Richmond player Nathan Broad this morning made the following statement after being suspended for the first three home-and-away games of 2018:
"I take full responsibility for what I have done.
"I sent a very private picture without this young woman’s consent. I am ashamed and embarrassed. I made a very bad drunken decision.
"Not only have I let down my family, my friends and the Richmond Football Club, but most of all I let down a young woman who I cared about. A young woman who I spent time with before the Grand Final. A young woman who I liked and respected.
"I’m deeply sorry for the heartache that I’ve caused this young woman and her family. It was never my intention to hurt her or her family. By sending the picture I lied to her and broke her trust.
"This young woman deserves to have her privacy respected. To the media... the longer this story keeps running the more suffering it will cause her and her family. I am the one who deserves to be punished but this woman does not deserve any more pain.
"To anybody thinking of sending this photo around I urge you to stop and delete it as it’s only causing more hurt to those involved. I hope what I have done will teach others that it is never acceptable to send these sorts of private images without permission."
Richmond Football Club President Peggy O'Neal made the following statement today:
"Richmond Football Club was terribly disappointed to learn that one of its players had shared a private image of a young woman, without her consent.
"As per Nathan’s statement, he has taken responsibility for his actions.
"As a Club that is committed to gender equity and respect, we find these actions to be completely unacceptable.
"The Club – in conjunction with the AFL - will not allow such behaviour to go unpunished and, as a result, Nathan will be suspended for the first three home and away games of the 2018 premiership season.
"Throughout this matter, we have cooperated with Victoria Police and the AFL. Most importantly, we have been very mindful of the young woman and her family.
"We are incredibly sorry for the distress Nathan’s actions have caused a young woman who deserved better.
"The young woman’s anonymity is of paramount importance now, and into the future, and we ask that everyone respect that.
"If something good is to come out of this, we hope that this very public matter serves as a serious warning to all about respectful and responsible behaviour.
"As a Club, we will also be looking at how we can better educate everyone to ensure this never happens again."
