Former North Melbourne player Blake Drury was secretly suspended for one game by the SANFL after making inappropriate comments about a female staff member during a promotional shoot for the state league clash against Western Australia.
Drury, now playing with Adelaide’s SANFL side, had been named in South Australia’s squad for the May 17 interstate match. But both he and Central District’s Aiden Grace were quietly withdrawn from the team without explanation.
It has since been revealed that the pair were caught on camera making remarks described as “unacceptable” about a SANFL staffer, comments the woman discovered herself while reviewing the footage.
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Adelaide 'angered' as Drury sent for counselling
The Adelaide Football Club issued a strongly worded response once the details became public, backing the SANFL’s decision to suspend Drury and outlining steps the club has taken in response.
“Adelaide Football Club can confirm one of its SANFL-listed players was sanctioned for making inappropriate comments about a SANFL staff member,” the club said in a statement.
“The club is extremely disappointed and angered by the incident, and it endorsed the SANFL’s sanction.”
The 21-year-old Drury, who played 10 AFL games with North Melbourne before being delisted at the end of last season, has been enrolled in a counselling and education program. He was also nominated for Wednesday night’s AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft but went unselected.
The SANFL, meanwhile, acknowledged the hurt caused by the incident and reaffirmed its support for the staff member involved.
“We were extremely disappointed by the inappropriate comments made by the players and continue to provide support to our staff member impacted,” the league said.
Drury’s suspension was never formally announced at the time, but the fallout has placed a sharp spotlight on standards of behaviour within the league and among clubs.