00:00 At a media event to celebrate the next generation of footballers, with the message of 'fun
00:07 first, footy second', Max Gorn instead fronted up to questions on a very different
00:12 matter.
00:13 I'm not hiding, there is issues and we will make sure we get that right.
00:18 Those issues sharpened overnight when anti-doping body Sport Integrity Australia hit demons
00:23 forward Joel Smith with three rule violations, alleging he trafficked or attempted to traffic
00:30 cocaine to third parties, which could mean selling or giving a substance, and a further
00:34 breach for allegedly possessing the drug on September 9, 2022, the same day he ran out
00:41 as a substitute in the demons' semi-final loss to Brisbane.
00:45 The next day he played for Casey in the VFL.
00:48 Smith is currently suspended after failing a drugs test last year and remains away from
00:53 the club.
00:55 This case could take months and may ultimately go to the AFL's anti-doping tribunal.
01:00 It could also end up in the hands of police, but the AFL says that decision is up to Sport
01:05 Integrity Australia.
01:07 The information that they have, it's up to them to decide who they pass it on to.
01:11 Victoria Police says it's assessing the information provided by the agency.
01:16 The demons' culture has been interrogated for months.
01:20 Star Clayton Oliver is back training but may still miss round one after a tough summer
01:25 dealing with personal problems.
01:28 As Mac said, there have been issues over the off-season, but I think that they have a great
01:34 leadership.
01:35 For Melbourne, the opening round can't come soon enough.
01:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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