Former St Kilda ruckman Peter Everitt believes ex-coach Grant Thomas is inflating the number when it comes to his comments surrounding drug use being “rife” at the Saints in the early-to-mid 2000s.
Everitt and Thomas had a strong argument about the situation on Gold Coast radio yesterday, and Everitt came on SEN’s The Captain’s Run to explain his thoughts.
“I think (Thomas’) comments were ill-informed,” Everitt said.
“Just the extent of saying while he was there, I was a player there at the time, and saying up to 50 per cent of those players were on recreational drugs is just ludicrous.
“It’s not right, it’s incorrect and for him to come out and say he can say whatever he wants because it’s on a podcast, it’s not true.
“Guys that I haven’t spoken to for 12 to 15 years rung me saying how ill-informed (Thomas’ comments) were.
“I had left (St Kilda) by 2006 so I went to ask some of the players and they were saying he’s totally well off the mark.
“I reckon he was told by a player, but I reckon he inflated the amount. I don’t think the 50 per cent was mentioned, I think it was a lot lower but Thommo blew it up to make himself sound a lot better than it was.
“It tarnishes the reputation of all the players in that time from 2001 to 2006, our integrity and our professionalism.
“You’ve got to think about our children and we pride ourselves on making sure we’re doing absolutely everything right to play AFL footy and then you’re tarnished by a coach that’s obviously torn up because he got sacked and is ill informed.”
Listen to the full interview with Peter Everitt on SEN’s The Captain’s Run below.