Ex-Saints star Sam Fisher accused of smuggling drugs in an oven

A former AFL player has been accused of smuggling large quantities of drugs but his lawyer argued he should be granted bail for one reason.

A retired AFL star who is accused of smuggling drugs worth more than $230,000 in a kitchen rangehood is battling a drug addiction, a court has been told.

Former St Kilda player Sam Fisher faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court where he applied for bail on Monday.

The 39-year-old is charged with eight offences including trafficking a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine and cocaine. He is also charged with drug possession including 1,4 butanediol and diazepam.

Police allege Mr Fisher concealed one kilogram of methylamphetamine and 84 grams of cocaine in a rangehood sent from Melbourne to Perth on April 20, 2022.

Former Saints player Sam Fisher appeared before court charged with serious drug trafficking offences. Photo: Adam Trafford/AFL Media

The WA police seized the rangehood and found another parcel declared as “acrylic templates” the same day that was bound for Melbourne with $129,000 in cash, the court was told.

They connected it to a Perth man named Julien Morvan who was subsequently charged with drug offences in WA the next day.

Victoria Police Detective Sergeant Nathan Ractliffe told the court the authorities uncovered encrypted messages in the phone of Mr Morvan from the AFL player about the alleged drug deal.

He was saved as “Fish” in the Perth man’s phone, the court was told.

Mr Fisher’s Sandringham home was raided after a tip from WA police and Victorian police seized methylamphetamine, 1,4-Butanediol, three phones, $985 in cash and three phones on May 18.

Barrister Dermot Dann told the court the former All-Australian planned to plead not guilty to the charges.

The former AFL player was using 30ml of GHB a day after a relationship breakdown and was using methamphetamine before his arrest, Mr Dann told the court.

Mr Fisher is accused of smuggling drugs in a rangehood to Perth. Photo: Supplied

He argued the Saints star should be released into a 90-day rehab program to help battle his drug addiction.

Mr Fisher played 288 games for St Kilda between 2004 and 2016, had the support of the club and the AFL Player’s Association, the court was told.

However prosecutor Daniel White argued the player should not be released on bail because they were very serious offences.

“It was planned, premeditated and it was well-resourced,” he told the court.

Magistrate Bernard FitzGerald adjourned his decision on bail to next week and Mr Fisher remains in custody.