The AFL Players Association has launched a stinging critique of the Australian Football League, condemning its decision to stand down Geelong midfielder Tanner Bruhn for the entire duration of a rape case that ultimately saw all charges against him dropped this week.
Charges Withdrawn After Key Witness Admits to Lying
Tanner Bruhn, 23, had all sexual assault charges against him formally withdrawn at the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday. The development came after a key witness in the case admitted to lying. The charges, which included rape and intentional sexual touching, related to an incident alleged to have occurred in February 2023.
Both Bruhn and his co-accused had consistently maintained their innocence throughout the legal process. The fact that Bruhn had been officially charged by police in February and subsequently stood down by the AFL was not publicly known until now, due to a suppression order that prevented him from being named.
That suppression order was lifted on Tuesday, allowing the AFL, the Geelong Football Club, and the AFLPA to comment publicly on the matter for the first time.
A "Long and Flawed" Process, Says Players' Union
In a strongly-worded statement, the AFL Players Association lamented what it called a "long and flawed process" and took direct aim at the league's handling of the situation.
"Tanner was entitled to the presumption of innocence from the outset and throughout," the AFLPA stated. "It was clear to us that standing Tanner down would be premature and disproportionate."
The union highlighted a critical gap in the AFL's governance, pointing out that, unlike the NRL or Football Australia, the AFL does not have a formal no-fault stand-down policy for players charged with serious criminal offences. This has led to inconsistent outcomes, as seen in cases involving other athletes.
The AFLPA has now demanded a change to the framework, stating that the Collective Bargaining Agreement requires the AFL and the players' union to establish a proper Code of Conduct with clear processes and a sanctioning framework. "This unfortunate set of circumstances is further evidence that such a framework is critical for the game," the union asserted.
Bruhn's Career Path Forward
With the legal proceedings concluded, the AFL confirmed that the stand-down sanction, which prevented Bruhn from playing at any level of Australian football, has been lifted.
The Geelong Football Club released a statement acknowledging the finalisation of the court case and confirming that Bruhn will return to the club for the start of pre-season training. The club revealed it had provided professional welfare support to Bruhn during the legal process and would continue to do so.
To explain his absence during the 2025 season, the club had previously listed Bruhn as unavailable due to a finger injury before later removing him from the injury list altogether.
The 23-year-old, who has played 36 games for Geelong across the 2023 and 2024 seasons after 30 earlier games with GWS, will now attempt to resurrect his AFL career.
