AFL clubs could use minders to keep players trouble-free in off-season

Eddie McGuire says clubs could engage plain-clothes police officers and other minders to help keep ­players out of trouble in the ­off-season.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire. Picture: Michael Klein

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire says clubs could engage plain-clothes police officers and other minders to help keep ­players out of trouble in the ­off-season.

The AFL has already banned all Mad Monday celebrations but respected former Fremantle and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said it was inevitable there would be a slip-up of some kind from a young player.

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Any reckless behaviour or COVID-19 protocol breaches would be disastrous for the league and its clubs with Richmond ­facing the prospect of a loss of draft picks and premiership points if it receives one more COVID-19 strike.

It is a significant issue for the game as key officials from the AFL, clubs and the Queensland government will meet this week to discuss ways to help safeguard players and “come up with some sort of plan”.

McGuire said clubs regularly used chaperones to help keep their players safe when they are drinking overseas and didn’t rule the strategy being used in Queensland.

“The question that is being asked at the moment is ‘How are they (players) going to go about it (when the season is over)?” McGuire said.

“With so many players up on the Gold Coast or around the area what’s the answer?

“All clubs have in the past hired off-duty police officers or club officials to go along and chaperone and just keep an eye on everybody particularly when they are overseas and particularly when they’re in Las Vegas, of all places.

“Well we are in ‘Bris-Vegas’, aren’t we for the next couple of months.”

Some players are certain to ­attempt to let their hair down with a few quiet drinks when the season is complete in Queensland but there is confusion over what constitutes a “Mad Monday” ­session.

McGuire said: “The players deserve to be able to finish off their tour.”

Lyon said it was certain there would be an incident of some kind when the season is over.

“In a cohort of 700 (players) aged between 18 and 34, you break it down between 18 — 23 (they’re) young males, they are risk takers,” Lyon said on ­Channel 9.

“There’s some pent-up (energy), money in the pocket, ­someone will make a mistake.”

Herald Sun