Treat footy ice use harshly: Swans boss

Drug use at local football clubs needs to be treated harshly, Sydney Swans general manager Tom Harley believes.

The Herald Sun reported on Monday suburban and bush league players, including teenagers as young as 14, are using the drug ice before running out to play.

Mr Harley, a former Geelong dual-premiership captain, says the reports are "absolutely disgusting".

"If that's happening with serious illicit drugs, particularly for kids - in fact not even particularly for kids, but for anyone - if it's condoned by clubs at community level it is just disgusting and disgraceful," Mr Harley said.

"I just hope the authorities come down with a heavy hand because there's no place for that in society, let alone sport."

Geelong police Senior-Sergeant Tony Francis, who is spearheading the town’s Ice Fight program, said football players are using the drug as it makes them feel "like Superman".

"We know coaches have given players ice and we know players are using ice as a performance-enhancer," Mr Francis said. 

"We know through police channels that it is being used as a performance-enhancing drug and we know kids in the teenage bracket are using it.

"It makes people feel like Superman. They are ready to run through brick walls but there are huge side effects with the paranoia and psychosis it can cause.

"It also affects your heart so there are real medical issues associated with it."

Source: Herald Sun