Why headline the Lions and not St Kilda

Tacky behaviour from players and coaching staff - possibly. But all the newspapers have highlighted the Lions and yet St Kilda players were also involved. Haven't they caught on yet - the Lions are no longer a threat to the Victorian teams - well not 2006 anyway, so why the headline focussing on the Lions. Why not Saints and Lions get a Thai reprieve.

Lions get a Thai reprieve
Dan Koch October 14, 2005 The Australian.

A LOUD expletive-laden drinking session on an airliner that drew complaints from at least two couples on the flight was the reason Thai authorities refused entry to several Australian football players on Tuesday morning.

Brisbane Lions players Jonathan Brown, Tim Nottings and Justin Leppitsch and assistant coach Craig Lambert were refused entry to Thailand when their plane touched down at Bangkok International Airport.

St Kilda full forward Fraser Gerhig and former Lion and Saint Steve Lawrence were also forced to return to Australia, after the pilot of the Thai Airways flight from Sydney to Bangkok reported the men for unruly conduct aboard the aircraft.

It is understood the group were drinking heavily on the flight and at least two couples complained to the cabin crew about the noise and language coming from them.

A further complaint was made before the pilot phoned ahead about the the problem, and the players were refused entry to customs on landing.

Both the Brisbane and St Kilda clubs distanced themselves from the incident yesterday, saying the trip was "privately organised" during the players' annual leave and that they had no affiliation with either organisation.

Gerhig, Lawrence, Brown and Notting were allowed to fly back to Thailand on Wednesday night to join friends at Koh Samui island.

Thai officials saw no grounds to lay charges and the group returned to Thailand and were allowed into the country on the second trip.