The AFL confirms Richmond players Sydney Stack and Callum Coleman-Jones will be suspended for 10 matches and sent home from Queensland, after breaching the AFL’s return to play protocols.
Stack and Coleman-Jones breached the protocols after taking an Uber, visiting a non-approved Gold Coast venue and becoming involved in an incident that involved Queensland Police. Stack was detained by police and released a short time after.
The AFL, in conjunction with the club, investigated the matter and has determined that Stack and Coleman-Jones be immediately sent home and suspended for 10 matches, a suspension that will stretch across both the remainder of the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, Finals and the start of the 2021 season.
Richmond have a BYE in Round 16, meaning the 10-match suspension will begin in Round 17.
The suspension will be served across Round 17, 18, the 2020 Finals Series, then dependent on how many matches Richmond play in this year’s finals series, the remaining matches to be served from Round 1 of the 2021 Season.
Richmond Football Club have been fined $100,000 for the breach - $75,000 for this breach and a further $25,000 that was the suspended amount from a previous breach.
$100,000 will be included in Richmond’s 2021 Soft Cap.
Both players have been isolated since returning to the Richmond HPC early this morning.
Stack and Coleman-Jones cleared 14-day quarantine in July. They are not part of the current quarantine hub where AFL officials, and players and family members are undertaking the required 14-day quarantine period.
AFL General Counsel Andrew Dillon said the AFL’s protocols are the competition’s license to play and any breach would be held into account.
“It is a privilege to be able to continue our competition, and with that privilege comes responsibility. The actions of the players are not only irresponsible but disrespectful to the competition and everyone associated with it,” Mr Dillon said.
“There is simply no excuse for this breach. The two players knew the rules and chose to ignore them, putting the safety of everyone at risk.
“The behaviour of the players is not what we expect, regardless of whether any protocols are in place or not.”
