Teammates Jason Gram and Stephen Milne sing the song after a St Kilda victory. Source: News Limited
SACKED St Kilda midfielder Jason Gram has urged the club to stand by Stephen Milne and allow him to play despite four rape charges.
Milne was yesterday officially charged over a 2004 incident, with the club deciding last night whether to stand down the veteran goalsneak.
Gram was sacked by St Kilda last year after several warnings involving conduct towards women. He still believes his contract should not have been terminated by St Kilda, but said yesterday Milne deserved the presumption of innocence.
"I love Milney, he's one of my best mates, and I do hope the club stand by him, just like I hoped and think they should have with me'' he told the Herald Sun.
"He's one of the greats of the St Kilda football club.''
Former Essendon and St Kilda player Andrew Lovett was sacked by St Kilda after being charged with rape. He was later acquitted.
An Instagram account belonging to Lovett had a message about double standards yesterday, but it was quickly taken down.
"Wow, I wonder if Milney will get the a--- like I did? #sacked #unfair,'' it said.
Milne is believed to be keen to play, and can point to the precedent that AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou set last year regarding Melbourne's Liam Jurrah.
Jurrah faced charges over a serious assault, of which he was later acquitted, and Demetriou said at the time he should be allowed to continue to play.
"He's not the first player who's been charged who's been allowed to play football,'' Demetriou said at the time.
Jurrah was jailed earlier this month over a separate case.
"We've even got Heath Scotland at the moment who's facing charges playing for Carlton, I think Dane Swan was another one who had charges against him and he continued to play," Demetriou said.
"I really, really value the presumption of innocence in this country.''
Collingwood defender Marley Williams recently pleaded not guilty to a charge of grievous bodily assault in Albany, and is still being allowed to play senior football for the club.
He will appear again in Albany District Court on August 29.
Milne is ranked 38th on the AFL's all-time goalkicking tally with 559 goals at an elite average of 2.09 a game, and after early form concerns this year has rebounded strongly.
He kicked five goals against West Coast on Sunday in another strong showing, but before this incident he was still considered likely to retire at year's end despite season-ending goals tallies of 57, 56, and 56 in the past three years.
The AFL Players' Association yesterday backed that right to innocence, with chief executive Matt Finnis saying it was important for Milne to be afforded that right.
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