TOUCH DOWN: Don Thorne, Former Collingwood Referee Whom This Week Pleaded Guilty for Making Indecent Image of a 15-Year-Old Boy, Was Investigated and Then Cleared by Police in…

In a shocking development that has sent ripples through the Australian sports community, Don Thorne, a longtime basketball referee with deep ties to Collingwood’s sporting heritage, has pleaded guilty this week to making an indecent image of a 15-year-old boy. The admission comes nearly seven years after Thorne was first investigated by police over similar allegations, only to be cleared in a decision that now raises serious questions about the safeguards in place for those in positions of authority within youth sports.

Thorne, 68, entered his guilty plea at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 23, 2025, facing charges under Victoria’s Crimes Act for the production and possession of child exploitation material. Court documents reveal that the offense occurred in 2024, when authorities discovered a single Category A image—classified as the most severe level of child sexual abuse material—on a digital device seized from Thorne’s Collingwood home during a routine cybercrime sweep. The image depicted the explicit abuse of a teenage boy, prompting an immediate arrest.

“This is a profound betrayal of trust,” said Detective Inspector Sarah Mitchell of Victoria Police’s Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT) unit during a press briefing outside the courthouse. “Individuals like Mr. Thorne, who have spent decades officiating youth games and mentoring young athletes, occupy roles that demand the highest standards of integrity. Today’s plea underscores the hidden dangers that can lurk behind respected community figures.”

### A Storied Career in Collingwood Sports

Thorne’s fall from grace is all the more poignant given his celebrated status in Collingwood’s sporting circles. A native of the Georgian Bay town in Ontario, Canada—though long-time residents recall him relocating to Melbourne’s Collingwood suburb in the early 2000s—Thorne began his refereeing journey in 1973 as a student at Collingwood Collegiate Institute. Over the next five decades, he officiated at every level of basketball, from high school intramurals to Ontario university leagues, serving as referee-in-chief for seven Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships and four Ontario college tournaments.

Upon immigrating to Australia, Thorne quickly embedded himself in the local scene, volunteering with the Collingwood Basketball Association and mentoring aspiring officials. His contributions earned him induction into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame in October 2024 as a “builder” of the sport, where he was lauded for “elevating the quality of officiating and fostering sportsmanship among young players.” At the induction ceremony, held at the Collingwood Legion, Thorne received a standing ovation, with hall president Mark Houlton praising him as “the whistle that kept our games fair and our kids safe.”

Basketball Victoria echoed those sentiments in a 2024 profile, noting Thorne’s role in training over 200 junior referees. “Don was the guy you wanted calling your kid’s game,” recalled former colleague Terry Geddes, who first recruited Thorne as a teen official. “He had an eye for the play and a heart for the players.”

### Echoes of a Prior Police Probe

What has stunned observers most is the revelation that this is not Thorne’s first brush with law enforcement over child-related allegations. Court records unsealed this week detail a 2018 investigation by Victoria Police, triggered by anonymous tips from concerned parents at a junior basketball camp in Melbourne’s inner north. The complaints alleged inappropriate physical contact and grooming behavior toward underage boys during off-court interactions, including private coaching sessions.

A three-month probe, involving interviews with over a dozen witnesses and forensic analysis of Thorne’s devices, ultimately led to no charges. In a statement at the time, police cited “insufficient evidence to proceed,” clearing Thorne and allowing him to resume his duties without restriction. Basketball Victoria, informed of the outcome, deemed the matter closed and even promoted him to a senior mentorship role shortly thereafter.

The 2018 clearance now looms large over Thorne’s guilty plea, prompting calls for a review of the original investigation. “How did this slip through?” demanded Lisa Hamilton, CEO of the child protection advocacy group Bravehearts. “A cleared suspect in 2018 goes on to offend again in 2024? This exposes systemic failures in monitoring at-risk individuals in youth sports. We need mandatory background re-checks every two years for all officials.”

Legal experts speculate that the statute of limitations may prevent revisiting the 2018 case, but the timing has fueled speculation about whether early red flags were adequately addressed. Thorne’s defense lawyer, Michael Rossi, argued in court that his client was a “first-time offender suffering from undiagnosed mental health issues,” requesting a deferred sentence pending psychological assessment. Prosecutors, however, pushed for immediate incarceration, highlighting the gravity of Category A material.

### The Human Cost and Broader Implications

At the heart of this scandal is the unnamed 15-year-old victim, whose family issued a brief statement through a victims’ support service: “No child should ever feel unsafe around the adults meant to protect them. We’re grateful the truth is out, but the damage is done.” The boy’s identity remains protected under court suppression orders, but sources indicate he was a casual acquaintance of Thorne’s through local sports networks.

The case has reverberated beyond Collingwood, drawing parallels to other high-profile sports scandals, such as the 2022 conviction of Collingwood Football Club superfan Jeffrey “Joffa” Corfe for child sexual assault and the 2020 indecent assault charges against Magpies player Jordan De Goey. AFL and Basketball Australia officials have pledged an independent audit of safeguarding protocols, with mandatory reporting workshops slated for all clubs by year’s end.

Thorne is scheduled for sentencing on November 20, 2025, where he faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment under Australian federal law. In the interim, he has been stripped of his hall of fame plaque and banned for life from any involvement in organized sports.

As Collingwood grapples with this “touch down” of shame— a twisted inversion of the triumphs Thorne once whistled— the community is left to reckon with a painful truth: Heroes can harbor darkness, and vigilance must never whistle foul.