Chick revealed details about the team’s 2006 toxic culture on Thursday, which reportedly included snorting substances during club flights, using illicit drugs and staff hiding players from drug testers.
Advertisement
His teammates also took large doses of asthma pills, Xanax, Sudafed, Stilnox and Valium, a few of which was provided through West Coast.
Chick’s revelations of rampant drug use among West Coast’s 2006 premiership stars loom as a major distraction as the Eagles attempt to win this year’s flag.
“At those levels it’s the same as being a full-on meth addict”, said Chick, who was allowed to take the drug along with Cousins and Kerr because they were all asthmatic.
Judd said the timing of Chick going public with his story, days before West Coast competed in another grand final, was unfortunate.
Chick said he started taking the 20mgs and 5mgs tablets on game day which quickly increased to 40 and 50mg doses. “It smashes your system”.
“I don’t believe he’s made that up and clearly he’s got a few unfinished issues with the club, hopefully they can sit down and go through it”.
“You feel bulletproof basically…”
“The lack of sleep, the depression, it affects your mental health, coping mechanisms, metabolic rates and causes memory loss and sleep issues”.
Brereton said Chick felt he was encouraged to play through damaging bouts of asthma, a disease which killed Chick’s brother.
Judd said the culture of the club at that time “was not up to scratch and needed improving”.
According to Herald Sun, West Coast released a statement acknowledging the club “faced a few challenges with its playing group a decade ago” but says they were investigated by the club and the AFL, and the club’s medical staff are “deeply offended” by the latest allegations.
Advertisement
Judd, one of the AFL’s most respected figures, played for the Eagles between 2002 and 2007, before moving to Carlton. “I don’t think the premiership is tainted but it came at too high a price”.
