AFL draftees told to ditch Facebook fans
THE AFL's latest batch of draftees have been urged to limit their Facebook contacts in the wake of the St Kilda nude photo scandal.
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FOOTY'S young guns have been warned to keep their distance from fans on social networking websites to prevent a repeat of the embarrassing photo scandal that rocked St Kilda last month.
The AFL's latest batch of draftees have been urged to limit their Facebook contacts to family and close friends, with the shortfalls of social media one of the key points hammered home in a two-day recruitment camp.
Road safety and drinking responsibly were also covered by the AFL Players' Association as it attempts to ready players for the pressures of a professional and very public career.
AFLPA general manager of football development Steve Alessio said off-field education was more important than ever.
"They are the excited younger generation, chock full of confidence and ready to take their career by the horns. But we are here to help them harness that enthusiasm and make sure they don't ruin their career by making a bad decision," Alessio said.
"In terms of social media, it's about helping them to understand that if you have a network of friends, what you post online is permanent."
AFL staff will step in for the second day of the education program to outline to the 126 recruits the league's respect policy towards women, its anti-gambling guidelines and the policy on illicit drugs.
Yesterday, the teenager at the centre of the nude photo scandal showed up as the Saints trained at the club's new base at Seaford.
The 17-year-old, who can't be name, was abused by fans as she littered the ground with hand-written flyers with slogans including "Womens' Rights" and "Fight the Power".
The girl was threatened with legal action by the club after she posted nude photos of players on her Facebook account a week before Christmas. She said her actions were an act of revenge for her alleged mistreatment by St Kilda players and the AFL.
The teenager said yesterday all she wanted was an apology.
"That's all I have wanted from the start," she said.
Lions captain Jonathan Brown yesterday backed the AFL's approach to player education.
"The AFL do a fantastic job with it and sometimes it does drive the senior players mad that we have to go through the same courses every year," he said.
"But it only takes one slip-up and it can tarnish the reputation of the club and the AFL."
Brown said a more professional approach to training meant players had less down time to fall into trouble.
"I don't think it's as bad as it used to be but still certainly the temptations are there," he said.
"Unfortunately there's always the odd player who just slips through the cracks."
langmaida@heraldsun.com.au
