Swans Statement Regarding Gloucester Park Incident

The Swan Districts Football Club has completed a review of the incident involving its players at Gloucester Park on Friday 15 March 2019. An investigation committee was established to collect witness statements from people in the harness racing industry and also club players.

The focus of the committee in the days following the events was to collect as much information surrounding the event as possible. It was important that any decisions or announcements made by the club was informed by facts.

Both Rhys Palmer and Mitchell Bain had a brief play wrestle on the night near the finishing line of the track. Resulting from the altercation, Rhys threw the first shoe which inadvertently landed on the track near the outer perimeter fence. Mitchell threw the second shoe which also inadvertently landed on the track when the horses were approaching the winning post with a lap to go.

The actions of Rhys Palmer and Mitchell Bain reflected poor judgement and was careless and is not condoned by the Swan Districts Football Club. However, the club accepts that neither Rhys or Mitchell intentionally threw the shoe at the harness race and at that point in time they were both oblivious to the race.

Both players do not condone any actions that would place the safety of any person or animal at risk. They were both devastated about what transpired.

The club was advised about what had transpired on the Friday night by several of its players shortly after the incident.

Following the incident, the media incorrectly implied that Rhys Palmer deliberately threw the shoe into the harness race. Unfortunately, this resulted in a public backlash via social media directed personally towards Rhys. It was at times offensive and inappropriate.

During this very difficult time for Rhys, he at no time apportioned blame to anyone else. He personally bore the brunt of the backlash.

Mitchell has wanted to clear the air about his role in the incident. However, on Saturday the club directed him, along with all players not to respond to any media requests or social media posts until the club completed its investigated of the incident. As a result of the unfounded and unrelenting social media personal attacks, Rhys requested, and was permitted to provide a message apologising to the harness racing community which included “I would like to sincerely apologise to the owners, trainers and especially the drivers involved as to the possible worst case scenario that could have eventuated.”

There was a strong verbal and at times physically threatening response from some harness racing supporters attending the event toward Mitchell. It was noted that the club’s players at the venue responded in a measured and controlled manner on the night and avoided any conflict in a very heated atmosphere including diffusing the situation by moving the players out of the venue.

Notwithstanding the careless nature of the incident, there was no evidence of any other wrongdoing with the Swan Districts Football Club players on the night. It was noted that all of the club’s players acted with integrity during the night of the event, in the days following and through the club’s investigation.

The club believes both players have learnt a valuable lesson about expectations, responsibilities and the consequences of careless behaviour and will not provide any further public comment on this matter.