Collingwood great Tony Shaw ambushes his old teammate Gavin Crosisca on live radio to tell him he would’ve had him SACKED if he’d known about his drug problem
- Shaw led Magpies to the premiership in 1990
- Crosisca fought against drug use for 25 years
- Pair talked about AFL’s illegal drug policy
Collingwood great Tony Shaw has bluntly told former teammate Gavin Crosesca on live radio that he would have sacked him had he been aware of his ongoing illicit drug problem during his decorated playing days.
The pair won an AFL premiership together in 1990, but Shaw had no hesitation in saying he would have shown Crosesca the door.
They discussed the code’s drug policy in light of reports that up to 100 players have reportedly been granted secret immunity under the sport’s three-strike policy.
Last week the AFL was rocked after independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie told federal parliament about the allegations made by former Melbourne Demons club doctor Zeeshan Arain and football club president Glen Bartlett.
Wilkie claimed footy stars who tested positive for drugs in secret tests would then fake injuries to avoid testing positive on game days.
Collingwood great Tony Shaw has bluntly told former teammate Gavin Crosesca he would have sacked him if he had been aware of his ongoing illegal drug problem during his playing days
Gavin Crosesca (right) battled drug addiction for 25 years in the AFL as a player and coach
Crosisca, a daily cannabis user from the age of 16 (pictured right playing against comedian Dave Hughes in a 2014 Legends match), turned to amphetamines and also struggled with alcohol and gambling addictions
The AFL responded by declaring that they were ‘unashamed’ and explaining that they were committed to ‘player welfare and welfare’ – and by players not taking the field they were not breaking the doping rules.
During his speech on 3AW Radio, Shaw did not mince his words.
“I don’t think I’ve ever said this to you,” Shaw told Crosesca.
“If I knew you were using drugs when I was captain at Collingwood, I would have wanted you fired.”
Crosisca responded by stating that he was ‘aware’ of Shaw’s strong views on illegal drugs, before confirming that it would have been ‘catastrophic’ for him if the Pies had dropped him at that stage of his career.
It comes after Crosesca admitted in 2012 to leading a ‘double life’, revealing he was addicted to alcohol, cannabis and speed during his time in top-flight football.
His habits cost the AFL player turned coach his home, business, financial stability – and at one point his family.
‘I went to bed every night and told myself: that was it, no more. “I have too much to lose,” he said Fox sports.
‘I have a beautiful wife, I have three wonderful children, what am I doing? I went to bed and prayed, just to get me through this, let me stop.
‘And the next morning all I think about is scoring again. For years I had a feeling of complete powerlessness over my addiction.’
Crosisca hit rock bottom when he planned to rob a pub he co-owned so he could collect the $60,000 takings to fuel his drug addiction – before finally getting sober.
In his playing days, he admitted that he often boarded interstate flights carrying joints, and was often terrified that a sniffer dog would alert authorities.
He wants his story to be a cautionary tale for other football stars, to ensure they stay on the right path.
Crosisca is now a director at Sober Living Rehab in Melbourne and also works in Collingwood’s wellness department.