Rookie Indiscretion Costs Collingwood

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

January 9, 2008

Collingwood's lucrative sponsorship with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has come to an end due to a drunk driving incident involving second-year rookie Sharrod Wellingham. Wellingham, 19, from Perth was pulled over by police on Saturday in the Victorian coastal town of Lorne and registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.13. He has been fined $5000 by the club and his license has been suspended for one year.

Club president Eddie McGuire and Wellingham appeared at a press conference at which Wellingham apologized for his actions and said he would quit drinking. McGuire explained the club had no choice but to end the partnership after the TAC had warned the club several years ago the deal would be endangered if any other players offended. That warning came after Cameron Cloke was caught speeding in 2004 and Chad Morrison was stopped on a DUI in 2006.

McGuire denied the club had a problem and hopes the situation would reinforce the consequences of drunk driving. He reminded everyone of the club's own losses due to drunk driving. In 1990, club champion Darren Millane was killed in an auto accident and promising player Robert Rose, Jr. was paralyzed.

Part of the club's sponsorship deal involved TV ads featuring Coach Mick Malthouse, Nathan Buckley and Anthony Rocca urging drivers to "wipe off five" (slow down). The "Wipe Off Five" slogan could often be seen on the front of the coach's box at Collingwood home games.

Several days after Collingwood made the announcement, former Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy said TAC should not sponsor AFL clubs. He believes that young players, who might fall to temptation, should not have to carry such a burden, which can cost clubs. While he said he believes the TAC advertisements along roads and highways are a great reminder of the dangers of DUI, he was quoted, "....it's impossible to ensure 700 players got it right".

Source: Melbourne Age; Herald Sun