The Australian Football League's defense of the "brittle state of football in Queensland" was "torn apart" on Tuesday when disciplinary problems "surfaced at bottom-four clubs Gold Coast and Brisbane," according to Denham & Smith of THE AUSTRALIAN. So "serious is the league treating the plight" of the Queensland clubs that AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan "was in contact with both" on Tuesday. After "showing positive signs last year, after five rounds this season the lack of progress of both clubs has AFL officials concerned." The league is "also worried about the image of the game, which has been damaged over the past 10 days," starting with Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson's clash with a member of the public and the revelation on Tuesday of an "increasing gambling problem among its players" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/6). In Sydney, Greg Denham reported the AFL Players' Association on Tuesday "denied that gambling had reached epidemic proportions but admits players are at risk." In response to former Melbourne player David Schwarz, a reformed punting addict, who said that gambling by players was "bordering on becoming an epidemic," AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh said, "That's a little bit blown out of proportion." Marsh, who oversees 800 players, said that "gambling was a problem in society but did not believe it was greater among footballers." Marsh: "We are aware that a significant number of players have a bet. We are currently dealing with some players with (gambling) issues, but the number is not significant" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/6).
