EP Football - PLFL, GFFL, MWFL, FWFL, EEFL

[ravendale rulz]

Then Age ..... slightly different story

SOUTH Australian police say there is "no evidence" to substantiate claims that talented young footballers have been given marijuana in exchange for playing football.

At least two teenage indigenous players have told junior delegates at the Port Lincoln Football League they were paid ''a stick [of marijuana] per game'' last season by representatives of the Boston Football Club. The players were 16 at the time.

chief executive Robyn Rowsell said she was aware of the allegations and had passed them on to police. ''An accusation has been put forward,'' she said. ''I have no proof but I have passed them on to police.''

Acting Officer in Charge (Eyre and Western Local Service Area) Inspector Scott Denny, of South Australia police, said in a statement that Port Lincoln police had thoroughly investigated the claims.

"There is no evidence to substantiate any of these claims. Reports that young players are being enticed to play football in return for drugs are completely unfounded," Inspector Denny said.
It is understood the matter was to be tabled at tomorrow night's junior delegates meeting at Port Lincoln by local pastor and junior coach Lutz Mueller, vice-chairman of the junior delegates, who wanted those involved stood down pending a league investigation. Mr Mueller said last night he had also reported the matter to Port Lincoln police. ''It's common knowledge in the community but no one's been prepared to do anything about it"

''I've been told of text messages where a club has suggested to players they would [increase the amount] for certain players. We're talking about potentially brilliant young indigenous players who are at risk here.

''I coach some brilliant young players as young as 11 and I am determined their lives will not be affected by this. It's time to put a stop to it.''

Port Lincoln, on the Eyre Peninsula, has been the breeding ground for AFL stars such as Shaun and Peter Burgoyne, Lindsay Thomas, Eddie Betts, Byron Pickett and Graham Johncock. Denying the league had a drug problem, Ms Rowsell said: ''There are drugs around. There would not necessarily be a drug culture around the clubs, but I'm not saying individuals are not using drugs.''

However, Mr Mueller said he was unhappy his previous attempts to expose the player drug payments had fallen on deaf ears. Boston Football Club president Doug McFarlane was unavailable for comment last night. He has reportedly told Ms Rowsell he had no knowledge of the allegations. Ms Rowsell, who took over as CEO late last year, conceded she had been aware of allegations in the past regarding drug use at the club but believed the situation had improved in recent times

[ravendale rulz]

Rowsell said she was aware of drug use at the club previously , WTF? What kind of a comment is that from a CEO about a club on the national stage.

[Media Park]

Its a pity media park will not make a comment..

I did make a comment:

"No comment."

The issue is an ongoing police investigation and I don't feel that anything I said could really add to the situation in a positive sense.

[heater31]

Its a pity media park will not make a comment..

I did make a comment:

"No comment."

The issue is an ongoing police investigation and I don't feel that anything I said could really add to the situation in a positive sense.

Sunrise stated this morning that the investigation was completed

Will be interesting to see if any more comes out in this story. Did channel 7 even deem yesterday's events not news worthy for their 6pm bulletin last night as I didn't see it on there

[doggone]

I think as much as anything this demonstrates the inability of media/journalists to research a story prior to going to air with it, with constant news feeds and demand for 24/7 news any tripe will get a run. Sure this caught the attention of the media researchers but how about the journalist actually research it rather than the put it to air and let it fade away, in the meantime many people’s names have been kicked and sullied with no regard.

[Justquietly]

So in the wash up, if nothing's been proven, why the allegations?

[ravendale rulz]

So in the wash up, if nothing's been proven, why the allegations?

where there's smoke there's fire (no pun intended)

[westcoastpanther]

Why bother I guess

[ravendale rulz]

If police have thoroughly investigated ( in 1 day ) and found no wrong doing by the accused then Mueller has not produced the ace up his sleeve he says he has (nunga lad/s willing to speak, text messages etc).
The police claim they had no knowledge of the complaints on Sunday night yet Mueller and Rowsell claim they had previously reported it. Then by Monday arvo it had been thoroughly investigated. I smell a rat. Either this is a very poor police investigation or Mueller is full of it. Which is it?

[ravendale rulz]

Its a pity media park will not make a comment..

I did make a comment:

"No comment."

The issue is an ongoing police investigation and I don't feel that anything I said could really add to the situation in a positive sense.

Its not ongoing anymore they have thoroughly investigated and found the claims to be false.
Post away mp

[ravendale rulz]

This from the Times website today



Coach didn't offer drugs
30 Apr, 2012 11:30 PM
THE Port Lincoln Football League club accused of using marijuana as an incentive to recruit junior players has rejected the claim and police say the reports are unfounded.


But the man who made the allegations plans to pursue the matter further.



A police investigation and an internal investigation by the Boston Football Club have found nothing to substantiate allegations made to the league that a Boston junior coach had offered indigenous players marijuana in return for playing for the club.



"We're a family orientated club and we have nil tolerance on drugs," club president Doug McFarlane said.



"We've investigated these allegations and we turned up nothing so they're 100 per cent wrong."



However the man who raised the issue, Mallee Park junior coach Lutz Mueller, said he knew of at least two players who had been offered drugs as player payment and he was confident he could provide evidence to support his claim.



Mr Mueller said he received the information confidentially as Pastor of the Heritage of Faith in Port Lincoln, not as a coach or league delegate and he plans to raise the matter at the junior delegates meeting tomorrow night.



"There needs to be an independent inquiry into this allegation for the sake of the PLFL, Boston Football Club and all the local football clubs," Mr Mueller said.



Mr McFarlane said the Boston Football Club would welcome further investigations, whether by the league, the SANFL or the police, to determine its innocence.



"We wish to assure our membership, our families and the football community these claims are 100 per cent wrong and we'll be seeking legal advice on how to progress this further."



The league's football operations manager Robyn Rowsell said the allegations that had been made to the league were very general and there was nothing to back them up at this stage but they had been reported to local police.



n Continued page 2



Acting Officer in Charge of the Eyre and Western Local Service Area Inspector Scott Denny said Port Lincoln police had thoroughly investigated the claims and there was no evidence to substantiate any of them.

[ravendale rulz]

Ok. Mr Mueller the ball is now in your court, produce the evidence now or forever be quiet.
Why did the police not seek this evidence or why did you not give it to them?

It will be an interesting junior meeting tonight

[leonidis]

Everyone is talking about it in Adelaide and I am getting asked every 10 minutes what is going on over there. The PLFL brand already tarnished over recent years has now taken another big hit along with the club involved. This would take a bit of tarnish off the premiership last year wouldnt it?

[Justquietly]

Ok. Mr Mueller the ball is now in your court, produce the evidence now or forever be quiet.
Why did the police not seek this evidence or why did you not give it to them?

That completely baffles me too. If text messages were "intercepted", where are they?

[Caramels]

Many people including 'journo's' get their info from various sources, some of it is correct, most of it is crap! Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

[lincolnsdirtysecrets]

This Pastor guy wouldnt make these accusations without being very very sure

[AD]

Many people including 'journo's' get their info from various sources, some of it is correct, most of it is crap! Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Hope this isn't an inference agaunst the Times. Because I bet those 5 journos at a two-a-week country paper in a smallish community like Port Lincoln would be chomping at the bit make up stuff to sell papers, which will put a chunk of their readership against them.

[ravendale rulz]

Does anyone know who this Mueller person is?

[AD]

Many people including 'journo's' get their info from various sources, some of it is correct, most of it is crap! Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Hope this isn't an inference agaunst the Times. Because I bet those 5 journos at a two-a-week country paper in a smallish community like Port Lincoln would be chomping at the bit make up stuff to sell papers, which will put a chunk of their readership against them.

The Times were last to report on it. The advertiser/Herald Sun broke the story on Monday morning. Even GTS beat the Times to the story

That would have been a given seeing as the Times comes out on a Tuesday, other outlets had Monday to get it out.

The same applies though. I was more just sticking up for the journos- it is an easy line to say that journos lie to make a story. Anybody who says that definitely isn't/never has been a journalist.

[ravendale rulz]

How did this meeting go last night mp/cu/tangles?