I agree with you, aker39.
They didn't say they did (again, because of the loopholes and liability issues everywhere in the policy), but you would have to imagine that there was some pressure brought to bear behind the scenes after the rape charge was laid. Did I mention that the AFL HQ's reactions are generally prefaced by the adjective 'knee-jerk'?
ps. the tuckshop at Echuca Primary is run better than this supposedly professional competition. One way or another, one has to love the AFL HQ's name (the organisation, not the sport) being dragged through the mud and the distraction this has to be for the Saints.