Richmond Tigers face controversy over Mad Monday footage

The AFL is facing renewed scrutiny following footage of Richmond Tigers players during their Mad Monday celebrations at The Garfield Hotel in Gippsland. The video shows players engaging in behavior that critics, including MP Dan Repacholi, suggest appears to mock the ongoing sexual assault investigation involving the Sydney Swans.

In the footage, one player is seen feigning shock while being spanked by a teammate, and another player is filmed being struck with a belt. This comes at a sensitive time for the league, as five Sydney Swans players have been suspended for breaching club standards following an incident that is currently under police investigation.

The Garfield Hotel has released a statement defending the Richmond players, asserting that the controversy has been ‘blown out of proportion’. The hotel stated that the players were ‘extremely respectful’ and were simply unwinding after a long season in a venue they had booked out privately. The hotel also criticized media members for waiting on-site in hopes of capturing a misstep.