Drug ban: Joel Smith suspended until 2028 AFL season

Joel Smith has been banned from playing any form of Australian rules football until 2028.

Smith, who played 42 AFL games for Melbourne, tested positive for cocaine after the Demons’ Round 23 victory over Hawthorn last year.

He was later slapped by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) on suspicion of dealing or attempting to deal cocaine to third parties.

On Friday, the AFL announced Smith was sanctioned for five anti-doping rule violations set out in the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code.

The league said in a statement that Smith’s suspension was agreed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), SIA and the AFL along with Joel Smith.

“The outcome in this case, in which Joel Smith was suspended for over four years, reflects the seriousness with which the AFL treats violations of the Anti-Doping Code in Australian Rules Football and is a salutary lesson for any player using illegal substances that are prohibited under the WADA Code.” AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said.

“The use of performance-enhancing substances is strictly prohibited in Australian Football and the AFL will continue to work with Sport Integrity Australia to identify and prosecute the use of such substances in competition and other conduct prohibited by the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code.

“The AFL does not in any way condone the use of illegal drugs. If a player chooses to take illegal drugs, the potential consequences are serious, including risks to health and safety and loss of the privilege of playing professional football, as was the case here.”

Smith is banned until January 9, 2028, but can return to training in November 2027.

Meanwhile, with CEO Gary Pert resigning and Christian Petracca offering initial support for their culture, the struggling club faces an off-season of reflection and action.

Pert resigned on Thursday and will leave his position at the end of the year, although he is to remain as a consultant on Melbourne’s bid to build a new training and administration base at Caulfield.

Former Collingwood chief executive Pert, who joined Melbourne in late 2018, follows former president Kate Roffey, who stepped down in September amid a continuing period of turmoil.

Pert’s departure comes ahead of likely management changes as the Demons prepare to pass on the findings of two separate reviews to their operations.

News of Pert’s departure was announced in a letter to members from President Brad Green, who praised Pert’s “invaluable contributions” and leadership.

“It is with mixed emotions that I announce that after six years as CEO of Melbourne Football Club, Gary Pert has decided to retire and step down from his position,” Green said.

“After carefully considering what is best for the club, his family and his own future, Gary has concluded that now is the right time to begin the search for his successor.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that this decision, including the timing of it, is Gary’s decision.”

Melbourne has been rocking turmoil almost since their groundbreaking 2021 launch.

They were eliminated from the finals in straight sets in 2022 and 2023 before failing to reach the top eight this year and finishing in 14th place.

Questions about the club’s off-pitch culture have arisen consistently and have not been quelled by Pert’s extraordinary claim late last year that the club’s culture is the best it has seen in 40 years.

The main topics were Clayton Oliver’s off-field problems, Smith’s anti-doping case and the desire of the dissatisfied star Petracca to leave the club after an injury he suffered in a match to celebrate the king’s birthday.

Petracca finally committed to the Demons, at least for 2025, on August 31, while Melbourne ruled out any chance of Oliver moving to Geelong after Pert reportedly cheated on him.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, for the first time since his trade saga, Petracca was asked if he was happy with the culture in Melbourne.

“I think so. Culture is an interesting word. It’s a high-performing industry and, in my opinion, we’re always looking to improve and get better,” Petracca told reporters at Thursday’s Melbourne Cup promotional event.

“For me, getting people through the door is the right thing to do.

“We had healthy conversations and it’s amazing. Like every industry and every club, we want to improve.”

Green is reviewing the club’s board and Melbourne has recruited former All Blacks manager Darren Shand to look at the club’s football department.

Former Melbourne footballer, lawyer and former president of the Melbourne Cricket Club Steven Smith will stand for election to the board alongside businessman Chris Barlow.

“If elected by members, I will encourage Steven to seek the board’s support to succeed me as president of the Melbourne Football Club at the end of the 2025 AFL season,” Green said.

Chief Operating Officer David Chippindall will serve as interim CEO from January.