- Fans say AFLW stars arrested for drugs are treated differently to men
- Alexia Hamilton and Paige Sheppard arrested with cocaine in 2023
- Footy has been embroiled in a handful of drug scandals in recent times
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Football fans are exploding over the ‘light punishment’ given to two AFLW Sydney Swans players busted with cocaine, insisting male players caught with drugs receive harsher treatment.
According to court records, Alexia Hamilton, 23, and Paige Sheppard, 22, were found guilty of possession of 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 were charged by police late last year during the off-season.
The pair were given probation orders, similar to good behavior bonds, and the AFL revealed it is aware of the incident.
As part of the probation order, Hamilton and Sheppard must abstain from drug use and commit no further offenses during the 12-month period.
The Swans have not commented but the club has reportedly been aware of the incident for months.
Football fans believe two AFLW Swans players arrested with cocaine got off lightly (pictured: Alexia Hamilton)
Hamilton and Paige Sheppard (pictured, left) were each sentenced to a 12-month probation order – essentially a good behavior bond – after being caught with cocaine in 2023.
When contacted by Nine, the Swans declined to comment, but key officials were reportedly aware of the issue for months.
Under the AFL’s illicit drug policy, any player caught using illegal drugs receives a first strike, a $5000 suspended fine and counseling and is subject to selective testing.
A second strike results in the player being publicly named and suspended for four games.
It is the first cocaine scandal in the AFLW, but many online football fans feel female players should be treated the same as their male counterparts.
‘So there are cocaine cowgirls in the #AFLW swans. Don’t worry. Nothing serious happened to them when they went to court. Because taking drugs is an acceptable hobby,” wrote one X user.
‘Two AFLW players charged over unprecedented cocaine scandal. Great sign of growth in women’s football. Do you want equality? Then start behaving, playing, behaving like men,” said another.
Another user pointed out how former Sydney Swans player Michael Talia was indefinitely waived by the club following a similar incident.
The incident occurred in December, after the Swans’ AFLW season ended, and the club has reportedly been aware of 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 anti-drug policy (pictured, Alexia Hamilton plays for the Swans)
The X user wrote: ‘And having the same repercussions. Swans let Talia go after he was caught. What’s up with these? No designated hitter rule applies’, a reference to Sydney’s famous ‘no idiots’ rule.
Another joked: “I mean, AFLW players being able to afford cocaine is progress, right?”
The latest story once again highlights football’s relationship with drugs, with Melbourne Demons star Joel Smith facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines following a failed test.
Unlike the two unnamed AFLW players, Smith reportedly failed the test in the competition, meaning if convicted he would face a harsher punishment.
Smith has been provisionally suspended since October, when he was reported with a positive cocaine test following the Demons’ Round 20 win over Hawthorn on August 20.