Carlisle sorry for unsaintly behaviour
St Kilda recruit Jake Carlisle has issued an unreserved apology for his “mistake” after he filmed himself snorting white powder while on holidays in the United States.
Carlisle’s shift from Essendon to the Saints was confirmed yesterday morning, when the trade paperwork was lodged at AFL headquarters.
But last night, the Nine Network dropped a bombshell, with A Current Affair broadcasting a video of Carlisle snorting white powder. He didn’t identify the substance in a statement issued via the AFL Players Association this morning, but said: “I have made a very poor decision and let people down and for that I am embarrassed and truly sorry.”
“First, I would like to apologise to all St Kilda members, supporters and staff, AFL fans as well as my new teammates,” said Carlisle in the statement.
“I am aware of footage being aired of me last night and I want to be upfront and say that I made a mistake.
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“The video casts me in a very poor light and reveals clearly inappropriate behaviour which I regret but am accountable for.”
The grainy video footage was distributed by social media platform SnapChat. Carlisle, still holidaying in the US, insists he’s leaned from his mistake and will commit to any “club or AFL requirements” on his return.
His defection was one of the major stories of the trade period, which ends today.
South Australian James Aish has finally made his way from Brisbane to Collingwood in the frantic final hours of the AFL meat-market, in a three-way deal which also saw North Melbourne send midfielder Ryan Bastinac to the Lions.
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And Carlton has blinked in its standoff with Richmond over disgruntled Blue Chris Yarran, accepting the Tigers’ long-offered pick 19.
Carlisle had been almost snatched by reigning premier Hawthorn amid stalled negotiations between the Saints and Essendon, with whom he had had a public falling out.
St Kilda said in a statement today it was “incredibly disappointed in Jake Carlisle and this behaviour is not acceptable”.
“Our Board, players and staff are united in the direction we are going and we will not allow this progress to be undermined,” said the club.
“Jake has signed a contract with the St Kilda Football Club but he is aware that he is now on notice and behaviour of this type will not be tolerated…every player on our list has an obligation to live up to our values and to commit themselves to delivering to their best ability, on and off the field.”
Nonetheless, Carlisle “will start at our club next month”, albeit “with an added obligation to prove that he will live within those values in order to fulfil his potential with St Kilda”.
Interestingly, a previous Essendon trade to St Kilda went sour when 2009 recruit Andrew Lovett was charged with sexual assault. He was sacked without playing a game for his new club, but was later acquitted.
-with AAP
