Footy vandals on front foot

By Bridget Brady
PEARCEDALE footballers will be disciplined and educated after an end of season trip resulted in damaged motel rooms at Warrnambool.
Pearcedale Football Club coach Jason Chapple said he would not turn his back on players and the club would take a pro-active approach to address the incident.
“We’ve heard what the police have said and we’re obviously disappointed that our name has been tarnished and we will do everything in our power to win back the locals, sponsors and parents of players,” Mr Chapple said.
Police are investigating the incident after two rooms at a Warrnambool motor inn were “completely ruined” and two others damaged in the early hours of Saturday morning.
A group of men caused damage including removing stuffing from cushions and throwing televisions and microwaves off a balcony, police said.
Two arrests were made and subsequent charges laid, including a 23-year-old Seaford man for two drug offences and a 24-year-old Pearcedale man for being drunk in a public place.
The Pearcedale man was also charged with stating a false name and address and police said they also had reports of trouble from the group at various locations in the town.
Mr Chapple said the club was on the front foot.
“We’re not condoning what happened, but we also don’t know what happened as yet. We’re doing the best we can to make sure that if it was us, that it’s a once-off.”
He said there would be some sort of behaviour education session and players would be sanctioned where necessary.
“Education is key. We want to do everything we can to make it up to the people in the area and for the league.”