Jason Mifsud shocked Sydney Stack is behind bars for COVID breach

Tiger Sydney Stack is spending Christmas in jail, a decision slammed by ex-AFL multicultural boss Jason Mifsud.

The AFL’s former multicultural boss has criticised the “unimaginative” decision to put Richmond’s Sydney Stack behind bars for his latest alleged COVID breach.

Stack will spend Christmas Day and beyond in a Perth prison until he faces court again on January 6, on top of mourning the recent passing of his grandfather, who was a significant figure in his life.

Jason Mifsud, previously the AFL’s head of diversity, told the Herald Sun he was vehemently against incarceration in these circumstances.

Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

He separated the Christmas issue from the decision to jail Stack, but added he would struggle to be apart from his own family in the same situation.

“Of course, it’s Sydney Stack and he’s got profile, because he’s an AFL player – and that’s challenging and difficult and sad for its own particular reasons,” Mifsud said.

“But to Richmond’s credit, they’ve worked really hard with Sydney over the last couple of years and all things being equal, he’s been up for that challenge, although clearly there’s been some missteps.

“The primary question I’m raising is putting juveniles in prison for juvenile decisions.

“I just think it’s antiquated and an unnecessarily punitive decision that history will say doesn’t necessarily correct behaviour.”

Mifsud made it clear he was not apologising for Stack’s actions and agreed an appropriate punishment needed to be meted out.

“I wouldn’t be arguing there’s no consequence, because that’s what a civil society needs – a set of rules that helps guide and direct us,” he said.

“I’m not making excuses for his decision-making that’s seen him contravene the law, whether that’s the breach of the COVID restrictions and/or the alleged incident that he’s involved in.

“But what I do know is you should always support the person and challenge the behaviour.”

Sydney Stack is behind bars after an alleged second COVID quarantine breach. Picture: AAP

There’s been a range of opinions on what the Tigers should do, including Stack’s Western Australia under-18 coach Peter Sumich urging them not to sack him.

However, Mifsud was more concerned with Stack’s reaction, saying his grandfather’s death had “clearly” triggered some of the “unresolved trauma” in his life.

“There will be a place in time when there’s one too many mistakes for anyone to back you in,” Mifsud said.

“He absolutely owns his mistakes and his decisions, and that’s worth a lot for a young person’s character to do that … but for me the question is with Sydney.

“Sydney may well decide the AFL bubble is not for him and, like other young people who made that decision, we should applaud them.

“Or, he may decide that this is his growing-up moment and he’s going to make the necessary adjustments to fulfill his natural talent and the opportunity Richmond is affording him in their environment.”

Mifsud had earlier turned to Twitter in response to a media report that Stack would spend more than two weeks in a cell.

“If I’m reading this correctly, and Stack is in custody for breaching COVID-19 restrictions, how many other Australians have also been detained in custody for the same issue?” Mifsud wrote.

“This would be the first I’ve heard that someone has been detained in custody for breaking the restrictions and, now for some weeks as the system absurdly and ridiculously says Stack cannot be spoken with.”

Yep, get all that but seriously, this would be the first I’ve heard that someone has been detained in custody for breaking the restrictions and, now for some weeks as the system absurdly and ridiculously says Stack cannot be spoken with! https://t.co/xKhymKoi66

— Jason Mifsud (@jason_mifsud) December 21, 2020

Richmond is expected to stand by the 20-year-old despite his second indiscretion in recent months.

Stack caused a furore in September when he copped a 10-week ban after he left the Gold Coast AFL hub to go to a strip club in Surfers Paradise.

He and teammate Callum Coleman-Jones were later involved in a scuffle outside a kebab shop, with Stack briefly detained by police before being sent home from Queensland.

At the time Stack apologised for his costly COVID breach, saying he had let down plenty and could “do nothing now but own the consequences”.

Stack was expected to join the Tigers return to pre-season training on January 6 but will instead face court in Perth on that date instead.

He was remanded in custody on Monday after allegedly breaching COVID-19 self-quarantine orders, which was discovered when police intervened in a Perth street fight.

Stack had been given permission to return to Western Australia to attend his grandfather’s funeral.

He spent several days at his nominated address in Northam after the funeral, but moved to Belmont after a family argument.

AFL clubs and broadcasting boss Travis Auld on Monday called on players to follow the rules.

“I’m not sure if we have an official position just yet other than to say it’s important during this time, whether it’s a player, a staff member, a club member or member of our commission, there’s a set of rules you need to abide by,” Auld said.

“They apply to everyone and if you don’t abide by those rules there’ll be consequences, and I think that’s what is occurring at the moment.”

Don’t sack Stack, Tigers

West Coast Eagles great Peter Sumich has urged Richmond to stick fat with troubled Tiger Sydney Stack.

Sumich, who coached Stack for two seasons in the West Australian under-18 team, said the Richmond hard nut was “a kid who’s done it tough” and deserved another chance.

“I really rate the kid as a person,” Sumich said.

“He’s not a kid that lies and cheats. He makes mistakes because he’s still learning.”

Stack, 20, was arrested in Perth on the weekend for an alleged second COVID breach after being involved in a Northbridge punch-up.

Stack will spend Christmas behind bars after allegedly breaching COVID-19 self-quarantine orders, which was discovered when police intervened in a Perth street fight.

Sydney Stack will spend Christmas behind bars. Picture: Getty Images

“Personally, I think Richmond has done an outstanding job so far,” Sumich said.

“Sydney has mucked up a couple of times, but along the line there are a lot of players in the history of the game that have mucked up who have got second and third chances and have done it well.

“This kid is just needing more guidance.

“He’s still a young kid at heart and he was always going to make some mistakes – I’ve said that all along – but eventually clicking and learning and maturing.”

Sumich believed Stack could still emerge as a genuine star of the game.

“He was with me for two years and he didn’t shy away from saying ‘I’ve made a blue’,” he said.

“He never lied and that to me is a really good trait.

“And I think that is where Richmond is at.

“They are working through issues with him and I’ve got no doubt he doesn’t lie to Richmond. “He’s upfront but he’s making a few blues at the moment.

“I’d love Richmond to do that (to stand by him).

Eagles Peter Sumich says the Tigers would be wrong to sack Stack over the indiscretion.

“If they can hold sway and just persist – the kid can play. We’ve all seen that.

“If he got AFL fit, I rate him very highly. He could be a very good player. He’s one of the toughest kids I’ve seen for a long time and he’s got skills on top of that.”

AFL clubs and broadcasting boss Travis Auld called on players to follow the rules.

“I’m not sure if we have an official position just yet other than to say it’s important during this time, whether it’s a player, a staff member, a club member or member of our commission, there’s a set of rules you need to abide by,” Auld said.

“They apply to everyone and if you don’t abide by those rules there’ll be consequences, and I think that’s what is occurring at the moment.”

Originally published as Jason Mifsud shocked Sydney Stack is behind bars for COVID breach