Ex-Crow ‘grieving’ for Phil Walsh when charged with drink driving
Former Adelaide Crows star Matthew Jaensch has said he was still grieving for Phil Walsh when he was done for drink driving last year.
He blew almost three times the legal limit after leaving a pub at Unley.
Mr Jaensch was pulled over for drink driving after a session at the Cremorne Hotel last August.
On Tuesday, his lawyer pleaded guilty on his behalf, telling the court he blew 0.137.
The court heard Mr Jaensch had been dining with a friend when one drink led to another and he made an error of judgement by trying to drive home.
He lost his licence for six months and had his car impounded.
The court heard Mr Jaensch deeply regretted his actions and accepted that as a role model to young people, he had set a bad example.
"The tragic death of coach Phil Walsh had a profound impact on all players no less my client," lawyer Stephen White said.
White told the court that in football terms Phil Walsh was the best thing that had ever happened to Mr Jaensch.
Mr Walsh was described as hard and brutal but it was said he understood the defendant and got the best out of him.
At the time, Mr Jaensch posted a moving tribute to Walsh on social media.
On Tuesday, he was convicted and fined.
“I think he’s very pleased the matter's now behind him," Stephen White said.
The former star defender reached a confidential settlement just weeks ago with a patron he was suing over a fight in a city hotel more than five years ago.
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