Former AFL player Shaun Smith has called on the league to adopt a more stringent approach to drug use following a recent medical incident involving Carlton defender Lachie Cowan. Smith, a former Melbourne star, urged the AFL to use Cowan’s seizure—which reportedly occurred after a party at teammate Will Hayward’s residence where illegal substances were allegedly consumed—as a catalyst for immediate policy changes.
Smith highlighted ongoing concerns about drug use in the league, describing it as a "massive problem" that places players’ careers and health at risk. He pointed to his personal experience after his son, Joel Smith, was handed a four-year ban in 2024 for multiple breaches of the AFL’s anti-doping code, which followed a positive test for cocaine during the 2023 season. Joel’s suspension effectively ended his career.
The current AFL drugs framework distinguishes between its anti-doping code, introduced to regulate performance-enhancing substances, and the illicit drugs policy, established in 2005 to address recreational drug use. Under the latter, only one player—Hawthorn’s Travis Tuck—has been publicly suspended, in 2010. Smith argued that the AFL’s approach to illicit drugs has been insufficient given the risks involved.
“Does a player have to get seriously hurt or die from a drug overdose or take a drug that has been laced with something before the league acts?” Smith said. He advocated for the AFL to adopt a zero-tolerance stance similar to policies enforced in the mining industry, where drug use is strictly prohibited to maintain worker safety.
Smith also criticised what he described as the AFL’s tendency to downplay or dismiss incidents involving drug use. Referring to his son’s case, he said the league treated the situation as an isolated occurrence within Melbourne’s club, despite Smith’s view that it reflected wider systemic issues. He called for the AFL to collaborate with law enforcement when drug-related offences arise, arguing that current penalties in the sport are too lenient to serve as effective deterrents.
In response to the Carlton incident, club officials have launched an internal investigation, and the AFL is awaiting a report before deciding whether to open a formal probe.
Separately, the AFL Players Association and league authorities have previously noted that illicit drug use among players reflects broader societal trends. However, Smith rejected this rationale as inadequate, arguing that AFL athletes, as highly paid professionals earning substantial salaries, should be held to higher standards.
Smith’s comments come amid broader discussions on the need to strengthen the AFL’s drug policies. While the AFL’s illicit drugs policy was introduced nearly two decades ago, critics argue that it lacks the enforcement mechanisms and stringent penalties necessary to effectively manage substance misuse among players.
As the league continues to address these challenges, some clubs, including Carlton, are actively reinforcing their rosters, recently acquiring experienced players such as Lachie Whitfield, while also pursuing promising young talent like father-son prospect Cody Walker. The ongoing debate over drug use policies highlights the tension between maintaining player welfare and upholding the integrity of the competition.