthony McConville for comment. He has not returned calls.

@tminear