Stephen Milne Biography

Stephen Milne has been fined $15,000 but avoided a conviction for indecently assaulting a woman 10 years ago.

Milne admitted to indecently assaulting a 19-year-old woman at a teammate's house following a drunken night out in 2004.

Victorian County Court Judge Michael Bourke described the incident as a non-violent but physical sexual act.

He said both the victim and Milne had suffered due to the decade-long delay in bringing the matter to court, and described Milne as a different and far more mature man than at the time of his crime.

"The evidence is highly persuasive that this offending was out of character," Judge Bourke said.

"You have been the subject of public scrutiny and public abuse. Your family has witnessed and been distressed by this."

Milne, 34, had been due to face trial charged with three counts of rape later this month.

But he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of indecent assault on November 6 after the Office of Public Prosecutions withdrew the rape allegations.

Milne was supported in court by his wife Melissa and his father and brother.

He has six months to pay the fine.

Stephen Milne could escape with a fine for indecently assaulting a woman after rape charges against him were dropped.

Milne, 34, pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting the 19-year-old at a teammate's house following a drunken night out in 2004.

He had been due to face trial charged with three counts of rape later this month.

But he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge on Thursday after the Office of Public Prosecution withdrew the rape allegations.

Ex-Victorian detective Scott Gladman who investigated rape allegations against Stephen Milne in 2004 denies having a vendetta against the former St Kilda player.

A friend of the alleged rape victim of Stephen Milnes testifies that she heard her friend strongly resisting Milne during the encounter.

"I knew that there was a problem ... I heard her say multiple times 'No'," the woman testified.

"She was quite hysterical. She said she felt used."

A Melbourne court has been told that Stephen Milne repeatedly tried to have sex with a woman despite her objections.

Prosecutor David Cordy told a committal hearing that Milne started kissing and fondling the woman in a bedroom.

The woman thought it was Montagna at the time, Mr Cordy told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Mr Cordy said she repeatedly pushed Milne away and told him no, but he persisted.

Stephen Milne will continue his football career in 2014 with Bendigo League club, the Strathfieldsaye Storm.

"To have a player of Stephen's calibre, straight out of the AFL, is not only huge for our club but for the competition as a whole," Storm football operations manager Bruce Duncan said.

"We are expecting an influx of spectators to witness his high level of skills.

"Stephen has been a keen visitor to club in seasons past. He's been involved in running kids clinics and has been to our finals games in the previous two years.

"Our young squad of players and coaching staff can't wait to be involved with a player of Stephen's ilk."

Adam Schneider will play his 200th game against Fremantle, a game which will coincide with teammate Stephen Milne's final game.

"Milney is the greatest forward pocket I have ever played with or who you will ever see in the game," Schneider said.

Schneider said he hopes to play on next year after the frustration of dealing with injuries this year and in 2012.

"It has been annoying, the last two years have been pretty frustrating," he said.

"The most frustrating thing is watching the way the team's gone - we haven't been quite able to get that success on the field and I haven't been able to help."

Power coach Ken Hinkley says his players will not be sledging Stephen Milne about rape charges when Port Adelaide take on the Saints.

"We've got a respectful group, I reckon, and they'll let due process take care of whatever else has to happen for him – we're out there to play football," Hinkley said.

"Stephen Milne's a part of their team and we'll treat him as a footballer. We want to beat them in football."

Stephen Milne kicks two goals in his return match from a club-imposed suspension but St Kilda coach Scott Watters says thee 33-year old's future at the club is still under question.

"My instruction to Milney three or four, five weeks ago was `you need to play the season out well, you need to make sure your form's up'," Watters told Channel Nine's The Footy Show.

"Then we'll make a joint decision at the end of the year."

Scott Watters defends Stephen Milne's inclusion to play against Carlton after being left out of the side for three weeks following allegations of rape.

"This is his livelihood and we're incredibly, and have tried to be, as sensitive as possible to what's been a very complex situation," Watters said.

"We think the club's shown a lot of respect to all parties and will continue to do so. We think Stephen's done the same. But ultimately he has a right to actually pursue his profession. He gets the chance to do that this weekend."

Etihad Stadium management has urged fans to 'barrack responsibly' in Milne's return game from a club-imposed suspension following rape charges against him.

"We are a family friendly venue, the game draws thousands of families every week. We'd request that supporters barrack responsibly and in terms of the Milne matter show some restraint," stadium spokesman Bill Lane said.

"As for security, there will be a strong presence but as for specific arrangements, it's not an area that we discuss or detail publicly."

Stephen Milne returns to the Saints side to face Carlton four weeks after being suspended indefinitely after being charged with four counts of rape.

St Kilda coach Scott Watters says Stephen Milne will be available for selection next week.

"He'll be available for selection next week. Until we select a side next week there's nothing finalised," Scott Watters said.

"We've tried to maintain a very respectful position to all parties that are involved, and as we've said a number of times it's a unique set of circumstances."

St Kilda pull Nick Riewoldt from a scheduled interview with Fox Footy's On The Couch program based on fears he would be questioned regarding teammate Stephen Milne's rape case.

"Apologies to those Saints fans after we pre-promoted Nick Riewoldt. He has been unable to attend," Gerard Healy, host of the program, said at the beginning of the show.

"He wasn't unable to attend; St Kilda withdrew his commission, fearful that he may say something on the sensitive Stephen Milne subject."

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou says Stephen Milne, suspended by the Saints following alleged rape charges, has a right to play when he is ready.

"It would be unjust if he's right to play and it's deemed by the St Kilda Football Club that he is ready to play, that he be deprived of that opportunity to resume his career," Demetriou said.

"He is innocent until proven guilty, but that will be monitored."

St Kilda president Greg Westaway says the decision to suspend Stephen Milne following rape charges against the small forward was the right one.

"The club is firmly of the view that a person is innocent until proven guilty and given this presumption of innocence, there was no question of standing Stephen Milne down," Westaway said.

"However, we were concerned about the sensitivity surrounding everyone affected by this matter as well as the welfare of Stephen and his family.

"Therefore, we felt a period of absence was in the best interests of all concerned and both Stephen and his teammates are supportive of the club's position at this very difficult time."

St Kilda coach Scott Watters says he expects Stephen Milne to be back in the side within a few weeks.

"He needs to look after his family right at this point. Footy is secondary but I know how resilient he is and at the right time, when we think he's right to go, we'll bring him back," Watters said.

"It's a guesstimate, three to four weeks, and we'll assess it week by week."

St Kilda coach Scott Watters says he believes suspended forward Stephen Milne, who faces rape charges, will return to the side eventually.

"He's eligible to play. There's always a presumption of innocence and the club is standing behind that," the coach said.

"With consultation with our club psychologist and obviously my relationship with him, and a lot of discussions with Stephen, we'll work out the right time to play."

Nick Dal Santo says teams teammate Stephen Milne is satisfied with St Kilda's decision to suspend him indefinitely as he faces rape charges.

"We went to the club today, 18 of the senior boys which included Milney (and met) three board directors and the senior coach again," Dal Santo said.

"We went through it and we walked away understanding exactly what it's about. Milney was happy with the decision and where it's heading and so were we."

St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt backs Stephen Milne's desire to play this weekend despite the goalsneak facing four charges of rape laid against him.

"'Milney' is the absolute heart and soul of the football club and everyone knows how passionate he is and what the football club in particular means to him," Riewoldt said.

"I think given how unique these circumstances are … it's really up to him.

"If he feels like he can contribute and he can put it to the side and go out for two hours, which he's stated unequivocally that he's going to be able to do and he wants to do, then I think that's where it should stay."

Sacked Saint Jason Gram has urged St Kilda to stand by Stephen Milne and allow him to play against Melbourne despite rape charges.

"I love Milney, he's one of my best mates, and I do hope the club stand by him, just like I hoped and think they should have with me'' Gram told the Herald Sun.

"He's one of the greats of the St Kilda football club.''

Stephen Milne has been stood down indefinitely as a St Kilda player.

A statement by St Kilda read, "The board acknowledges this is a most serious matter, one that is distressing to all the parties involved.

"It also recognises that the extended time-frame of the matter and the complexities of the issues involved, make it without precedent.

"In considering the matter the board has been mindful of the rights and obligations of everyone impacted.

"Based on this the board has resolved that in the best interests of all parties concerned, and the duty of care the club has to Stephen and his family, Stephen will remain a listed player but will take a leave of absence from playing for an indefinite period.

"The St Kilda Football Club respects that this matter is now before the courts. As a consequence we won't be making any further comment at this time."

The AFL Players' association expresses their concern over Stephen Milne being stood down indefinitely by the Saints following rape charges being laid against the small forward.

"We understand the seriousness of the charges, and sensitivity to all parties concerned, but remind the industry and wider community that in our society all members have the right to the presumption of innocence, which is integral to our system of justice," AFLPA CEO Matt Finnis said.

"The St Kilda board's position today in our view, sets a dangerous precedent on how our industry deals with a matter that is yet to be dealt with by the court."

Stephen Milne is charged with four counts of rape based on an alleged attack on a woman in 2004.

The charges follow a review of the case ordered by Victoria Police deputy commissioner Graham Ashton that was prompted by an Office of Police Integrity recommendation last year to ensure all relevant evidence had been properly recorded and retained.

The alleged victim, then a student, 19, claimed to police she was raped in a darkened bedroom of Milne's teammate Leigh Montagna's Highett home after celebrations for St Kilda's family day in 2004.

The OPI probe into the case began in 2010 after the detectives who prepared the brief went public with their disappointment that their superior officers, acting on the DPP advice, decided not to charge Milne over the rape allegation.

They claimed other police tried to derail the Milne investigation and tried to influence them not to prosecute him.

Stephen Milne will meet with AFL football operations boss Mark Evans to discuss the importance of stamping out abuse from fans.

"I'm the first to admit I love a sledge and getting the boys up and try to get the opposition off their game, but there's places you don't go and it should be the same for supporters as well," Milne said.

Footy Show host Garry Lyon apologises to Stephen Milne for joking about the abuse he cops from fans.

"We need to apologise to Stephen Milne because we had a lady in here that we all would have seen leaning over a fence abusing him at a game," Lyon said.

"That was a grave mistake on our behalf ... Stephen (says) he was hurt by what had happened there and he is the subject of constant abuse

"So we apologise for that, that was wrong."

Stephen Milne says AFL should ban all forms of abuse from fans, not just racial abuse.

"It's all about the racism at the moment, but I [also] cop a few words that aren't good for anyone," Milne said.

"I've got a couple of kids and they go to the footy, and family and parents have to cop the abuse. So the sooner we can stamp it out, the better."

After returning to the side, Stephen Milne expresses remorse over his actions which led to his suspension.

"It was a stupid thing last week to do, a bit of a brain fade," Mile said.

"Very disappointed I couldn't go over there and represent the footy club in such a big game on Anzac Day.

"I get along really well with Scotty and he's put the faith back in me so I've got to repay the footy club tomorrow night with a solid performance."

Stephen Milne accepts a one-match ban for misconduct after being seen gouging and making unnecessary contact to Essendon defender Courtenay Dempsey's face.

Scott Watters labels Stephen Milne's actions as 'stupid' after the forward was banned for one match for appearing to gouge Bomber Courtney Dempsey's face.

"It was just stupid. I don't think there was any major malice in it. It was just something that didn't need to happen," Watters said.

"It was not the sort of act that I expect from our leaders, Milney knows that, he's disappointed that he can't be there where he needs to be, which is actually playing alongside a number of our younger players."

Lenny Hayes has agreed to a new one-year deal with the Saints while three other big names have also committed to the club including Leigh Montagna, Stephen Milne and Sam Gilbert.

"Without strong leadership this group wont progress," Saints coach Scott Watters said.

"Lenny, Stephen, Sammy and Joey are loyal one-club players who we value extremely highly. Their leadership is integral moving forward."

St Kilda coach Scott Watters says Stephen Milne needs to take responsibility for his homophobic slur towards Harry O'Brien.

"The players are under enormous pressures, but you do still have a choice on what you say and how you react," Watters said.

"So Stephen's choice of vocab was poor. You need to be disciplined, you need to be controlled, and it's not about laying blame at the doorstep of someone else."

St Kilda's Sam Fisher says teammate Stephen Milne is remorseful for his homophobic comment directed at Harry O'Brien.

"Milney's a very resilient character and he's been through a lot throughout his career so there's no doubt he's very sorry for what he said," Fisher said.

"In this day and age, it's unacceptable and the club's made a strong stance on what was said but 'Milney' is a very strong character and he'll obviously be sorry for what he said but he'll bounce back and be a better person and he'll play some good footy for us for the rest of the year I'm sure."

The AFL opens an investigation into an exchange between St Kilda's Stephen Milne and Collingwood's Harry O'Brien during their round 19 clash.

The AFL's integrity officer, Brett Clothier, has interviewed players and officials this week following a report of the incident by field umpire Dean Margetts.

St Kilda fine small forward Stephen Milne $3000 for his homophobic remark against Collingwood's Harry O'Brien.

"It has been confirmed that Milne made an inappropriate homophobic comment towards O'Brien during the course of play in last weekend's AFL round 19 match at the MCG which has breached the AFL Players' Code of Conduct and the AFL's Policy on Discrimination and Vilification," the Saints said.

"As a consequence of this breach, Milne will be sanctioned $3000 by the St Kilda FC and be required to undertake an AFL Education Program to address the inappropriate nature of his comments."

Saints coach Scott Watters admits he once hated Stephen Milne for the headaches he caused as an opponent but now sees him as an invaluable member of the team.

"Literally within the first week of being here, it was really evident the impact he has on the group," Watters said.

"I've said this a number of times now but his training impact, spiritually what he offers the group … AFL seasons are a really tough grind, and to have players like 'Milney' around make the journey much more enjoyable.

"Saints fans love him, his coaches have loved him, I've probably joined in that bracket, his teammates love playing with him."

On the eve of his 250th game, Stephen Milne says he owes his career to Adam Ramanauskas.

"I got knocked back and wasn't getting any letters from any AFL clubs after a couple of OK years at the Stingrays and then I did a pre-season at Frankston," Milne said.

"I was lucky enough to be mates with Adam Ramanauskas and I got the invite to Essendon. I wouldn't be here if I didn't get that invite down."

The Office of Police Integrity criticises the 2004 investigation into rape allegations surrounding Stephen Milne, but police say the case will not be re-opened.

"I think the thing to get very clear is that this is a police investigation into police procedure, it's not an investigation into St Kilda football club or any players, and that distinction really needs to be made," St Kilda coach Scott Watters told SEN radio.

"Really at this stage due to the rawness of it I probably won't say too much more."

Forward Stephen Milne became just the fourth Saint to kick 500 career goals on Saturday night against Melbourne.

"[The milestone's] probably something I'll look back on after my career. I suppose it hasn't really sunk in," Milne said.

"I just go week by week and try and do my thing and kick a couple of goals and lay a few tackles and do my part for the team and play my role."

St Kilda goal sneak Stephen Milne has taken new small forwards Ahmed Saad and Terry Milera under his wing.

"I try and pass on what I've learned over the past 10 or 11 years," Milne said.

"It's only been three months so it's only been short-term at the moment but Saady and I have become pretty close over the last couple of months and hopefully that can continue and I can pass on my wealth of experience."

Stephen Milne says goal video reviews used in the NAB Cup should be used during the season proper, particularly after Geelong forward Tom Hawkins was wrongly awarded a goal in the 2009 Grand Final against the Saints.

"Over the last few years, it (an incorrect scoring decision) has probably wrecked a couple of games ... including a Grand Final a couple of years ago," Milne said.

"If it doesn't take longer than 20-30 seconds, why wouldn't you use it? The technology is there and in two games of the NAB Cup, it's worked already. It would be good for the AFL to bring it in straight away."

Ireland have identified Australian goalsneak Stephen Milne as a the danger man in the opening International Rules Series clash.

"He's one of those players who's dangerous around goal and he gets a lot of breaking ball (on the counter-attack)," Ireland's Colm Begley said.

"It's very hard for them to use the round ball and to pinpoint the kicking for the marks. "Anyone with fast hands around the goal will be someone we have to watch out for."

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says Stephen Milne is unfazed by the abuse he received from Collingwood fans and the subsequent media glare.

"He's fine. As a comment, there is a lot of a media bubble forming around what happened last week and as a representative of the St Kilda football club I just talk about what Stephen Milne means to us," Lyon said.

"He is a wonderful family man and we value him incredibly highly. I think it says more about the people who are leveling those sort of chants than it does about Stephen."

Stephen Milne's lawyer, George Defteros, says they may take action against Collingwood and their supporters after Milne was taunted about past allegations of rape against him during a match.

"It's certainly a breach of his human rights. If it continues, I think he'd have to look at it, " Defteros said.

"They (Collingwood supporters) do it because they think it's going to put him off his game - but it's ignorant, prejudiced and totally ill-advised about the facts."

Stephen Milne is voted the most hated player for the second year running in the Herald Sun Channel 7 News Footy Fans Survey.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says another week of off-field controversy with the resurfacing of rape accusations against forward Stephen Milne's will only serve to galvanise the club.

"I speak to all my players. All those conversations are private. My support and care is for all the playing group," Lyon said.

"We've got 48 on the list and clearly there are a couple of players under the microscope here but they have our full support and we've encouraged them to continue to focus on their football."

The Herald Sun reports that rape charges against Saints star Stephen Milne were dropped after a detective investigating the case received threats from other police.

"There is a prima facie case still sitting there in that box at that office that should be answered by a jury," the detective said.

"Stephen Milne is an innocent person until he's proven guilty in a court of law. However, we never got that far, because the carriage of justice, or the natural flow of justice, was interrupted."

Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says Saints small forward Stephen Milne still has major flaws in his game.

"Milney was always, and still is, the first to come to a party when things are going fantastic," Thomas said.

"He'll be there with bells on and he'll have the best time, but when the party turns ugly sometimes you've got to go looking for him.

"I just think Milney has low self-esteem and that's built up over the last few years. He has a very brash and very confident persona around people he knows, but he's got the nickname 'yapper' and a lot of that is a facade to build his confidence up."

Milne has kicked 403 goals to become the Saints' fifth-highest goalscorer leading current coach Ross Lyon to label him as one of the best small forwards in the game.

"It's the way he's getting his goals, he's really coming up at the ball," Lyon said.

"It's not just a goal at any cost, it's a goal within the team parameters - leading, crumbing and pressuring. He's a real team player and a real leader of the forward line, he's stood up under real pressure."

St Kilda goalsneak Stephen Milne says he has not spoken directly to the Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse since their much-publicised spat.

"I haven't tried to reach him. I got a written apology via email and that was about it. I forgive Mick for writing an apology, but that's in Mick's court now. He chose to write a letter and not ring," Milne said.

"It is out of my court. It has been dealt with, the AFL dealt with it, St Kilda and Collingwood dealt with it, so as far as I'm concerned we've moved on."

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says Stephen Milne, who will play in his 200th game against Fremantle, deserves to be mentioned alongside the greats that have played as small forwards.

"It is a special effort to play 200 games. For a small forward it is really tough, you try and identify the great ones. He certainly sits up around there somewhere," Lyon said.

"At the end of the day it's nice to have a few pots and discuss who was the best small forward. We value him internally, he's got great character, a wonderful family and they will be over there for the day."

Stephen Milne again exchanged banter with an opposition coach, but Fremantle coach Mark Harvey insists there was nothing untoward in the exchange between Milne and Dockers assistant coach Dean Wallis.

"You know they're ex-teammates don't you?" Harvey said in the post-game press conference.

"Sometimes you come across people you've been involved with and you give them a wink or a laugh or a joke ... we're not too sanitized with all those sort of things are we?"

St Kilda will lodge a formal complaint to the AFL after a spiteful quarter-time clash during their game against Collingwood game.

Magpies coach Mick Malthouse and forward Alan Didak were allegedly involved in an exchange of words with Saints forward Stephen Milne during the fraca.

"I would think now we are going to make a formal complaint, and it being investigated, I would think that the players involved and the club will do everything they can to be honest and give the right information so that it all comes out," St Kilda midfielder Leigh Montagna told Triple M.

Former Saint Austinn Jones says St Kilda forward Stephen Milne has improved defensively in 2009.

"He's taken a huge step in the area that he knew and everyone knew he had to improve on, defensive pressure," Jones said.

"He was always keen to compete in that area, but he just wasn't very good at it. He's got better technique, and the attitude's there. He's hungry."

Close-checking Carlton youngster Aaron Joseph has made every post a winner since coming to the Blues from the Apple Isle.

Joseph's performance in amassing 19 touches opposed to St Kilda livewire Stephen Milne two weeks ago has earned him a nomination as the NAB AFL Rising Star.

"I played on Brent Harvey in the NAB Cup. He's probably been the hardest player to play on. One of my strengths is to get under a player's skin, and he pretty much bashed me up on the day. He showed me a few moves I can use on future opponents," Joseph said.