MEDIA RELEASE

MARIANNE MAVRIKIOS

(SOCIAL-MEDIA OFFICER)

THE THOMASTOWN TRUGO CLUB

14 LESLIE STREET, 

THOMASTOWN, 

VIC, 3074

JORDAN ZACHARY FINED AND DROPPED FROM HONOR BOARD

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 17th August 2014

Thomastown Trugo’s Jordan Zachary has been handed an $8,500 fine by the

club and removed from the honors board after being accused of an allegation that

the member bared himself to a young mother of two whilst intoxicated at a midday

Trugo picnic on Sunday.

It is understood that the woman, a Thomastown Trugo supporter, went with

Zachary and another Thomastown member to Zachary’s car so he could give her

a signed mallet for one of her youngsters. The alleged incident is said to have

occurred as the woman approached the open car door while Zachary handed

over the mallet.

The other Thomastown member was understood to have said he was on the

other side of the car and did not witness the alleged moment nor notice any

peculiar reaction from the woman. Zachary was also seen out intoxicated at

4.00am the morning of the incident.

Zachary’s manager Timothy Michaels last night released an apologetic statement

affirming the Thomaston member had some personal issues to work through and

asked of the public not to vilify his client and allow the investigation to determine

the true facts of the matter.

The Trugo Club will await the outcome of the police investigation before taking

any further action, but a naturally disappointed Thomastown Club President

George Augoustakis made it clear there would likely be serious consequences for

Zachary.

''Can I just point out that this club will be taking action, if the reports are true,'' 

Augoustakis said.

''We have to be patient and wait for the official police investigation to be

completed before the appropriate action is taken. This is more than just a Trugo

problem for this club, this is a young mans future. This is a matter the board has

taken very seriously, we've acted decisively, and by me sitting here today with

the chief executive Samuel Lorry shows how seriously the club is taking this

allegation.”

Trugo operations manager Anton Hermez said the tournament would have to wait

until the outcome of the police investigation before taking any further action. ''The

Thomastown Trugo Club doesn't tolerate inappropriate or indecent behaviour

towards women, it is clear that the Trugo player has a problem and needs urgent

attention- we are extremely concerned and take this matter very seriously'' 

Augoustakis said.

“We are going to help him with this case by enrolling him in some welfare courses

with the inclusion of certain therapy sessions, we’ve also agreed with Zachary

that if there are any more alcohol-related incidents, then it will result in him being

terminated by the Thomastown Trugo Club.”

“We want to support him, but we also want to say that we can’t accept this, so

that’s the stance we’ve taken.” Augoustakis also said the club liaised with

psychologists and the Trugo board in coming up with the decision, and defended

the leniency of the outcome by saying the club and the honors board did not want

to ostracise the two-time club champion by imposing a suspension.

“One of the reasons we went down this path is because we want to address the

actual issue to resolve Zachary’s personal problems instead of punishing what

could potentially be severely harmful to himself and others, with the result of likely

repeated offences.“

In effect, the club has an incentive for Zachary in helping him to deal with the

issue that has caused him problems. However if it happens again, his

membership at Thomastown will be terminated and his contract ceased without

payment.

Zachary has now committed to abstaining from alcohol for the rest of the year

with a promise to attend all therapeutic sessions.

The club acknowledged the move as an important step in curbing the problem.

Zachary, to his credit, has said he wants help and that he needs to get past this,

not only for his potential career with Thomastown, but simply because it’s a

problem for him outside of the club.

“We want to take steps to fix that,” said Augoustakis and admitted that the club

would rather have spent the time elsewhere, such as working with their young

talent before the commencement of the season- “ This is the last thing we want to

be doing at this stage of the tournament.”

“From the young blokes point of view it’s not a good situation to be in, but we just

feel we’ve got a duty of care to Zachary and have to help.”

In the meantime, Zachary has been banned from the club's annual award

function this coming weekend, leaving him distraught, as this will be his first time

not attending the significant event.

Zachary’s upcoming contract situation still remains unclear. If the Police decide

Zachary was guilty of the alleged behaviour, and see no improvement within the

next few months from the Trugo player, then the board could choose to suspend

or deregister him. Deregistering him would leave the Thomastown club no choice

but to terminate his membership.

For more information contact Marianne Mavrikios on (03) 9324 7853 or

mezz12@gmail.com.