Carlton defender Lachie Cowan has been suspended for the first two matches of the 2027 AFL season and handed a $5000 suspended fine, while teammate Will Hayward has escaped sanction after the pair were hospitalised in separate incidents last Sunday.
The AFL confirmed the outcome on Friday morning in an official league statement, saying Cowan had been found guilty of conduct unbecoming “following an investigation into his use of an illicit substance last weekend and the circumstances in which the matter subsequently became public.”
According to the AFL, Carlton investigated the matter and provided information to the league, which then conducted further enquiries. The finding will also count as a notifiable adverse finding, or strike, under the AFL’s Illicit Drugs Policy, and Cowan must complete further education on illicit substances on top of the existing mandated training.
“AFL Players have a responsibility to themselves and their professional careers to uphold community expectations. They are well-educated when it comes to the harms associated with the use of illicit substances. Lachlan admitted his mistake and understands he must be accountable for his actions,” AFL chief operating officer Tom Harley said.
Cowan apologises
Cowan apologised in comments published by AFL.com.au. “I should never have put myself in such a vulnerable situation, I want to apologise for the impact my actions have had on my family and the football club,” he said.
Read more: Carlton Confirm Cowan and Hayward Hospitalised in Separate Incidents
“I also want to thank the medical professionals who helped me on the night, the football club for their ongoing support and everyone who took the time to reach out and make sure I was okay. This is a wake-up call and I am just so grateful to now be in a position to learn from this.”
Hayward free to play
Hayward will face no ban. AFL.com.au reported he required stitches for what Carlton described as a minor cut to the head after a fall, and he is free to play when the 2027 season starts.
Carlton confirmed last Sunday that both players had been admitted to hospital under separate circumstances, saying the club had been in regular contact with them “with priority for their wellbeing”. Cowan received medical treatment and was observed before being discharged.
The sanction mirrors earlier cases. AAP noted that Bailey Smith received a two-match league ban for drug use before he left the Western Bulldogs for Geelong, and the same penalty applied to Jack Ginnivan following an incident when he was at Collingwood.
New drugs policy from January
The AFL said its new illicit drugs policy will come into effect in January 2027, after education sessions with every club and player across November and December. All players will be hair tested when they return to training in January, with readings going back as far as three to six months.
Read more: Lachie Whitfield Traded to Carlton in Five-Pick Deal
Cowan, 21, played 24 games this season and finished fifth in the John Nicholls Medal after a breakout year, according to AFL.com.au. He has played 62 games since being drafted in 2022. Hayward, 27, played 21 games in his first season at Carlton after crossing from Sydney.
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