Essendon's Brendon Goddard and North Melbourne's Nick Dal Santo say AFL players would be open to revamping the sport's controversial illicit-drug policy amid concerns players are exploiting the three-strike system.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan this week signalled a review of both the illicit drugs and ASADA policy.
The league faces another anti-doping scandal after Collingwood pair Lachie Keeffe and Josh Thomas had tested positive for banned steroid clenbuterol. Fremantle player Ryan Crowley is also provisionally suspended as he awaits an AFL anti-doping tribunal hearing after testing positive to a banned substance.
Goddard told the Footy Show on Wednesday that players did not deserve multiple chances if they took illicit drugs.
"I think the players will be open to some change .. the AFL has made steps to show that they are leading the sporting community and team sport mentality with drug testing and soforth but I think from a personal level there are some grey areas that I'd like to clean up," he said.
"We've got responsibilities, as players we know that. I think as role models we don't deserve a second chance. If they [players] want to put themselves at risk, they put the footy club at risk, they put their teammates at risk. They're being quite selfish in doing that so I think some changes are needed."
However, Goddard said recent high-profile cases of former footballers such as Ben Cousins battling drug addiction show that help must also be provided to players, who often believe that they are "bullet-proof".
"There are some guys who do have issues. We have seen past players, and Ben Cousins is the obvious one, so they are guys who may have some issues so they need some help," he said.
Dal Santo said he wanted to see a tightening of the system so it could not be exploited.
"I don't think the program was ever set up or agreed to by the players to exploit the system and I feel we're getting to the point where particular players, I don't know who they are or how often, (are doing it)," Dal Santo said.
"Even being able to self-diagnose through your club doctor on the Monday and say: 'I did whatever on the weekend', that's not what the system is there for and the players never agreed to those sort of things."
