Gold Coast’s AFL season of woe continues with star players Charlie Dixon and Jack Martin dropped for drinking the night before the Suns’ loss to Hawthorn.
Key forward Dixon will miss Saturday’s home clash with Sydney as a sanction from the team’s leadership group.
Midfielder Martin was unavailable this weekend due to injury, having tweaked his hamstring in the 53-point loss to the Hawks.
However, the 20-year-old will remain in the reserves for an additional match once he is passed fit, the club said on Tuesday.
The pair admitted to consuming alcohol in their Launceston hotel rooms last Friday, the night before the Suns were thumped by the reigning premiers.
“We are extremely disappointed and embarrassed to be in this position,” Suns captain Gary Ablett said.
“The team has met and our view is that these unacceptable and unprofessional behaviours must end.
“We have set new standards this year, and they must be adhered too.”
Gold Coast dished out club-imposed suspensions to Danny Stanley, Harley Bennell, Trent McKenzie and Brandon Matera last month for disobeying a team drinking ban.
Those punishments related to celebratory drinks that followed the Suns’ first win of the season.
Tom Nicholls and Dixon also admitted to a tipple on that occasion, but both players were excused given they were drinking at dinner with their families.
That 64-point victory over Brisbane remains the expansion club’s only win of the year.
Ablett has not played since round two due to his shoulder injury, while a range of pundits have questioned the dual Brownlow medallist’s leadership.
A raft of injuries has not helped the Suns’ cause this season, but they have performed below expectations.
“Everyone at the club is disappointed by the actions of Charlie and Jack, the players know my thoughts, and importantly, the player leadership group have made their views really clear,” coach Rodney Eade said.
“The player leadership group are taking on challenges they haven’t had to deal with previously.
“It’s a new test for some of them, and the coaches and administration will support them in leading these difficult but necessary decisions in the correct manner.”
