Apologies all round after dwarf was set on fire at Australian Rules Football club's celebration

St Kilda's Clinton Jones has apologised for an incident that resulted in a dwarf entertainer's clothes being set on fire at a Mad Monday celebration that went badly wrong. Jones has donated $3,000 to the Kids with Cancer Foundation Australia and the victim Blake Johnston has accepted the apology. Jones said: "I sincerely apologise to Mr Johnston and have done so personally today.



"As a playing group we were engaged in end of season activities which in hindsight were quite childish. I made an error of judgement in including Mr Johnston in the activity. I am embarrassed if this has caused angst and certainly had no intention to cause any harm to anyone, including the St Kilda Football Club and its members". The Saints released a statement on Tuesday night, saying the matter had now been dealt with to the satisfaction of all parties.



"St Kilda Football Club wishes to advise that player Clinton Jones has offered his sincere apologies to entertainer Blake Johnston for an inadvertent action at a players' end of year celebration yesterday. The club has imposed a sanction of $3000 in accordance with the AFL Players Code of Conduct. Clinton has been in contact with AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou regarding the matter, which has now been dealt with in full by all involved."


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AFL chief executive Demetriou has also apologised, for getting caught in a laughing fit on television when told that a dwarf had been allegedly set on fire during the Saints' Mad Monday celebrations. Demetriou said he would personally contact Johnston to apologise for his response on Channel Seven's Talking Footy. The AFL boss claimed he thought the story was a joke, and only realised it was genuine when he realised media outlets were running with the story late on Monday.