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"More people need to know": Fremantle CEO weighs in on AFL's illicit drugs policy
Sam Watson • March 12th, 2025 10:29 pm
Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick has shared his thoughts on the AFL’s illicit drugs policy, after Collingwood great Nathan Buckley said it “enables” players to dabble in banned substances.
While Garlick said it’s often forgotten it’s a “voluntary program” players take part in, he does believe that more people than the club doctor should know when a player has tested positive for illicit drugs.
“I think we're all pretty united in the thought that more people need to know when there's a challenge or when there's been a player that's had an indiscretion,” he said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“At the moment, the confidentiality of it means that clubs, in reality, apart from the club doctor, who can't divulge any of that, are flying blind.”
“And we understand young people are going to make decisions or make mistakes at times that compromise themselves. But I just don't think there's many people better qualified and with a greater level of care than those in charge with looking after those players.
“I certainly take my role and we in management and coaching think we've got a great level of responsibility.
“Not knowing when there's been an indiscretion or when players are having a challenge makes it really difficult from our end to the other to actually see if we can assist. So, I think we're united as a code in wanting to change that element of the policy.”
Garlick also went on to acknowledge that one mistake shouldn’t cost a player they’re career, but he was in favour of a harder stance on drug use in general.
“There needs to be an element where a stupid decision doesn't mean that a career is lost, and I think we can make that allowance,” he said.
“(But) I think that we need to get to a point where people understand that you sign up to be an AFL player and you've got to make sacrifices, which we don't think are too much of an imposition.”
And he also said that clubs recruiting players should have the right to know if there’s been drug-use discretions in the past.
“If it was a repeat offender or in or in some instances where there's been suspicions that players are gaming the system, then I think that's important information that a prospective employer needs to be aware of.”
You can listen to Garlick's full chat on Sportsday below.
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