Carlton has confirmed Lachie Cowan and Will Hayward were hospitalised under separate circumstances on Sunday morning, with both players since discharged, after earlier reports of alleged recreational drug complications at a Melbourne AFL club.
Updated 4:15pm AEDT Sunday 11 October: The Blues named the pair in an official club statement published via AFL.com.au and carried by ABC News. The club did not mention drugs in its statement.
According to Carlton, Cowan “received medical treatment and underwent observation, before being discharged a short time later.” Will Hayward “experienced a minor cut to the head after a fall, and admitted himself to hospital where he received stitches before being discharged.”
The club said it had been in regular contact with both players, with priority on their wellbeing, and that both had received the necessary care relating to their separate circumstances.
What was reported earlier
Earlier on Sunday, 7NEWS reported that several Melbourne-based AFL players were hospitalised after complications from alleged recreational drug use following a party at a teammate’s house on Saturday night. SEN also reported the hospital admissions and later named Cowan and Hayward in connection with the developing story.
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Ambulance Victoria told AAP that advanced life-support paramedics responded to an incident in South Yarra about 5:15am Sunday and took a man in his 20s to The Alfred Hospital with upper body injuries in a stable condition. It is not established which player that ambulance call referred to.
What is not established
Carlton’s statement confirms hospital admissions and discharges for Cowan and Hayward. It does not confirm recreational drug use, a positive illicit-drugs test, charges, or an AFL integrity investigation. An allegation reported by another outlet is not the same as a club or league finding. No AFL statement confirming an investigation or sanctions had been published at the time of writing.
Cowan is a Carlton defender drafted in 2022. Hayward joined the Blues from Sydney in the Charlie Curnow trade and played his first season at Carlton in 2026. AFL players are currently on leave during the trade period, which runs until Wednesday night.
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TSB will update this article again if Carlton, the AFL or a named major outlet confirms further material detail.
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