'Bewildering experience': Stack granted bail, to be released from prisonAnthony Colangelo
The Age
January 8, 2021 Richmond's Sydney Stack has been granted bail and will be released from a Western Australian jail for the first time since mid-December.
Stack was arrested on December 19 for allegedly breaching the conditions of his coronavirus exemption into the state.
A Perth judge granted Stack bail on Friday and he will face court again on January 20, ending his three-week stint in prison.
Stack's lawyer, Tom Percy QC said it may take some time before the court issues a final verdict on the matter.
"I think the court was of a view that at the end of the day, when he is finally dealt with, if he is convicted, that it wasn't inevitable that he'd be imprisoned," Mr Percy told reporters.
"I understand it has been a difficult time for him but hopefully he can get over that and move ahead.
"I imagine he'd be very relieved.
"Being in custody over the Christmas period for the first time is a bewildering experience for anyone."
Stack's manager, Paul Peos told reporters that he would speak to his client first before sharing details on a possible return to Melbourne and Richmond's pre-season training, which begins on Monday.
"He [Sydney] will be very pleased," Peos said. "It's been very hard, I haven't been able to get much communication with him in the last couple of days.
"They [Richmond] have been very supportive throughout this process, they just wanted to see him out."
Being in custody over the Christmas period for the first time is a bewildering experience for anyone.
The 20-year-old was denied bail the day after he was arrested, having been let into WA on compassionate grounds on December 10. Those compassionate grounds stated he had to quarantine for 14-days, however he was allegedly found at a party in the early hours of the morning during that period. Police also alleged Stack was not living at his nominated quarantine address.
Richmond have been providing support to Stack although they have not been able to have a representative in court because of WA's border restrictions.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-s-stack-granted-bail-to-be-released-from-prison-20210108-p56sph.html