Michael Talia arrested and charged with possession of a prohibited substance

[Dosser]

Can't believe some of the ridiculous arguments in here. His real crime was being caught? What planet does this make sense on? So if people aren't caught then it is legal?
Lots of other players do it? So? One of the traits of an adult is to take responsibility for your own actions. Fortunately it seems that Talia has done that. Try arguing that other people speed as well next time you get a ticket.
Just wow.

[cherub]

Roos once said the most important most important thing the club did with players was to help them be better people when they left than when they entered. (Words to that effect). I wouldn't be surprised if the Swans did something like Geelong did with Stokes and get him to do a job that men who don't have the amazing opportunity of playing AFL have to do. I am sure there will be some community service component to his redemption. You don't know what you've got till it's almost gone.

[caj23]

Can't believe some of the ridiculous arguments in here. His real crime was being caught? What planet does this make sense on? So if people aren't caught then it is legal?
Lots of other players do it? So? One of the traits of an adult is to take responsibility for your own actions. Fortunately it seems that Talia has done that. Try arguing that other people speed as well next time you get a ticket.
Just wow.

No Dosser, we're simply saying that his misdemeanour was minor. He was caught, has dealt with the legal consequences, and has been punished by the club, some on here are suggesting he should be hung, drawn and quartered

[caj23]

Love the way some people on RWO extrapolate their own actions or observations to assume all groups in society are the same. Never seen an illegal drug, none of my friends use them, I go out and have a good time without the need for them. Am I the one who is marching out of step or are others justifying their own actions with "everybody else does it as well"? Have heard that response over and over as a school principal, knowing full well that other people weren't doing it!

I'm not sure what you're suggesting TBC but I don't think you need to be a drug user or have an association with drugs to have the opinion that cocaine possession is a relatively minor crime.

Nobody's condoning what he did but it's been dealt with by the courts and the club and we move on.

Are you out of step by not ever using or seeing illicit drugs? Of course not, but I think you're na?ve if you think all of your family, friends and work colleagues are in the same boat

[KTigers]

We only get to bring in a very limited number of new players each year, and I'd imagine the recruiting staff agonise on every one of them. Other blokes get cut sometimes so that a new player can come in. It's a zero sum game, one guy in, one guy out. It'd be good to have guys that at least act like they are 100% committed. He's got his wrap over the knuckles, and I hope he can now come good for us on the field. We need a quality KPD. That's why he got hired.

[southsideswan]

The Swans have set a benchmark for player behaviour. This is to make a statement to fans and sponsors so as to promote the Club in the way they wish. I think Talia had to be "threatened" by the Club to show that the standard is important. It is up to him to see if he can repair some of the damage. It will take a long time and require more actions then talking.

[Industrial Fan]

Can't believe some of the ridiculous arguments in here. His real crime was being caught? What planet does this make sense on? So if people aren't caught then it is legal?
Lots of other players do it? So? One of the traits of an adult is to take responsibility for your own actions. Fortunately it seems that Talia has done that. Try arguing that other people speed as well next time you get a ticket.
Just wow.

might seem silly but there is illegal and there's illegal. Think recording tv programs or downloading music vs an assault.

Not saying he has nothing to worry about but in reality I think it's the context of Talia being a professional athlete with the added kickers of only recently joining the club and being in rehab that make it worse.

[Plugger46]

Can't believe some of the ridiculous arguments in here. His real crime was being caught? What planet does this make sense on? So if people aren't caught then it is legal?
Lots of other players do it? So? One of the traits of an adult is to take responsibility for your own actions. Fortunately it seems that Talia has done that. Try arguing that other people speed as well next time you get a ticket.
Just wow.

Given the game has a three strikes policy for illicit drugs, his real crime was being caught. No case to answer if he simply tests positive and I don't really see how they're any different. In both cases you have to have been in possession.

[Dosser]

might seem silly but there is illegal and there's illegal. Think recording tv programs or downloading music vs an assault.

Not saying he has nothing to worry about but in reality I think it's the context of Talia being a professional athlete with the added kickers of only recently joining the club and being in rehab that make it worse.

I understand what you are saying, but illegal downloading of movies doesn't destroy lives and families. I know we are splitting hairs and this is a debate for another occasion, but whether or not a law is minor or major, we can't view them existentially or we may as well not have any.
Anyway, I think the Swans will just wait for it all to settle down before reintroducing him. All will be forgotten as it has been dealt with in the courts.

[snajik]

I agree.

He was charged with possession of an illegal substance. He hasn't been charged with taking any drugs, and he hasn't admitted to taking drugs, at least publicly. He went to court and he received his penalty in accordance with the law. A conviction wasn't recorded on his record. The AFL will put a drug strike against his name. He's been stood down by the club. He's aplogised profusely.

Whatever one's opinion might be on drug usage, we should put this incident in perspective along with some of the other indiscretions that AFL players have made, such as behaviour involving violence or a threat of violence, drink driving and unruly behaviour in public.

I think he's paid the full penalty already and the club should lift his suspension and let him get back to his rehab and re-integration with club.

I hope he's learned his lesson never to hang out with Hawthorn players, because they have a much more lenient policy about unsociable behaviour.

For me this is the real issue. I can pretty much forgive him for everything else that he's alleged to have done, but I find I'm still struggling with this aspect.

[caj23]

I understand what you are saying, but illegal downloading of movies doesn't destroy lives and families. I know we are splitting hairs and this is a debate for another occasion, but whether or not a law is minor or major, we can't view them existentially or we may as well not have any.
Anyway, I think the Swans will just wait for it all to settle down before reintroducing him. All will be forgotten as it has been dealt with in the courts.

So by your logic, getting caught speeding at 66 kph in a 60 zone is the same as doing 150kph in a 100 zone. They both have the potential to damage lives

[RogueSwan]

For me this is the real issue. I can pretty much forgive him for everything else that he's alleged to have done, but I find I'm still struggling with this aspect.

This creates a massive precedent if young Tommy goes to the Poos and Wees. How will consorting with the "enemy" be dealt with?

[longmile]

For me this is the real issue. I can pretty much forgive him for everything else that he's alleged to have done, but I find I'm still struggling with this aspect.

This

[Steve]

Hopefully they just bring him back into the fold ASAP put an end to it being an issue.

He's gone through the legal process, been stood down for a month in the process, and gets a strike under the AFL drug policy.

I assume we'll now impose a suspension on top of all that - just out of obligation to be seen to be 'taking the issue seriously'.

If he gets another drug strike it is a 12 week suspension, so for now a discretionary 4-6 week club-imposed penalty would be more than sufficient - and that should include the time he's already been stood down.

Anything more would just be PC overkill - even if he's not going to play senior footy this year anyway due to fitness, behind others in waiting such as Ted etc.

[barry]

Why do we need to impose further suspension.

We have already gone beyond AFL sanctions, but suspending him from the club for the past month.

This is getting blown out of proportion.