And just some comments around drug use (from a psychology graduate and community worker):
The Herald article (link above) indicates Walker took cocaine with his friends on the Thursday/Friday before the Round 24 game v Bunnies. It may have still registered in his system during a post-game test, but the "qualities" that attract people to taking cocaine wear off quite quickly - one-four hours after taking it. So he wouldn't have been "off his face" during the game or anything.
Also, the fact he has been caught taking cocaine on one occasion during the season does not mean he is an addict to this stuff, or that he has to "kick it". If anything, from the SMH article it seems like Walker's trouble is more with "saying no" to anything presented/suggested to him by his own (non-footy) friends. Those environmental factors and reactions to me would seem to be more of an issue in this case than an addictive personality.
Cocaine is not physiologically addictive, though if you use regularly your tolerance level will increase and you will need to take more each time to achieve the same buzz. It has quite low negative side effects relative to other illegal drugs, and believe me lots of 30 year olds with well-paying jobs and families and kids take the stuff occasionally with no life consequences.
I'm not trying to promote drug use or excuse Walker. league has rules, he knowing broke a rule, end of story. But I just don't like seeing hysterical reactions like labelling him as an "addict" and looking for him under the influence in the video of the game three days later, when it's just not true for one instance of taking a relatively soft (but illegal) drug.
Commedian Robin Williams probably sums it up best when he says: "Cocaine is god's way of telling you that you're earning too much money." Hello full-time professional football...
