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Robert Walls on the boozy Blues

Posted by: 3AW Football | 5 January, 2010 - 8:43 AM


ABOVE: Carlton legend Robert Walls tells 3AW's Sports Today the Blues got it right by suspending Eddie Betts, Ryan Houlihan and Andrew Walker for a month after their drunken December escapades.

Have your say on Carlton's bans below the report.

MONDAY: Carlton has suspended boozy trio Eddie Betts, Ryan Houlihan and Andrew Walker for one month after their off-season escapades drew heat on the Blues.

The suspended Blues will not be able to train with Carlton's main group, instead being put through their pre-season steps at the Northern Bullants.

Betts, Houlihan and Walker will also not be eligible for NAB Cup selection and club president Stephen Kernahan said they would 'be lucky' to be picked for Round One of the AFL's home and away season.

The punishments are in addition to the $10,000 fines the trio were each slapped with just before Christmas.

In other developments on Monday afternoon following the club's first training session in 2010, Blues skipper Chris Judd read a prepared apology on behalf of the playing group relating to wild drinking exploits in December by certain players, however, he ruled out a 'no alcohol policy'.

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LAST MONTH'S REPORT: Carlton's Eddie Betts has become the third Blue to be fined after the club's now infamous end-of-year boat cruise last Saturday.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Carlton CEO Greg Swann said: "While Eddie Betts was officially on leave, he still has a responsibility, like all players, to maintain the standards that are required of all Carlton players and on this occasion he has not done so. As a result he will be disciplined and fined the maximum penalty on his return from leave in January".

Police today confirmed that Betts, 23, of West Brunswick, was locked up at 4am on Sunday morning in Melbourne after being picked up for being drunk and disorderly on Queen Street.

A police spokeswoman said he was released after four hours and issued with a penalty notice for $234. He will face no further action from authorities, but could be out of pocket - teammates Ryan Houlihan and Andrew Walker were yesterday fined $5000 by their club after being banned from Crown Casino for five years as a consequence of their drunken battle with security guards on Saturday night after the year-ending function.

While clubs rarely fine their players more than $5000, it is believed that this is not the maximum amount that can be sanctioned. The scope of penalties can vary, depending on discussions between the club involved, the AFL Player's Association, and the AFL.

It was also reported that first-year player Mitch Robinson was involved in a scuffle on Saturday night. Carlton's statement "vehemently" denied that Robinson was involved in a subsequent incident after travelling home to Tasmania on Sunday.

Carlton players undertook the fateful boat cruise on Saturday afternoon after completing their pre-Christmas training.

"This is the second incident that has been brought to the Club's attention as a direct result of the players' unofficial end of year celebrations on Saturday. We understand a number of players drank excessively during a cruise in the afternoon. This is clearly the most disappointing manner to end the year as the Club has embarked on a number of initiatives and programs with the playing group outlining the negative effects of binge drinking in the community," Swann said.

"This issue will be readdressed by the Club with the players and the AFLPA when all players return to commence pre-season training.

"It is unfortunate that the actions of a few players have had such a negative impact on the Carlton Football Club and all associated with the Club," Swann added.

The Blues traded star forward Brendon Fevola following his raucous, inebriated antics at the Brownlow Medal function at Crown in September, the last of a career-long series of incidents involving the Coleman Medal-winning goalkicker. The drastic move was considered to be a watershed for new standards of behaviour the club expected of its playing staff.

Swann indicated further sanctions may yet await Walker and Houlihan.

Small forward Betts, recruited from Templestowe in 2005, has played 97 games in five seasons, and has just completed his finest season, in which he kicked 38 goals from 22 games.

Vigorous twenty-year-old utility Robinson, originally from Lauderdale in Tasmania, impressed in his first season for the Blues, playing 10 matches.

In August, Betts, along with then Carlton player Cameron Cloke, and young forward Jeff Garlett, was suspended for one game for arriving late to a recovery session.


Blog comments Your Say

  • Eddie Betts rolls up to traing with a basball cap on sideways with a smug look on his face and looking like an undisciplined fool

    Mark Tuesday 5 January, 2010 - 9:14 AM

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