What a great team Sandy has joined up with?

Isnt it just great to be involved with this low class club?

AFL schoolgirl sex claim: St Kilda pledges co-operation

THOMAS HUNTER
May 26, 2010 - 11:43AM
.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon arrrives at Linen House Oval this morning. Photo: Thomas Hunter

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says his club is fully co-operating with authorities after claims that a schoolgirl became pregnant after having sex with two Saints players she initially met at a school football clinic.

"The investigation is ongoing and once it is concluded we'll be able to make a formal statement," Lyon said at a press conference at Linen House Oval at 10am today.

Lyon said the club would not name the players involved and he could not give a timeframe on when a formal statement would be released.

However, he said the club would "like it to be sooner rather than later."

Asked about how the players involved were coping, Lyon said: "No-one likes to be involved in any situation. So to the best of my knowledge they’re handling some level of stress."

Lyon said the matter came to light yesterday.

"We’ve sat down and discussed what’s been reported and brought the AFL straight into the loop and they’ve got every competent people professional people involved."

The AFL is "seeking further information" over the matter.

A News Ltd report today claimed the players will meet league officials at AFL House today to discuss the allegations, but the AFL declined to confirm the meeting.

"We are seeking further information," an AFL spokesman told The Age. "That's as much as I'll say on the matter."

The players reportedly met the girl at a school football clinic before she re-introduced herself to them after St Kilda's round one match in Sydney.

The report said the girl allegedly misrepresented her age to the players, telling them she was 18 and worked in Canberra at the Australian Institute of Sport.

It was also reported that the girl's school principal had alerted the Department of Education, the Department of Human Services and Victoria Police to the matter.

A spokesman for the Department of Education confirmed this morning the matter has been brought to the department’s attention.

The girl had asked for help with classes during the pregnancy and the school had responded with offers of counselling and study help, he said.

‘‘As soon as the school was made aware of the matter they have followed all of the correct reporting procedures, which includes notifying the department,’’ he said.

‘‘The school is offering the student every available support. The department will continue to work with the school on the matter.’’

A Department of Human Services spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter.

Lyon, flanked by two media minders, greeted the press pack in a disused squash court, a sign on the door indicating the room was used by ASADA officials for drug testing during training sessions.

He moved around behind small table which was laden with microphones and lifted a chair out of the way. He was going to face the media standing, with his arms crossed.

"I’m not in a position to ascertain whether there has been any lack of truth or honesty, " he said.

"It’s mischievous to even go down that path."

Lyon said the potential scandal, following the sacking of Saints star recruit Andrew Lovett earlier this year, would be a challenge for his team.

"We certainly don’t enjoy any distractions, we like to prepare physically and mentally for our upcoming opponent and we’ll do that.

"Obviously it will take a strong group to stay focused, but we feel we’re that. And that’s our aim. We’ve got a really important game and a tough competitor to prepare for no doubt.

"It’s unfortunate but we’ll work our way through it and at the right time make a statement."

After five minutes of questions about the scandal, Lyon's arms were still firmly crossed, and one of the minders tried to direct questions back toward football.

Lyon had had enough, too.

"I think we can go around in circles and keep repackaging questions, but I really can’t go any further than what’s been stated."

He made to leave but just as stepped from away from the sponsor’s backdrop came a question about the Fremantle game.

He took the question, lowering his arms to his side. There was a game of football against a resurgent Adelaide to prepare