Melbourne football club East Burwood Rams investigated over nude laps punishment

A MELBOURNE footy club is under investigation over allegations it forced players to strip naked and run laps after a poor performance.

12/01/2003. A naked man runs out of the frozen waters after swimming in the Sozh river near Gomel, 300 kms south of Minsk. AFP PHOTO / VIKTOR DRACHEV

SUBURBAN Melbourne Australian rules footy club the East Burwood Rams is under investigation over allegations it forced players as young as 17 to run around an oval naked as punishment for a poor performance.

The Eastern Football League is looking into the incident, which occurred at Thursday May 22 training session, Fairfax reported.

Parents’ complaints prompted the investigation.

“An investigation is under way to assess its validity or otherwise,’’ Eastern Football League chief executive Phil Murton said.

“Once the investigation into the incident is completed, the details will be assessed and any penalties or sanctions will be delivered based on the findings and in accordance with [league] procedures and rules.”

The Rams have not won a game since the first round of the season, and sit last on the ladder.

The alleged punishment did not prove beneficial either. Two days after, they lost by 61 points to Doncaster East.

Club president Sue Bailey said the club would not be commenting on the incident.

“I’ve got no comment at all. Everything is to go through the eastern football director,’’ Bailey said.