AFL star Paddy Ryder has slammed media reports alleging he and St Kilda teammate Bradley Hill were involved in an "altercation” at a Melbourne bar on June 18, with the club also rejecting that the pair missed the Round 15 clash with Sydney due to disciplinary action over it
Reports surfaced on Monday night suggesting the link between the incident at Mordialloc and their absence from the match.
Noongar/Yamaytji man Ryder took to social media to address the reporting.
“I wasn’t involved in any altercation which has come through the media outlets tonight,” he wrote.
“Just want to make that clear. Anyone have anything different to say please come forward, show your face and name yourself. I’ll wait.
“Good night all.”
St Kilda club released a statement on Monday night.
Paddy Ryder (@PRyder4) Tweet Source: Supplied
“Reports this evening stating that Paddy Ryder and Bradley Hill were not part of the Saints’ Round 15 team due to disciplinary reasons are incorrect,” they wrote.
The club confirmed that Ryder, Hill and another teammate attended the venue in Mordialloc on Saturday – the evening after the Round 14 match against Essendon.
“Following a verbal exchange and disagreement with fellow patrons, all three left the venue without a fight ensuing.”
“As previously communicated by the Club, this incident had no impact on selection, with Ryder missing due to ongoing management and Hill for personal reasons which meant that he was unable to train on both Monday and Tuesday and not in a condition to take his place in the side against the Swans.”
'Jumping at shadows and hearsay'
Coach Brett Ratten also defended the pair.
"The boys went to a hotel, had a few beers, a few words were said, and they left. That's what happened," he told media at RSEA Park on Tuesday.
"It does make me think there's not much out there to take a story of somebody said something, people left and next minute we've got these players and we're putting them in hot water over violence.
"It is so far from the truth."
Ratten said he felt bad for the pair, that it was "disappointing that it has been inflamed".
"We're jumping at shadows and hearsay without actually getting the evidence. We need to make sure we put this out because it's not good for people," he said.
"Bradley had personal issues that he has to deal with and we need to respect that. It is all personal reasons and I'm not going to share them with anybody. That's for Brad and he's working through that.
"Paddy Ryder was managed because he is 34 years of age and he might have to get managed before the end of the year to get through with his Achilles and it was in our plans."
St Kilda copped three straight losses, slipping to 10th on the ladder. Ryder and Hill are expected to return to the field on Friday in the clash against Carlton.
Bradley Hill of St Kilda (centre) handballs the footy during the AFL Community Series Pre Season match against the Essendon Bombers. Source: AAP
