Saints rule Milne out of game against Melbourne

[matrix]

n early morning meeting of the St Kilda board has voted to withdraw Stephen Milne from Saturday's clash with Melbourne, citing welfare concerns.

The meeting, which included a telephone hook-up of the majority of club directors, including CEO Michael Nettlefold and Queen's Counsel Jack Rush, who are both holidaying in Italy, made the decision following lengthy consultations over 24 hours from the AFL, the AFL Players Association, lawyers and the Saints football department.

Milne was going be told after training on Wednesday morning. The decision was made in part following recommendations from the club psychologist and senior coach Scott Watters.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/s ... 2ohk7.html


complete turnaround

[oh when the]

commercially the right decision

[matrix]

just to add...
so if you are stood down for this game would we automatically conclude he wont play for the rest of the season???

its weird
yesterday it was all good and he was playing
watters etc asked at seaford this morn when arriving what was going on and replied that a press conf was happening today
but before thats happened we've found out he is now not playing??

was there any announcement anywhere?
wilson seems to have gotten in first and found out some info

[I Love Peter Kiel]

I can't believe it. He's a player. He should play. Must play next week!

[perfectionist]

...so if you are stood down for this game would we automatically conclude he wont play for the rest of the season???

Bit longer than that matrix. Bearing in mind the judical "system" and its need to feed the monster, he has played his last game.

[matrix]

you are prob right perfectionist

he has prob played his last

[SaintPav]

The club has done the right thing.

[howlinwolf]

I think it will be for the better. He may get through this week but the pressure each following game and the media circus will spiral up each week.
Not in Milne's,the girl's or the Club's best interest

[Richter]

Common sense prevails IMO.

Will be able to consider further over the weekend and in to next week to see whether he can be considered again for selection the following week.

Also glad that a decision has been made by the board of the club rather than leaving it down to Milne or Watters or the match day committee or the leadership group.

Hopefully the club can find a path through the middle of this that allows us to support Milney and his family whilst also respecting the hurt that the alleged injured party has been and will be going through.

If we screw this up then it *could* lead to an exodus of players... let's hope that does not happen... the leaders of the club... Roo, Lenny... Watters and his team... the board... all have challenges in keeping the club steady here... due to current and likely near-future onfield propsects we're pretty vulnerable as a club over the next few years.

[SENsei]

Club did the right thing. The board met last night and said he was able to play 'pending' AFL approval. That approval obviously didn't happen. The club are seen to be supporting Milne.

No winners.

[Johnny Member]

The club has done the right thing.

I agree.

[matrix]

"The AFLPA and Milne's management reportedly remained uncomfortable with the Saints' call."

(on letting him play)

[Johnny Member]

The club or the AFL can't be seen in any way, shape or form to be supporting Milne.

By letting him play, and having Saints fans cheering him like a hero, would be seen by the public as the club and competition supporting him.


They also can't be seen to be shunning him. That's not fair and frankly, probably illegal. So not playing citing his 'welfare' is really in my opinion, the only option that seems to sit in the neutral zone.

[bigcarl]

Probably the right call for Milney's wellbeing and it will stop the match from becoming even more of a media circus.

[bigcarl]

The club or the AFL can't be seen in any way, shape or form to be supporting Milne.

They can't be seem to be not supporting him either.

He's not been found guilty of anything and maintains his innocence.

[SENsei]

Unfortunately, I feel that like Blake Ferguson in Sydney, Milne's career is now done.

[samwell]

The club or the AFL can't be seen in any way, shape or form to be supporting Milne.

They can't be seem to be not supporting him either.

He's not been found guilty of anything and maintains his innocence.

Tell that to Lovett...

[markp]

The only option.

They just had to find a way to do it and also be seen as totally supporting him.

[SENsei]

Lovett was different. He had already had two warnings. That was the straw that broke the lyon's back.

[chook23]

The club or the AFL can't be seen in any way, shape or form to be supporting Milne.

They can't be seem to be not supporting him either.

He's not been found guilty of anything and maintains his innocence.

Tell that to Lovett...

Lovett was dismissed by the club for other breaches of his contract requirements.

[bigcarl]

The club or the AFL can't be seen in any way, shape or form to be supporting Milne.

They can't be seem to be not supporting him either.

He's not been found guilty of anything and maintains his innocence.

Tell that to Lovett...

As I recall it Lovett was stood down over a number of issues, including being arrested for drunk and disorderly within five weeks of his arrival at the club.

[plugger66]

The only option.

They just had to find a way to do it and also be seen as totally supporting him.

Starting to come around to that. lets be totally honest here. The worst thing a person can do is murder someone and probably the second worse thing you can do is rape someone. Not sure a person charged with rape should be playing even though I probably still think he is not guilty.

[Johnny Member]

The club or the AFL can't be seen in any way, shape or form to be supporting Milne.

They can't be seem to be not supporting him either.

He's not been found guilty of anything and maintains his innocence.

That's why I think standing him down citing his welfare is the only option they had.


He'll be shitty about it, his mates probably will be too which could even fracture the playing group irreversibly - but unfortunately the long term interests of the club I really don't think there was a choice.

[Sobraz]

I love Milne as a player, and have met him a few times and he has been nothing but a gentleman and stand up guy...

However what is about to unfold for him is bigger than the club or him the player... It needs to be treated very carefully and thoughtfully, and I think the club has done the right thing in keeping him out...

What happens if he kicks the winning goal or a bag of 8 and is the hero? Is it the right thing to be celebrating him, this week??... Innocent until proven otherwise, and I do hope he walks away from this with a clear record and conscious, and insist the club supports him through the process, but when it comes to on field, it is the correct call..

[stinger]

sad sad day...no winners here...