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Former St Kilda defender Sam Fisher will spend at least three years behind bars after pleading guilty to six drug offences. As Per AFL.com.au, the 41-year-old was handed a maximum five-year and four-month prison sentence for drug charges dating back to 2022.
Fisher was arrested in 2022 for drug possession and trafficking. Police raided the former Saints star's home and found a range of drugs. He was also charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methamphetamine (996g) and cocaine (82g) from Melbourne to Western Australia.
Police found two hidden parcels containing the drugs inside a range hood delivered by Fisher to a pastry shop owned by the father of one of his associates, Julien Morvan.
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Judge Gerard Mullaly, who presided over the case, highlighted that Fisher's drug use and involvement took a rise after failing to get a stable job post-retirement from footy in 2016. The judge revealed Fisher's acknowledgment of drug usage and trafficking, which only came to a halt after being arrested. He said:
"You acknowledge now you were fiercely addicted and consuming multiple drugs in an uncontrollable fashion. You began to move in circles with others involving drugs."
"Your chaotic lifestyle came to an abrupt end when you were arrested."
Trafficking of drugs in commercial quantity carries a basic sentencing of 16 years, but the judge cited Fisher's deep remorse, significant reform, and lesser role in the trafficking as grounds for a lighter sentence.
The ex-AFL star spent 48 days in prison after his arrest, before being bailed to a rehabilitation center where he stayed for 105 days. After rehabilitation, he began mentoring others on how to battle drug addiction.
Sam Fisher will spend at least three years behind bars before he is eligible for parole.
A summary of Sam Fisher's AFL career
Sam Fisher was drafted by St Kilda as the No.55 pick in 2003. The following year, he made his debut in Round 7 but did not become a regular in the Saints defense until 2005.
Fisher won the club's Trevor Baker Award in 2008 and 2011. He was also a key member of the Saints side that finished as runners-up in the 2009 and 2010 Grand Finals.
Recurring injuries led to his retirement in 2016 after 228 games where he kicked 22 goals. After retirement, Fisher had brief stints in a lower league and then as an assistant coach, but injuries put him out of Aussie for good.
