Melbourne players cleared over ugly clash at Boxing Day Test

THE Melbourne players involved in an ugly spat with fans at the Boxing Day Test have been cleared by the club.

THE Melbourne players involved in an ugly spat with fans at the Boxing Day Test have been cleared by the club.

Jeremy Howe, James Frawley and Lynden Dunn were spoken to by security staff and left the MCG after clashing with other cricket spectators.

The players appeared to drinking in the rowdy bay 13 area.

GALLERY: Holiday over for Demons

Demons coaching director Neil Craig said today the players had left the ground voluntarily and were not evicted.

He said the club would use the incident to help educate the entire playing squad.

“They weren’t evicted from the MCG, there was a discussion taken place with security with the suggestion stay in the spot if you want to guys, or move to another area or go,” Craig said.

“And they decided to leave in the end, so there is a different connotation to leaving versus being evicted.

“It was important to get all the information.

“That situation has opened up a whole range of topics which, once again, we use from a strong education/learning aspect about the life of an AFL player.

“Then you start to discuss topics of responsibility, accountability, perception, ripple affect in a footy club.”

AFL players at MCG

The AFL's first-year players are taking part in an induction camp this week that includes education on responsible use of alcohol and dealing with the extra attention that comes with being an elite athlete.

Former Demon Ricky Petterd, now at Richmond, has also escaped any sanction from his new club over his role in the Boxing Day incident.

A Melbourne time-trial at Princes Park this morning was won by Dan Nicholson.

Meanwhile, Craig said the ongoing tanking investigation was not being discussed internally.

"I have no doubt the Melbourne Football Club will conduct its business with the tanking investigation with the same skill set that we’ve seen with those other issues (the club went through last year)," he said.

"I would think they’ll fight charges which they think are inappropriate. And that will unfold probably in the next three to four weeks.

"There can be a ripple effect, and that’s one thing we’ll talk to our players about.’’