Matthew Lloyd in hot water after attending party with Haileybury College players

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said he “shouldn’t have been in attendance” at a boozy bash with underage Haileybury College students celebrating a milestone footy win.

Haileybury players and students celebrate their victory against Caulfield.

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd was stood down briefly by Haileybury College after attending a boozy bash with underage students celebrating a milestone win.

Lloyd, a big-name coach for the prestigious school, had hours earlier led the first football boys’ team to take out top honours in the 2023 Associated Public School season, ­securing the premiership against Caulfield Grammar.

He is one of six staff – ­including two academic staff – who faced disciplinary action over their attendance at the ­alcohol-fuelled party.

Mr Lloyd on Friday night confirmed he went to the party, which is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the school.

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“I was invited by one of the parents to attend at their house a get-together, a celebration between the parents and the players and I did ­attend that for around an hour and a half,” he said.

“Being a staff member you can’t be in that setting with students and so I accept ­responsibility for that, although I was there to get to see my players and parents and revel and enjoy in what we had achieved that day and that season.”

He said he was “not to be there as a coach or a staff member, which I should have known and shouldn’t have been in attendance”.

“I accept I was stood down for a couple of days but I was back at training on Thursday and will be coaching the side tomorrow,” he said.

Lloyd was missing from a TV appearance on Sunday morning on The Sunday Footy Show, with host Tony Jones joking on air suggesting it was because he was drinking Bacardi Breezers and “he’s got a hangover”.

The team’s deputy coach Scott Pendlebury was at the game but did not attend the party.

AFL great Matthew Lloyd attended the party.

The Haileybury ‘Bloods’ kicked three goals in the last quarter to win the match.

A statement from Haileybury said the school “was made aware that on Saturday night, after the APS football game, a group of parents organised an impromptu celebratory gathering with students.

“It was with great disappointment that the school learnt that several members of staff attended this event,” it said. “The school has moved quickly to discipline those staff members involved and to ensure they uphold their professional obligations concerning social gatherings with parents and students.

“We are continuing our inquiries and will take further action if necessary.”

Lloyd earlier in the week confirmed the school boys’ win was “one of the greatest days” of his careers.

The game was a thrilling comeback for the Haileybury firsts, which edged out Caulfield Grammar to clinch the win in the final quarter.

Outstanding players include Liam George, Mitch Kirkwood-Scott and Charlie Harrop for Haileybury and Nick Watson, Ollie Murphy and Murphy Reid for Caulfield Grammar.

It was the first win for Lloyd’s team since 2018, and was watched by hundreds at the ground on the day, and much celebrated on social media.

Haileybury “Bloods” kicked three goals in the last quarter to win the match and coveted APS premiership, with a final score of 57 to 49.

The final game of the season due to take place on Saturday between Haileybury and Geelong College will still go ahead at Newtown at 1pm.

Students from Haileybury posted clips from the party on social media, but have been told to remove them by the school.

One former teacher from the school said the party “broke all the rules”.

“Students should not be partying with coaches,” they said.

The former teacher said it was a “clear breach of child safety rules”.

Rohan Brown, a former Trinity deputy headmaster and football coach said school football matches “could easily get out of hand”.

“It’s just a game and there’s too much emphasis on winning,” he said. “When a school lords their success the kids get inflated ideas of what they are about.”

He said coaches and students had to be very careful about fraternising after matches.

“Staff can’t be there when parents and students are celebrating,” he said. “This is even more so the case when alcohol is involved.”