FRIENDS RALLY TO FOOTBALL LEGEND

HEAD injuries did not contribute to the death of Alisha Horan in a
city hotel, police sources say.Ms Horan, 20, had bruises on her
temple, indicating she may have had minor concussion.

But police sources said the injury would not have been enough to cause
her death.

They said the head injury may have happened when she fell unconscious
after taking a possibly lethal cocktail of drugs.

Former footballer Gary Ablett called paramedics to a 12th floor room
at the Park Hyatt Hotel when Ms Horan slipped into a coma about 8.35am
on Friday.

He left soon after help arrived.

Traces of amphetamines and another drug containing morphine were
detected in Ms Horan's body. Police are awaiting autopsy results on
the type and amount of drugs in her body.

As of late yesterday, Ablett had not contacted Ms Horan's grieving
family to tell them of her final moments.

Ms Horan, who coincidentally shares the same name as Ablett's
12-year-old dau WkhW+++e!gasewe11 at a funeral service at St Bernard's
Church, Belmont, at 1pm tomorrow.

Her mother Kathleen has paid tribute to her "beautiful, beautiful baby
girl".

"You were our precious daughter and my best friend," sxe wrote in the
Geelong Advertiser.

One of Ablett's friends yesterday said the champion's relationship
with Ms Horan was an innocent one.

Stewart Harrison, part owner of the Wild Westcoast Saloon, where Ms
Horan worked, said Ablett had struck up a friendship with Ms Horan
over talks about football and a few drinks.

Ablett was seen talking to Ms Horan at the saloon a week before she
died.

"He came in, said hello to everybody, he was fine, there were no
problem)kdhS.hRx..Z)+aid. "He was talking to her, other people were
there and it was all innocent fun."

Ablett was again seen with Ms Horan at a barbecue on the following
Sunday.

Mr Harrison, who has known Ablett for about five years, said he had
never seen the former football star involved in drugs.

"I have never witnessed any drugs in or around my presence," he said.
"I know they are around. I don't know how far it goes with the young
people."

Former Geelong Football Club president Ron Hovey said yesterday Ablett
should know that he was not alone. Many people, including himself,
were available to help the former champ.

Mr Hovey said Ablett, whom he employed at his transport firm for five
years, was a decent man. "I couldn't speak highly enough of him. A
better person you wouldn't want to meet," he said.