A student from the prestigious Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne has been identified as the individual who sent a vile message to Adelaide Crows star Josh Rachele on Instagram, urging him to 'end your life please'. The school, which charges annual tuition fees exceeding $60,000, compelled the pupil to issue an apology to Rachele and imposed disciplinary measures, though it remains unclear whether the student was suspended.
Background of the Incident
The incident occurred shortly after Rachele kicked the final goal in Adelaide's 98-61 victory over Richmond at the MCG on May 10. During the match, Rachele made a 'hanging up the phone' gesture that angered some Tigers supporters. The disturbing message surfaced on social media, prompting Rachele to share screenshots with the caption 'hope you're happy with yourself pal'. In a subsequent post, he urged followers to 'let's choose kindness'.
Rachele's Response
The Adelaide midfielder emphasised the importance of mental health, stating, 'Mental health matters in every space, including sport. Messages like these are never welcome. Words have meaning, words have impact.' The incident comes just weeks after the brother of Crows captain Jordan Dawson was found dead in South Australia, adding further context to the sensitivity of the situation.
School's Reaction
Brighton Grammar School headmaster Ross Featherston condemned the message, calling it 'unacceptable'. He said, 'I want to be absolutely clear that any form of ill-considered and negative online commentary, particularly regarding mental health, is unacceptable and has no place at Brighton Grammar School. We pro-actively deliver student programs that educate and support positive, respectful behaviour and clearly set expectations for our students' conduct.' The Daily Mail understands that the incident was not reported to police.
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