Gold Coast suspends Mac Andrew for two matches after he was caught drink driving

Gold Coast has suspended former first round pick Mac Andrew for two matches after he was charged with drink driving last month.

Mac Andrew has been suspended for two matches. Picture: Getty Images

Gold Coast has suspended Mac Andrew for two matches after the second-year defender was charged with drink driving last month.

Andrew met with the Suns’ leadership group over the weekend to explain his actions after he failed a roadside breath test on the Gold Coast in the early hours of New Year’s Eve.

Andrew had made the decision to drive home after he had been drinking that night.

The Gold Coast leadership group decided that as part of his punishment, Andrew would be made unavailable for selection in any official AFL pre-season practice match as well as the first two rounds of the 2023 home-and-away season.

In addition, Andrew has been asked to complete extra non-football activities over the next six weeks including work placements, assisting with multicultural community programs and attending alcohol and driver education programs.

“It was the view of the leadership group that although Mac had been honest and shown remorse since the incident, the punishment handed down would ensure he understands the magnitude of his actions and hopefully assist him to make better life decisions moving forward,” Gold Coast said in a statement.

Andrew is also set to face a Southport court on January 30, where he is expected to be fined and lose his driver’s licence.

Selected at pick 5 in the 2021 national draft, Andrew played the final four games of his debut season in 2022 and averaged 10.5 disposals and 4.5 marks.

The 201cm key defender was recruited from NAB League club Dandenong Stingrays and was part of Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy, but the Demons were unable to match a bid on him under new AFL rules.

Andrew signed a two-year contract extension last April, which will see him remain at the Suns until at least the end of 2025.

Mac Andrew has been suspended for two matches. Picture: Getty Images

EAGLES ROOKIE CHARGED WITH ASSAULT

West Coast rookie Isiah Winder has resumed training with his senior teammates despite being charged with assault over an incident in Victoria last month.

The Eagles confirmed on Monday that Winder had been formally charged after he was involved in an alleged drunken fight following the AFL/AFLPA’s Indigenous and Multicultural Players Summit in Geelong in early December.

Winder was stood down by West Coast after the incident but resumed training with the AFL squad when the club returned from its Christmas break on Monday.

“He has worked hard to regain the trust and confidence of players and staff before returning to train with the AFL squad,” the Eagles said in a statement.

“As this matter is scheduled to go before the courts later this year the club can make no further comment at this time.”

Winder, 20, has played seven AFL games since debuting for West Coast in Round 4, 2021.

The forward was delisted at the end of last season before being redrafted in November.