THE Essendon Football Club has been removed from the 2013 finals series and James Hird has been suspended for 12 months after the AFL Commission handed down the biggest punishment in the league’s history.
It means that Essendon will finish in ninth position this season while keeping all of the club’s premiership points.
AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick delivered the bombshell news this evening at a press conference at AFL House where he announced the following sanctions.
- Essendon will not compete in the finals and will instead finish in ninth position
- $2 million fine
- The loss of first and second round draft picks for the 2013 and 2014 drafts
- Coach James Hird to be suspended for 12 months, beginning from 25 August
- Football manager Danny Corcoran to be suspended for six months from 1 October, two months of which are suspended
- Mark Thompson fined $30,000
Dr Bruce Reid is contesting his charges and will face the commission at 10am on Thursday.
With Hird serving his suspension, assistant coach Simon Goodwin will take over as coach for this weekend’s game against Richmond.
Fitzpatrick was adamant that nothing takes precedence ahead of the welfare of players.
“On behalf of the AFL Commission I want to send a clear message that nothing and no one can come ahead of the duty of care owed to our players and the integrity of the competition,” Fitzpatrick said.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said that the while AFL’s role in the saga was now finished, ASADA’s investigation is still ongoing.
“ASADA have made it very clear that their investigation remains open,” he said.
Essendon chairman Paul Little described the sanctions as “tough but fair”.
“We recognise that failings occurred at our club during this period. We must – and do – accept accountability and apologise for them,” Mr Little said.
“We have learnt from our mistakes and made substantial reforms to our governance and people management practices to ensure the club will never be in this position again.”
Little also went on to say that Hird will be welcomed back as coach at the end of his suspension.
In the meantime, Essendon will begin searching for an interim coach with Simon Goodwin likely to take over for the duration of Hird’s suspension.
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