Footy legends roast AFL for ignoring drug problem after saga around Collingwood star Jack Ginnivan

Footy legends Kane Cornes and Nathan Brown have slammed the AFL for its drug problem in the wake of the Jack Ginnivan scandal and other instances of players caught taking illicit substances in recent years.

Ginnivan, 20, was suspended for the opening two rounds of the AFL season after admitting using an illicit drug after a video emerged of him alongside another man in a toilet cubicle on Australia Day with a white powder on a key.

AFL pundit and former Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes believes that AFL players have an imagine problem that needs to be changed immediately. 

‘There is a perception from the public that the majority of players are drug users,’ he explained on SEN.

‘The players and their union – led by Paul Marsh and Patrick Dangerfield – urgently need to address it. They have been too soft on drugs.’

Footy legends Kane Cornes and Nathan Brown have slammed the AFL for its drug problem in the wake of the Jack Ginnivan scandal and other instances of players caught taking illicit substances in recent years (Ginnivan pictured at a festival)

AFL pundit and former Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes (pictured) believes that AFL players have an imagine problem that needs to be changed immediately

Cornes believes that this issue is not being taken seriously enough, and that pretty soon it’ll be forgotten.

‘Collingwood slapped him on the wrist with a two-game ban, and Marsh and the players’ union have remained silent,’ said Cornes.

‘Don’t worry about Ginnivan, though. In four weeks, he’ll be off the front page, and we will have moved on to discussing how he is getting harshly treated by the umpires again.’

The Port Adelaide premiership player is concerned that drug use has been normalised within the competition and that sponsors and clubs have been too forgiving of the illegal behaviour that has ‘ruined’ lives and careers.

‘It doesn’t work. The illicit drug policy is not a deterrent,’ Cornes said.

‘This perception of AFL players bothers me. Until the game condemns illicit drug use the same way it would cigarette smoking, nothing will change.’

AFL great Nathan Brown has praised Collingwood’s handling of the incident, but says questions will be asked about the AFL’s policy in regards to illicit drugs.

AFL great Nathan Brown has praised Collingwood’s handling of the incident, but says questions will be asked about the AFL’s policy in regards to illicit drugs.

Ginnivan is pictured returning to training for the Magpies on Monday morning after facing the media for the first time

‘Questions will still be asked about the AFL’s drug policy and the illicit policy which the players signed up to – they don’t have to,’ he said.

‘You get three strikes so you get a couple of opportunities.

‘I think around the education part because if this was zero policy, Jack Ginnivan would be sacked right now as a 20-year-old and I don’t think that’s the right thing because players do make mistakes.

‘I think the policy is okay. It’s all about educating the players.

‘Maybe [the system could be changed to] two strikes, bring it back from three. You get one chance and if you do it again you’re out of the competition.’

Ginnivan has been suspended for rounds one and two of the next season and handed a $5000 suspended fine.