Players betting bad, drug-taking good, says AFL

Beats a half-time cuppa
Beats a half-time cuppa

The extent to which gambling has been demonised in Australia is beautifully highlighted in this piece by Patrick Smith in The Australian, which reports on players and officials having been named, shamed and handed lengthy match bans for the heinous crime of, erm, betting – in some cases sums totalling as much as $9. Meanwhile, the comparatively minor crime of drug-taking has been swept right under the carpet as guilty players have been granted anonymity and freedom from persecution. Well they can’t send’em to Australia any more, can they? Read more.