The Western Bulldogs have suspended Lachie Hunter for four matches and fined him $5,000 as well as being relinquished off his vice-captaincy for his alleged drink driving offences last Thursday night.
The club released a statement confirming the midfielder had also been hit with suspended fines totalling a further $15,000 for multiple other breaches
The 25-year old allegedly crashed into four parked cars last Thursday night and later returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.123 at teammate Billy Gowersโ house after Bailey Smith drove him there.
The damages are estimated at $100,000-$150,000.
Smith was cleared by the Bulldogs while a suspended fine of $5000 was given to Billy Gowers.
Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains released the following statement on Tuesday afternoon.
"The Club is extremely disappointed by a number of elements of Lachieโs conduct both in his choice to drink alcohol, choice to drink and drive, choice to ignore social distancing laws and a series of other choices he made in the aftermath of the crash," the statement reads.
"We are extremely disappointed that, when the accident occurred, he did not choose to avail himself of the support and advice services the club provides to our players for just such situations and we believe a number of his subsequent poor choices flowed directly from that error.
"While there are clearly pressures that many people face given the current circumstances, including Lachie, that is no excuse for his behaviour. Lachieโs behaviour put himself and others at risk and is not acceptable. I want to again make it clear that there is no excuse for the choices he made.
"We are very thankful that nobody was physically harmed in the incident. Lachie has failed to live up to his responsibilities as a member of the community and from what we expect from a leader of our football club.
A remorseful Hunter apologised for his actions.
โIโd like to express my deepest apologies and regret for my actions last Thursday night,โ Hunter said.
โIโm here to take full responsibility for what I did and the damages that I caused.
โItโs never responsible to get behind the wheel after youโve had a drink. Drink-driving is clearly not acceptable and a real scare for what couldโve been with some drink-driving victims.
โI let down a lot of people here, my fiancรฉe and my family first. The leadership group and the club, my teammates, Billy and Bailey for dragging them into a situation they should never have been in, and the wider community who are going through a really hard time with the COVID-19.
โClearly, I shouldโve been at home. The people who own the vehicles (Iโm sorry to), and not only for the damage caused, but the stress it wouldโve put on them that night.โ
