Drug ban: Joel Smith suspended until 2028 AFL season

Joel Smith has been banned from playing any form of Australian rules football until 2028.

Smith, who has made 42 AFL appearances for Melbourne, returned a positive test for cocaine after the Demons’ win over Hawthorn in Round 23 last year.

He was later hit by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) on charges of trafficking or attempting to traffic cocaine to third parties.

The AFL announced Smith’s punishment on Friday in connection with five anti-doping rule violations under the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code.

The league said in a statement that Smith’s suspension was agreed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), SIA and the AFL with Joel Smith.

“The outcome in this case, in which Joel Smith has been banned for more than four years, reflects the seriousness with which the AFL treats breaches of the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code and is a salutary lesson for any player who uses illegal substances that are illegal. prohibited under the WADA Code,” said AFL CEO Andrew Dillon.

“The use of performance-enhancing substances is strictly prohibited in Australian football and the AFL will continue to work with Sport Integrity Australia to identify and investigate the use of such substances in competition and other conduct prohibited by the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code prosecute.

“The AFL does not condone the use of illegal drugs in any way. If a player chooses to use illegal drugs, the potential consequences are significant, including risks to health and safety and loss of the privilege of playing professional football, as happened here. .”

Smith is suspended until January 9, 2028, but can return to training in November 2027.

Meanwhile, with CEO Gary Pert stepping down and Christian Petracca offering a cautious statement of support for their culture, the embattled club faces an off-season period of reflection and action.

Pert resigned on Thursday and will leave his position at the end of the year, although he will stay on as an adviser to Melbourne’s bid to build a new training and administration base at Caulfield.

Ex-Collingwood CEO Pert, who joined Melbourne in late 2018, succeeds former president Kate Roffey who resigned in September amid a sustained period of turbulence.

Pert’s departure comes ahead of a likely board reshuffle as the Demons prepare to transfer findings from two separate reviews to their operations.

News of Pert’s departure was announced via a letter to members from President Brad Green, who praised Pert’s “invaluable contributions” and leadership.

“It is with mixed feelings that I announce that after six years as CEO of the Melbourne Football Club, Gary Pert has decided to retire and step down from his position,” Green said.

“After careful consideration of what is best for the club, his family and his own future, Gary has concluded that now is the right time to begin the search for his successor.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that this decision, including the timing, is Gary’s own decision.”

Melbourne has been plagued by unrest since their 2021 breakthrough.

They had to exit the finals in straight sets in 2022 and 2023 before missing the top eight altogether this year, finishing 14th.

Questions about their off-field culture cropped up constantly, and were not allayed by Pert’s extraordinary claim late last year that the club’s culture was the best he had seen in forty years.

Clayton Oliver’s off-field problems, Smith’s anti-doping case and disgruntled midfielder Petracca’s desire to leave the club after his horror injury in the King’s Birthday match were the main issues.

Petracca finally committed to the Demons on August 31, at least for 2025, while Melbourne ruled out any chance of Oliver’s move to Geelong after Pert reportedly shopped him around.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Petracca was asked for the first time since his trade story whether he was happy with the culture in Melbourne.

“I think so. Culture is an interesting word. It’s a high-performance industry and for me we’re always trying to improve and get better,” Petracca told reporters at a Melbourne Cup promotional event on Thursday.

“For me it’s the right thing to do to get people in the door.

“We’ve had healthy conversations and that’s great. Like every industry and every club, we want to improve.”

Green is overhauling the club’s governance, while Melbourne has brought in former All Blacks manager Darren Shand to look at their football department.

Former Melbourne footballer, lawyer and ex-Melbourne Cricket Club president Steven Smith will stand for the board election, along with businessman Chris Barlow.

“If elected by members, I will encourage Steven to seek board approval to succeed me as president of the Melbourne Football Club at the end of the 2025 AFL season,” Green said.

Chief operating officer David Chippindall will serve as interim CEO from January.