The seven West Coast Eagles players who breached club protocols to attend a nightclub have each been hit with $5000 fines, with half the amount suspended.
Jackson Nelson, Josh Rotham, Jake Waterman, Hugh Dixon, Patrick Naish, Campbell Chesser and Rhett Bazzo are the seven players to have attended the Leederville club on the night of April 30, 24 hours after the team’s 109-point loss to Richmond in round seven.
After Eagles coach Adam Simpson had expressed his frustration with the seven, the club’s CEO, Trevor Nisbett, met with the players and notified them of their penalties.
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“Given the club’s protocols and current circumstances it was irresponsible and disrespectful for those players to attend a nightclub,” Nisbett said in a club statement.
“After completing our investigation, we have decided to fine each of the players who broke specific club and player guidelines.
“We will continue to educate our players and those who transgressed will now need to regain the trust and respect of their teammates as well as everyone else at the club.”
Rotham, Waterman and Naish played in the Eagles’ team that lost to the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night, with the club heavily criticised for its decision to play the revellers.
The incident is the latest issue in what has become a nightmare season for the Eagles, who currently sit dead last on the AFL ladder having won just one of their first eight matches.