AFL 2020: Victoria police arrest a man over vile threats to Richmond’s Dylan Grimes.

Victoria Police arrested and charged a man with several serious offences, after extreme threats that compromised the safety of defender Dylan Grimes and his family.

Victoria Police arrested and charged a man with several serious offences, after extreme threats that compromised the safety of Richmond defender Dylan Grimes and his family.

Grimes revealed after last weekend‘s Dreamtime win over Essendon in Darwin that he had been subjected to vile online abuse and threats.

The premiership defender was accused of staging for a free kick, and was later fined by the AFL, a fine he is challenging at the tribunal.

Grimes was inundated with abuse on social media and called them out.

He then escalated the situation by making a complaint to police, with the full support of the club, after feeling his family had been threatened.

Police acted on the complaint and arrested a 39-year-old Frankston man.

“Firstly I want to thank Victoria Police for their assistance with this matter, and for promptly protecting the physical safety of my family while I am away,“ Grimes said.

“The severity and pointed nature of these threats went way beyond what I would call normal post-game banter with this individual, so much so that we were concerned for the safety of my family back home in Victoria.“

“Honestly, I am disappointed that this has escalated to this extent, I‘d really like to move on from it and get back to focusing on footy, but at the same time I also encourage people to continue to call out this kind behaviour. It’s not right for anyone, including players and their families, to have their safety threatened.”

“The severity and pointed nature of these threats went way beyond what I would call normal post-game banter with this individual..."

— Richmond FC 🐯🏆 (@Richmond_FC) August 25, 2020

Police confirmed that the man had on Monday been charged with a range of offences.

“Police executed a warrant at a Frankston address on Monday 24 August as part of an investigation into alleged online harassment,” Victoria Police said.

“Detectives arrested a 39-year-old man and charged him with stalking, using telecommunications device to menace, making threat to commit sexual offence and other charges.

“He was bailed to appear before Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 4 May 2021.”

Richmond CEO, Brendon Gale said Grimes’ willingness to call this behaviour out was an important reminder for everyone.

“No one should have to tolerate this, and as an AFL industry, we need to continue to unite, educate, call-out and stamp out this ugly, abusive behaviour,” Gale said.

“Dylan has taken an important stand on an issue that is simply unacceptable.”