AFL player on drugs charge

[Jazza]

Essendon footballer Nathan Lovett-Murray charged with drug posession

By staff writers
August 04, 2009

Essendon footballer Nathan Lovett-Murray has been charged with drugs possession after a police raid on his Melbourne home, the club has confirmed.

One ecstasy tablet was allegedly found at his Essendon residence on Monday.

Bombers CEO Peter Jackson told a packed media conference on Tuesday afternoon that Lovett-Murray had also been charged with driving while unlicensed.

He failed to have his licence renewed when it expired on July 7, according to Jackson.

"This is a serious matter and we, as a club, are treating it as such," Jackson said.

"However, there must also be a presumption of innocence and Nathan is determined to contest the charge.

"Understanding the process that has unfolded, the character of Nathan and the work he does in the community, the Essendon Football Club intends to support him in this matter and as such he will continue to train and play.

"It is now a legal matter which will run its course over the next few months."

Lovett-Murray's manager, Peter Jess, told The Age newspaper that the 94-game utility maintains his innocence ahead of a court date in October.

Lovett-Murray is strongly involved in supporting indigenous causes and is regarded as a role model at the club.

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Funny how Ive barely heard about it in the papers, Im sure it would be a different story if this happened to an NRL player.

It also shows what a bunch of bull**** their 3 strikes drug policy is.

 

[Juro]

Saw it mentioned on the channel 10 news this morning. What sort of coverage is it getting in Melbourne?

 

[sam_2_1]

the herald sun has run essentially the same article

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25881629-19764,00.html

OT but the adelaide advertiser is also running a story about former essendon player cupido being stood down by his SANFL club due to gambling problems.

 

[tigergirlz]

a police raid for one ecstacy tablet?

 

[Peaches]

One ecstasy tablet and a lisence that expired a month ago. Its news but barely something that should condem the bloke.

 

[Jazza]

One ecstasy tablet and a lisence that expired a month ago. Its news but barely something that should condem the bloke.

I agree but if there has been a police raid then they must of had some suspicion that he has a past with drugs, or evidence.

My main point though is if that was a Rugby League player, his face would be splashed across all the front pages of the papers, sacked, and criticised by everyone.

 

[Peaches]

One ecstasy tablet and a lisence that expired a month ago. Its news but barely something that should condem the bloke.

I agree but if there has been a police raid then they must of had some suspicion that he has a past with drugs, or evidence.

My main point though is if that was a Rugby League player, his face would be splashed across all the front pages of the papers, sacked, and criticised by everyone.

I'm getting the feeling the Melbourne public don't seem to care too much for this sort of crap. Where as the Sydney public seems to crave it.

 

[softlaw]

I'm getting the feeling the Melbourne public don't seem to care too much for this sort of crap. Where as the Sydney public seems to crave it.

Whether thats driven by the media (they decide not to show it) or the media is just responding to public opinion (don't publish much) who knows but you're dead right.

 

[Danos]

It was a big headline story on Fox Sports News.

 

[Juro]

Did you see the back page of the telegraph today where they reckon they won't publish another off-field controversy for the rest of the season. They say they want to celebrate what is good about the game. Let's see how long that lasts…

 

[Rohan]

It got passing coverage here in Melbourne, but the AFL media machine is very good at snuffing these things out 'for the good of the game'.

The AFL is a very powerful influence in Melbourne, and journos who run negative stories too often have trouble getting accreditation (shock, horror!), and in the fishbowl that is Melbourne, this is a virtual death sentence.

How about that delightful AFL player, Albert Proud? He smashed a glass into a womans face in Brisbane in February this year. Hush hush….

 

[Jazza]

It got passing coverage here in Melbourne, but the AFL media machine is very good at snuffing these things out 'for the good of the game'.

The AFL is a very powerful influence in Melbourne, and journos who run negative stories too often have trouble getting accreditation (shock, horror!), and in the fishbowl that is Melbourne, this is a virtual death sentence.

How about that delightful AFL player, Albert Proud? He smashed a glass into a womans face in Brisbane in February this year. Hush hush….

Ahh, so thats why the AFL likes their 3 strikes drug policy, everything needs to be a secret down there, it doesnt surprise me really. The AFL to me, seems to have become to big and therefore to powerful in Melbourne and the other AFL states. They are very cocky and if they are going to succeed in NSW and QLD, they need to change their attitude towards the people that live in NSW and QLD who will not accept this cockiness which could turn them away from the game (Thats whats happened to me, and I hope thats happened to a lot of other people too).

But anyway I dont think the Sydney public crave bad publicity, I think its more the media just rams it down our throats, especially the Telecrap.

Like the Matthew Johns scandal, when I first heard about it I didnt think to much about about, like I didnt care, yet it was on the news for 2 weeks. And then while the Sharks were down they then started on Tony Zappia, as a Rugby League fan I dont care.

 

[Joe_Cool]

One Ecstasy tablet is not news when it relates to a guy who has a bit of history, that's why it hasn't had much publicity.

I think if it was James Herd, Nathan Buckley, Paul Kelly or some other dinki di, straight as they come legend, it would be big news. Sorry, these guys are oldies but I don't know there current equivalents in AFL.

Similarly in Rugby League, does it come as a big surprise when Willie Mason or someone like him get caught doing wahetever, not really, but imagine if it had been Brett Kimorly, Nathan Hindmarsh, Shane Webcke or the like.

as for hitting girls, what are these guys thinking !!!!!!!!!