- Fans say AFLW stars caught with drugs are treated differently to men
- Alexia Hamilton and Paige Sheppard were busted with cocaine in 2023
- Footy has been embroiled in a handful of drug scandals in recent times
Footy fans are furious at the ‘light sentence’ given to two AFLW Sydney Swans players caught with cocaine, and are calling for male players caught with drugs to be treated more harshly.
According to court records, Alexia Hamilton, 23, and Paige Sheppard, 22, were found guilty of possessing a prohibited drug at Waverley Local Court on January 30.
The revelation comes after 9News Melbourne initially reported that two unnamed stars from the Swans women’s team had been charged by police late last year in the off-season.
The pair received parole orders, similar to good behavior bonds, with the AFL revealing it was aware of the incident.
As part of the parole order, Hamilton and Sheppard must abstain from drugs for the 12-month period and commit no further offences.
The Swans have not yet commented, but the club has reportedly been aware of the incident for months.
Footy fans think two AFLW Swans players busted with cocaine got off lightly (Pictured, Alexia Hamilton)
Hamilton and Paige Sheppard (pictured, left) were each sentenced to 12 months’ parole – essentially a good behavior bond – after being caught with cocaine in 2023
When contacted by Nine, the Swans declined to comment, but key officials had reportedly been aware of the matter for months.
Under the AFL’s illegal drugs policy, any player caught using illegal drugs will receive a first strike, a $5,000 suspended fine and counseling, and will be subject to targeted testing.
A second attack will result in the player being publicly named and banned for four matches.
It is the first cocaine scandal in the AFLW, but many football fans online believe female players should be treated the same as their male counterparts.
“So there are cocaine cowgirls in the #AFLW swans. Do not worry. Nothing serious happened when they went to court. Because drug use is an acceptable pastime,” one X user wrote.
‘Two AFLW players charged in unprecedented cocaine scandal. Big sign of growth in the women’s game. Do you want equality? Then start behaving, playing and acting like the men,” said another.
Another user pointed out how former Sydney Swans player Michael Talia was indefinitely withdrawn by the club after a similar incident.
The incident occurred in December, after the Swans’ AFLW season had concluded, and the club had reportedly known about it for months (Paige Sheppard is pictured playing for the Swans)
The AFL has been rocked by recent drug scandals among male stars and is currently reviewing its drug policy (Photo: Alexia Hamilton plays for the Swans)
The X user wrote: ‘And with the same consequences. Swans let Talia go after he was caught. How about this one. No DH rule applies, referencing Sydney’s famous ‘no d***heads’ rule.
Another joked: “I mean, AFLW players being able to afford cocaine is progress, right?”
The latest story once again highlights Footy’s relationship with drugs, with Melbourne Demons star Joel Smith facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after a failed test.
Unlike the two unnamed AFLW players, Smith would not have passed the test in the competition, meaning if found guilty he would face a harsher sentence.
Smith has been provisionally suspended since October, when he was informed of a positive cocaine test following the Demons’ win over Hawthorn on August 20.