Today, Carlton president Stephen Kernahan announced that the three Carlton players involved in an ‘alcohol-fuelled’ unofficial Christmas celebration incident have received one-month training bans.

During Carlton’s Christmas and New Year’s break, Eddie Betts, Ryan Houlihan and Andrew Walker were out celebrating and were involved in some alcohol fuelled incidents. Betts was arrested in the city for public drunkenness while Houlihan and Walker were found wrestling in Crown’s Promenade Hotel foyer, and were kicked out of the complex. In addition these players were involved in forcing Blues rookie Levi Casboult to match drinks with a senior team mate.

All three players have already been fined $5,000 each for their behaviour, but have now been further punished by the Carlton Football Club. Today the Carlton player returned from their break and President Stephen Kernahan announced the following:

“[Betts, Houlihan and Walker] will be suspended from the club immediately for a period of one month, and during this time they will complete all training away from the rest of the player group, and with the Northern Bullants“.

Kernahan also added that the players would also become unavailable for selection for the NAB Cup in 2010. He said that the board and the club are aware that their unavailability for the pre-season competition would impact their preparation for the home and away season; however their behaviour was “completely unacceptable”.