GWS Giants coach Robert Chancellor fired from AFL development job after cocaine possession charge

A senior GWS Giants coach has been fired from his AFL club after undercover cops arrested him buying cocaine during a late-night ‘jog’.

Robert Chancellor, 31, head of development for the Western Sydney team, was arrested outside his home in Marrickville shortly before 8pm on December 10 after 0.87g of cocaine was found on him.

Chancellor moved to Sydney in September to begin his coveted role at GWS Giants, but was sacked four months later, just days after the Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that he had been charged.

His coach profile on the GWS Giants website also disappeared.

Chancellor was due to be sentenced in Newtown Local Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to one charge of possession of a prohibited drug last month.

However, the embattled football manager made an offer to postpone the matter.

Appearing on his behalf, Chancellor’s attorney asked Justice Lisa Stapleton to adjourn the case to allow her to complete the Justices’ Early Referral to Treatment (MERIT) Program.

According to a NSW government website, the 12-week voluntary program “targets people who are eligible and suitable for bail and who are motivated to participate in treatment and rehabilitation.”

The magistrates then consider the participant’s progress in treatment as part of the final judgment.

Justice Stapleton granted the request and rescheduled the matter for May 2.

Court documents previously obtained by Daily Mail Australia revealed that officers began following Chancellor last December after seeing him acting suspicious as he jogged down Addison Road at around 7:50pm.

After jogging down a few streets, Chancellor stopped near a black Toyota and leaned out the driver’s window before putting something in his front pocket.

The vehicle drove off and Chancellor walked back to his home, where police stopped him and told him he was suspected of buying an illegal drug.

According to court documents, Chancellor then “made a full admission,” pulled a small bag of white powder from his pocket, and told police, “It’s cocaine.” I paid $300.’

Chancellor was arrested and the bag of cocaine was seized.

Chancellor began his career as an assistant football technology at Hawthorn before becoming an assistant coach for St Kilda and manager of the Western Jets.

Officers searched his phone and found WhatsApp messages between Chancellor and the trafficker arranging to meet for the exchange.

The GWS Giants confirmed to Daily Mail Australia last month that they were aware of the charges brought against Chancellor.

“The GIANTS are incredibly disappointed by Robbie’s actions, which are in no way aligned with our organization’s values ​​and behaviors,” said General Manager of Soccer Jason McCartney.

Robbie has made a serious mistake and understands that he has let several people down.

“As the matter is still before the courts, the club will not comment further.”

At the time of his arrest, Chancellor had recently moved to Sydney after joining the club in September, having previously coached Victoria’s Western Jets for two years.

Chancellor’s other notable roles include working as an assistant coach at St Kilda, alongside new Giants head coach Adam Kingsley.

Chancellor pictured on the pitch with giant GWS players late last year

Chancellor began his career as a soccer technology assistant at Hawthorn before joining Melbourne in 2013.

He started out as the Saints’ opposition analyst and performance analysis manager before moving into coaching.

In December, the Giants posted a photo on Twitter showing Chancellor alongside some of the team’s recent picks, captioned “the new kids on the block.”

It featured him standing alongside some of the teams’ recent picks, including Aaron Cadman, Harry Rowston and Darcy Jones.

The hiring came as the club went through a management shakeup in recent months after a difficult 2022 season, winning just 6 of 22 games and finishing 16th on the ladder.

Changes at the club included the parting of assistant coaches Steve Johnson and Amon Buchanan, who were sacked in September when Kingsley revamped their staff.

Johnson, a three-time great in Geelong’s presidency, returned to Victoria as manager at Ovens and Murray League club Yarrawonga, while former Lions player Buchanan became development manager for the Sydney Swans.

The Giants underwent a coaching shakeup after a poor 2022 season