I think when you're an elite sportsman who gets paid to be an elite sportsman, it is more important to make sure you're doing your best to be an elite sportsman (i.e. not putting cr*p into your body, especially before a big game) than it is if you're a park footballer who plays for enjoyment.

If I decided to go out on the lash before a game, I've let myself down, my team down, and if they want to drop me that's their choice. But at that level players are harder to get, and I'm not getting paid so they might as well keep me around. At the elite, you can't keep a bad culture like that in your side. Otherwise you won't be elite for long.

You class caffeine as cr@p? Why?

Why have you brought "go out on the lash before a game" into things?

All the article says is that there is a culture of using sleeping pills to nod off at night after a game because of the use of energy drinks before and during a game!

Long term I can imagine the practice will do some harm one way or another but in no way does it seem illegal and no way does it compare to other illegal substance use.

QLD did this and still won the series.

Kiwis just forgot to win.

It's not illegal or banned by wada. What's the story?