Andrew Swallow is frustrated by renegade players abusing the illicit drugs policy. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
NORTH Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow has hit out at renegade players abusing the AFL's illicit drugs policy.
Swallow, 25, backed the league's three-strikes code but said the game's stars were being let down by a group of players exploiting loopholes in the system.
The three-time club best-and-fairest winner said it was frustrating for players and a concern for league chiefs that some players felt they could manipulate the policy.
"I think it's a worry that the processes that are put in place and the guidelines put in place exactly to help those people are being abused," Swallow told the Herald Sun.
"I think that's what annoys, especially the majority of the AFL.
"The policy that we've got might need to be tweaked, but it is looking after the welfare of the guys that need it.
"The guys that are abusing it, well, we expect better than that."
A loophole allowing players to dodge a drugs strike by self-reporting use is under the most scrutiny and is expected to be limited to one chance only.
One player is believed to have "self-reported" three times last year.
The Herald Sun has reported six players from one club reported their own drug use to the AFL a total of 10 times last year.
After concerns about players' "volcanic" off-season behaviour were raised by Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert and an industry-wide summit was held, the AFL established an illicit drugs policy working party to refine the league's drugs code.
While the working party process is under way, league executives will begin meeting with club officials this week to discuss the findings of the Australian Crime Commission report into drugs and crime in sport.
"At the moment the club meetings with the AFL executive are a priority, but the IDP testing continues as normal," AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said.
The AFL has defended its drugs policy, as the first of its kind in Australian sport.
But the country's top crime watchdog has warned drug use is far more wide-spread than testing results would indicate. Players are tested for illicit drugs twice a year on average.
Swallow said North's leadership group would discuss the drugs crisis with the rest of the players immediately.
"From a leadership point of view we don't want any of our players taking or being a part of any illicit drugs," he said. "But then there's the other hand where you've got to create an environment where blokes who are having certain problems and addictions feel comfortable enough to come and actually speak up.
"We will definitely be extremely strong on coming across that it is not on and it is not acceptable.
"It is not part of being a premiership footballer.
"We still need to make sure they understand and they know if they are having issues they can come and open up and feel like they have the trust of us and that we actually want to help them."
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