Hawthorn Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has publicly addressed the recent emergence of video footage showing the arrests of his players Dylan Moore and Connor Macdonald in the United States, stating he is pleased with their conduct because it validated their honesty to the club.
Incident Details and Club Response
The vision, which only became public on Tuesday, depicts the November incident in Phoenix, Arizona, where the pair were arrested during an off-season training camp. Mitchell emphasised that the most critical aspect for the club was transparency from the players when they initially recounted the events.
'The most important thing is just tell us the truth. We want no surprises from here,' Mitchell told Agenda Setters, highlighting his expectations from Moore and Macdonald. 'To the boys' credit, every little detail that we asked for, they absolutely 100 per cent … there's no surprises in the vision.'
Arrest Circumstances and Legal Outcomes
In the footage, police on bicycles approach Moore and Macdonald after they climbed onto a scissor lift in a car park, with the cage about two metres off the ground. Upon stepping down, they were arrested, with friends pleading for leniency, including requests to 'let them go in an Uber' and avoid charges.
A friend argued, 'Officer, we are from Australia, we literally don't know the rules around here,' to which an officer replied, 'Well, you probably should have learned that before you came here.' Another friend described the players as 'just being idiots,' but police noted the potential for injury from the stunt.
Moore and Macdonald were charged with criminal trespass. A police report indicated Moore was found with a small bag containing a crystalline substance and a rolled $100 bill, though he denied ownership. Prosecutors did not pursue drug utensil possession charges.
Consequences and Mitigation Efforts
Both players accepted diversion offers, pleading guilty to trespassing. As part of the agreement, they must:
- Complete a substance abuse counselling program
- Pay a court fee of just under $300
- Abide by the law for six months
Additionally, Hawthorn fined the pair and mandated alcohol counselling. Mitchell acknowledged their youth, stating, 'They're young men, they're not going to get it right every time,' while reaffirming the club's focus on accountability and support.
