Booze bans are not always the best course of action for young AFL players, says Shane Crawford

JORDAN De Goey and Jy Simpkin have taken self-imposed drinking bans until the end of the 2018 season after recent off-field incidents but Shane Crawford has warned they often lead to “volcanic” behaviour afterwards.

Jordan De Goey in action for the VFL team in the Collingwood AFL/VFL intra-club practice match played at the Holden Centre, Olympic Park in Melbourne. Thursday, February 22, 2018. Jordan De Goey was dropped to the VFL after losing his driving licence to drink driving. (AAP Image/David Crosling) NO ARCHIVING,

LONG-TERM alcohol bans often fail to address behavioural problems for young footballers sometimes leading to “volcanic” behaviour when the deadline is over, according to Hawthorn Brownlow medallist Shane Crawford.

Young guns Jordan De Goey and Jy Simpkin took self-imposed drinking bans until the end of the season after recent off-field incidents. The Collingwood and North Melbourne footballers have vowed to their clubs they will not touch alcohol for the next six months.

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But Crawford said while a self-imposed ban curbs the problem for a period of time, it doesn’t provide the right platform for players to adequately learn how to responsibly manage their intake.

“I’m not a fan of alcohol bans because they don’t necessarily address the issues,” Crawford said.

“Banning them from drinking isn’t as good as teaching them to be responsible when they are drinking.

Jordan De Goey is on a self imposed drinking ban

“Unless you do that, It’s like a volcano waiting to erupt again, unless they (the clubs) can teach them (the players) to handle their alcohol when they are out.”

De Goey, 21, has twice been in trouble for alcohol-related incidents. A year ago he was suspended by Collingwood after breaking his hand in a bar-brawl, after initially lying to the club by saying he had injured himself when playing with his dog.

He has a new raft of penalties — including a self-imposed alcohol ban — for a drink-driving offence last Saturday week.

Simpkin, 19, stepped out in front of a motorcyclist when crossing the road while intoxicated. He collided with the cyclist, who was not seriously injured, but the young Kangaroo suffered an ankle injury. He told the club he would not drink alcohol until the club’s 2018 season has finished.

Jy Simpkin also vowed not to touch alcohol this season

Crawford cited the example of then Hawks star Lance Franklin who was closely monitored in his early years at the club. He said Hawthorn worked on having senior players around him when he was out socialising and having a few drinks.

“I was part of a club who was big on having chaperones for certain players,” he said.

“Buddy was one we had to really monitor but importantly we had to show him what was acceptable and what wasn’t in terms of behaviour.

“We didn’t want to take the social aspect away from him because it was a release he needed. Young footballers sometimes do need a release from the pressures of the game.

“The best way to do that is to have the older guys around the club teach them the responsibility of knowing when to stop and understanding the boundaries of what is acceptable and what isn’t.”

Crawford said the Hawks made sure members of the leadership group or the senior players were out with Franklin, and their guidance provided him with a template.

“Young players need guidance about what is acceptable out in the big wild world,” he said. “That doesn’t happen so much with alcohol bans ...”

“The sooner they (young players) come to learn about what’s acceptable and what’s not when you are out having a few drinks, the better it is for the club and, more importantly, for the players.

“The ball’s in their court then to do the right thing. And if they’ve been taught the right way, then hopefully it results in a behaviour change for the long time, not just during the period of an alcohol ban.”