The leadership group of AFL club Port Adelaide has defended their handling of Jarman Impey's hit-and-run case, saying the defender's wellbeing is their prime concern.
Impey and teammate Aidyn Johnson have each been fined $5000 by the club and banned from selection for the opening round of next year's premiership season after being involved in hit-and-run incidents on December 3.
Port say Impey fled the scene after hitting four parked cars when driving his vehicle from a pool party at teammate Angus Monfries' house. Johnson was a passenger in his car.
Port officials didn't take Impey to a police station until about 16 hours after the incident, and his teammates didn't report the hit-and-run to police but informed club hierarchy.
The 21-year-old Impey has been charged by police with charged with driving without due care, fail to exchange particulars and failing to report the collision and will appear in court at a later date.
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"People makes mistakes," Port defender Tom Jonas, a member of the club's leadership group, told reporters on Wednesday.
"The club has obviously handed down some sanctions but at the same time Jars is a kid that has been through some tough stuff and the club has really wrapped their arms around him."
Jonas said the Impey and Johnson were "really remorseful".
"We're just trying to move on," Jonas said.
"We have looked into Jarman's wellbeing and have been very conscious of that and we have dealt with it internally.
"This club has been really strong in these situations.
"We pride ourselves on being a team and a club that makes good humans, not just good footballers, so I think we have got strong development programs and wellbeing programs to deal with that."
