BRAD OTTENS CAUGHT DRINK DRIVING, FACES LOSS OF LICENCE AND SANCTION BY CLUB
Ben Jensen 9 September 2006

By Ben Jensen BIG CAT BRAD OTTENS, the high price ruckman-forward recruited from Richmond following 2004, is likely to lose his licence and be fined after being caught at more than twice the legal limit for alcohol. He may also miss the club's trip to London to play Port Adelaide next month. The Geelong Football Club has confirmed the indiscretion but refuses to comment on any possible sanction against the maligned player. The TAC, a 'partner' of Geelong, is now unlikely to renew their one year partnership with the club, signed earlier this year after this latest indiscretion.

Ottens was in the eastern suburb of Doncaster, when pulled over by Police around 1:00AM last night, and registered a blood alcohol content of 0.116. Under Victorian law all drivers must be less than 0.05. It is not yet clear whether Ottens was pulled over as part of a random breath test, or due to erratic behaviour on the road, or if Ottens was alone.

Current Geelong football manager Garry Davidson lost his licence earlier in the year, registering 0.075 close to his Highton home in April 2006. Davidson's offence came just one week after the TAC deal was signed, and in his own words was a "gross error of judgment".

It is not the first time Ottens and alcohol have combined to get him into trouble with the law, albeit some years apart. On 14 May 2000 at the age of 20, Ottens was charged with being drunk in a public place following a Saturday night match against Collingwood. Then club Richmond suspended the young Tiger for one match. Ottens was picked up from the police station by then coach Danny Frawley, and was photographed vomiting during a compulsary 'recovery' run the next morning.

Season 2006 was a indifferent for Ottens. Whilst playing every game, he was nursed through the pre-season and did not play in the NAB Cup 'premiership'. He had little impact in the first half dozen rounds, the club easing him and current Captain Steven King into the season with the consequence neither looked fit enough to deserve a place in the AFL side. Ottens certainly had a better year than King, playing several good games, but perhaps somewhat unfairly still hasn't managed to shake the 'maligned' tag he carried across from the Tigers.

IF the club is fair dinkum they'll fine Ottens the maximum $5,000 and suspend him from at least one match next season. They'll also make him travel by train whenever he travels to Melbourne or bus when getting to training from Torquay. Somehow we don't see that happening, and Ottens will instead be fined an 'undisclosed amount'.

The Club released the following statement this afternoon:

Geelong forward Brad Ottens was stopped for a breath test in Doncaster at approximately 1:00am today and found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.116.

"We are extremely disappointed that Brad was found to be driving while over the legal limit and relieved that nobody was injured, as we all know the potential risks associated with drink driving," Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said.

"Brad's actions are unacceptable by any measure. Ultimately every individual is responsible for their actions and the consequences of those actions. Our players understand that our members, supporters and society hold them to a high standard. As a club we will
continue to educate our players and staff to their need to meet these standards."

Ottens faces the loss of his licence for 11 months and a $450 fine. The club will seek further details of this incident and its consequences and expects to take disciplinary action, however the form of sanction under the AFL's player code of conduct has yet to be determined.