A message from AFLPA President Joel Bowden

28 Mar 2007 - Jason Murnane

Discharging this responsibility is not easy, particularly when tackling issues which have the potential to divide player opinion, let alone that of the broader public.

The AFL's policy on illicit drug use within football is one such issue.

Let me say clearly that there is no place for illicit drug use in the AFL or indeed within society. We can all bear witness to the terrible toll that use of illicit drugs can take.   We are not so naive to suggest illicit drug use does not occur within the AFL. We know it does. The reason we know is because our players voluntarily agreed to be drug tested.

Our view is that one positive test is too many. But to suggest our policy response to illicit drug use has failed because such players have not been named, shamed and removed from the competition is naive and out of step with accepted best practice in this area.

AFL players have agreed to be tested for illicit drugs in a manner which goes further than any other sport because if a player has an issue, his teammates want him to have the confidential counselling and treatment and support needed to change his behaviour.

The system we have is not about covering up or hiding identities. It is about implementing an intervention strategy which experts such as the Australian Drug Foundation tell us is the best way to protect the mental and physical health of players.

If there was no confidentiality we wouldn't have a system and wouldn't know for certain that there are players who have used illicit drugs.

In my view, players have been unfairly criticised for having the courage to try and rid the game of illicit drugs.

As AFL players, we are not experts in drug prevention strategy. Neither are our club coaches, presidents or AFL administrators. That's why we rely upon the advice of people who deal with this complex issue every day.

As recently as this week, representatives of the Australian National Council on Drugs, VicHealth, and Turning Point have commended our approach and urged us to resist pressures for "quick fix, confrontational, naming and blaming responses".

We respect the right of all people to express their views on this emotive issue. But we also hope people respect the AFL's right to develop and implement a policy which is consistent with government, judicial, police and health expert opinion.

While our course might not be the popular one, we do not apologise for it.

AFL players enjoy a remarkable level of public support, and this is not lost on any of us. Young people look up to us for more than our athletic talents and this attracts a high responsibility in the way we conduct ourselves.

But in addition to being role models, AFL players are a part of our society.  We are your sons, brothers, fathers and neighbours.  We do not live in a bubble.  We have attended the same schools and live and work in the same towns and cities as all Australians.

Unfortunately, we are subject to the same risks as other young people and do not always make the right decisions.

Notwithstanding the mistakes which some of our number have made, I have the utmost faith in the commitment of AFL players to support one another and the broader community in opposing drug use.

I trust we can receive your support.

Joel Bowden

AFLPA President