GWS midfielder Lachie Whitfield has finally opened up about the incidents that led to a six-month ban last year, and said he takes full responsibility for what happened.
Whitfield hid at the home of Giants welfare manager Craig Lambert in May 2015 under the advice of former Giants football boss Graeme Allan in a bit to evade a drug test.
The 22-year-old was banned for six months late last year which saw him miss the opening seven rounds of the 2017 season, while Lambert and Allan were both handed 12-month suspensions.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, Whitfield said he shoulders the blame for the incident.
โAt the end of the day I control what I do,โ Whitfield said.
โIโm the one who got a six-month ban, I take responsibility. I know Gubby and Lambo have been in strife for what they did but I donโt blame them. They are very good people in the AFL community. They put the players first and thatโs why so many have re-signed and I canโt speak highly enough of them.โ
Given the incident happened 18 months before the story broke on the eve of the finals last season, Whitfield said he was actually pleased it was out in the open.
โIt was a weight off my chest,โ Whitfield said.
โIt wasnโt a bad thing that it came out. The incident happened 18 months before it became public. I played with it for a long time and it did affect my footy. There were two months when I really struggled to get a kick and when it came out there was nothing to hide and I was able to play with freedom and aggression.โ
Whitfield admitted it was a challenging time for him and his family but especially his mother, with the Giant moving back to Melbourne to live with her for most of his ban to help her through it.
Once he returned to football in round eight he was pleased with the amount of support he's received from opposition players, although last weekend's loss to Carlton was the first time fans really got stuck into him.
โThe weekend was the first time I noticed a bit of abuse from the stands,โ Whitfield said.
โThere was none in Perth or Sydney, it made me smile and gave me a giggle. There have been a dozen players who have given me a pat on the back and said itโs good to see me back.
โThere was one player who had a dig at me and Iโm not going to name the player or the club.
โI gave a bit of lip back and we won the game. In the AFL community a lot of the boys know what I went through and know the circumstances and they have had my back in terms of comments being said. There has been a lot of negative stuff but from other teams and players Iโve only had support.โ
