St Kilda has denied reports star players Brad Hill and Paddy Ryder were disciplined for an altercation in a Mordialloc pub last weekend.
Ryder was managed by the club in Round 15 as the 34-year-old continues to deal with the strain of football, while Hill was left out for personal reasons that left him unable to train earlier in the week.
The Age’s Sam McClure reports Hill was involved in the altercation but that it remains to be seen whether Ryder was also involved.
Ryder took to Twitter on Monday night to deny original reports which had linked him to the incident.
I wasn’t involved in any altercation which has come through the media outlets tonight. Just want to make that clear. Anyone have anything different to say please come forward, show your face and name yourself. I’ll wait. Good night all
— Paddy Ryder (@PRyder4) June 27, 2022
The Saints released a statement later on Monday night further dispelling the claims.
Reports this evening stating that Paddy Ryder and Bradley Hill were not part of the Saints’ Round 15 team due to disciplinary reasons are incorrect. Read the full statement.
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) June 27, 2022
“Reports this evening stating that Paddy Ryder and Bradley Hill were not part of the Saints’ Round 15 team due to disciplinary reasons are incorrect,” the statement read.
“Both Ryder and Hill, accompanied by another teammate, attended a venue in Mordialloc on the Saturday after our Round 14 match against Essendon on the Friday night.
“Following a verbal exchange and disagreement with fellow patrons, all three left the venue without a fight ensuing.”
McClure reported the third player was Ben Long, who played on the weekend against Sydney.
Instead of a physical brawl, St Kilda confirmed to The Age that there was a verbal altercation.
It’s understood when security intervened, Hill, Ryder and Long all left immediately.
The club was on an eight-day break following their surprise loss to Essendon and therefore there was no issue with them consuming alcohol.
Ryder will be available for selection, while the Saints were unable to confirm to The Age whether Hill would attend training.