Carlton to investigate hospitalisation of Cowan and Hayward

Carlton will do an internal probe into the circumstances that saw Lachie Cowan and Will Hayward admitted to hospital on Sunday morning.

The Blues will deploy officials, including their integrity officer, to gain a fuller picture of what transpired on Saturday.

They will then pass on the results of their probe to the AFL, according to two competition sources familiar with the situation, but speaking off-record, and then it will be up to the AFL to decide whether to take any action against either Cowan or Hayward.

The Blues have described the medical treatment of the two players as separate incidents, with Cowan taken to hospital by ambulance after a night out, and Hayward taking an Uber to hospital for treatment to a cut head after falling following a night out.

Carlton’s statement on Cowan said he had received medical treatment “and underwent observation, before being discharged a short time later”.

Once Carlton have passed on their findings, the AFL could determine whether to involve its integrity unit.

Reports had widely circulated on Sunday, suggesting that illicit drugs were allegedly involved as the players received medical care. This masthead cannot confirm that illicit drugs were involved in either incident.

Players as a rule would not be subjected to hair testing under the revised AFL illicit drugs code – which is not punitive and is health and treatment focused – until they return from their off-season break, though hair test results detect drug use for months. It would also arguably be more difficult for the AFL to take any action in relation to any player for an incident involving drugs that occurred during the off-season.

If a player is found to have used illicit drugs in a way that becomes public, the AFL will typically use its “conduct unbecoming” rules to issue a suspension. The standard for a player caught in a public incident, such as Jack Ginnivan (at Collingwood) and Bailey Smith (at the Bulldogs) has been a two-match suspension. But these incidents did not happen when the players were on their post-season leave period.

The AFL Players’ Association, which has been involved in dealing with the situation, holds the view that no action should be taken to discipline or sanction footballers who have sought medical attention for their health’s sake. The union contends, sources said, that it would be unwise to punish players for taking steps to protect their health, and that it could deter others from doing so if sanctions were issued.

The AFL has not commented on the situations of the two players as yet and has largely left the Blues to deal with the significant media interest in the incidents.

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