West Coast premiership player Steven Armstrong lied to police over car crash

REVELATIONS that Eagles premiership player Steven Armstrong was involved in a 2007 car crash and lied to police about who was driving are detailed in the AFL’s secret report on the club.

West Coast player Steven Armstrong in action during the 2006 grand final. Picture: Jody D’Arcy

REVELATIONS that Eagles premiership player Steven Armstrong was involved in a 2007 car crash and lied to police about who was driving are detailed in the AFL’s secret report on the club.

Armstrong was one of three passengers in a silver Holden Commodore being driven by Adelaide Crows star Scott Thompson that crashed into a light pole in South Australia on November 2, 2007.

Armstrong’s involvement in the accident at the height of the Eagles’ drugs crisis has never been publicly revealed.

The crash took place on the same day former judge William Gillard was appointed by the AFL to investigate the ­Eagles’ toxic culture.

“Scott Thompson was driving the vehicle,” Gillard writes in his report.

“It is denied that he was ­affected by alcohol. It appears that he was doing burnouts and after he had completed a manoeuvre, it was said that he lost control of the car and it struck a light pole.

“One of the passengers, Adam Sampson, suffered a gash above his eye and was knocked unconscious, and accordingly an ambulance was called.

Armstrong kicked a crucial goal in the final quarter of the 2006 grand final.

“The police also ­attended and Ryan Sampson stated that he was driving the vehicle and player Armstrong confirmed that was so.

“Steven Armstrong made contact with the club (West Coast) and then attended at the local police station the following day and informed police that the driver was Scott Thompson and that he, Armstrong, had misled them and was extremely ­remorseful.

“He stated that he did what he did to back up a mate, that is Ryan Sampson.”

The AFL sought answers from the Eagles over the incident after receiving Gillard’s report.

The Herald Sun is not aware of any police charges against Armstrong over the incident.

Gillard says that Armstrong’s behaviour was a breach of the club’s undertaking to clean up its act after a meeting with the AFL in April 2007. “In my opinion, Armstrong’s conduct is a ­repetition of scheduled conduct and also analogous conduct,” he says.

The revelations are detailed to the AFL in a document accompanying the report, titled “Confidential Attachment A”.

Thompson later pleaded guilty to causing serious harm by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident, but escaped with a suspended jail term.

Adam Sampson suffered a fractured eye socket and a 6cm cut to his temple that required surgery.

“What player Armstrong did was serious,” Gillard says.

“He wilfully provided false information to mislead police. Not only did it interfere with the investigation, but it may have had the effect that the true offender, namely Thompson, might escape punishment.

“He (Armstrong) informed me in his interview that he understood that it would be a recommendation of the ­players’ leadership group that he should be fined $200 and undertake an additional charity appearance.

“The suggested penalty of $200 is totally inadequate and fails to send a message to other like-minded members of the club who may be tempted to commit an unlawful act,” Gillard insists.

“A more appropriate penalty would be three weeks’ suspension during the season and a fine of $10,000.”

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