Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert sparked the drugs issue in a speech late last year. Picture: Jay Town Source: Herald Sun
AFL club chiefs will push for earlier notification of a player's positive drugs strikes when the game's leaders meet at Wednesday's historic drugs summit.
And there could be a few clubs calling for the AFL's controversial three-strikes policy to be stripped back to two.
That is likely to come up against heavy resistance from the AFL Players Association, and perhaps even the AFL.
A compromise could come in the form of when clubs are informed of positive strikes against their players.
Currently, they are informed of a player's drug problems after he has received three drug strikes, but there is growing support amongst the clubs for officials to find out after a second strike.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal the move has strong support from some club heavyweights, with a number privately pushing for a hardening of the AFL drug policy.
It is understood the 18 AFL club chief executives will meet for a private dinner on Tuesday night to discuss the agenda for the summit and to have a collective, united approach.
The Herald Sun revealed details of the agenda for the summit, which included aspects of the three-strike policy as well as the potential to scale back and closely monitor organised player trips away out of season and the traditional "Mad Monday" celebrations.
The AFL has consistently defended the three-strikes policy, which it boasts is "world's best practice".
But fears of a spike this year in positive tests for illicit drug use among players and the abuse of a "self-reporting" loophole by a handful of players has prompted a game-wide rethink.
Some clubs feel the three-strikes policy is too lenient, allows players too many chances and needs to be tightened.
Currently, players are named and suspended after a third strike, but some club figures believe reducing that to two strikes would send a far stronger message to players and be a greater
deterrent against drug use.
The mood among some clubs is that meaningful change to the drugs policy is overdue and there is a feeling the AFL may be open to some rule adjustments.
Already, the AFLPA has flagged tentative support to close the "self-reporting" loophole open to players to avoid a drug strike.
Self-reporting occurs when a player admits having used drugs. Under the code, players can avoid registering a positive drug test and a strike against their names by admitting to have taken an illicit substance.
Club chiefs say excuses used include "I have had my drink spiked" and "I've accidentally
had drugs".
Some players have selfreported more than once, raising concerns about deliberate abuse of the policy.
Club bosses are keen to close that avenue at the summit.
The clubs also have growing concerns about player behaviour during their annual holidays.
All will be addressed in a panel forum at Etihad Stadium attended by AFL officials, chief executives, AFL players, the AFLPA, medical experts and law enforcement agencies.
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