AOC - full co-operation with ASADA

[Chameleon75]

Lose WADA accreditation and see what that does - not a Federal govt recognised sport - no Federal govt funding or use of facilities - overnight the AFL would become a WWE clone - it is already heading that way in some regards. If that happened sponsors would walk and you can be certain no legal gambling would be allowed so where would sponsor $ come from, and see what that does to the next TV rights deal - I am sure they would not be willing to pay even 5% of the present $ due to the tarnished brand and sponsors (ad slots) not wanting to be associated - the AFL would not survive in its present form.

AFL in reality, like all professional sports, is a marketing exercise. That is the real difference between professional sport and amateur. Its all about marketing to advantage to get max $ and use of sport as vehicle to do so. A major component of the marketing is to give the image of a fair and somewhat level playing field so that supporters, fans and sponsors will follow/contribute to all teams and games. Its not about actually having a level playing field, but trying to maintain a level of image of it whilst manipulating the variables (fixtures and many other factors) to gain max $. Totally lose that level playing image - ie drugs, non WADA accreditation, non govt funding and the comp becomes an WWE and will go fully down that path to survive.

This is the biggest issue the AFL has ever had to face from a potential death to the comp perspective.

I'm not sure that would entirely be the case, the North American professional leagues aren't wada signatories and they have no shortage of sponsors, nor is professional boxing wada compliant and a host of other sports. The afl could argue that as it's not an international sport wada compliance isn't necessary and have their own code in place. I'm not sure government funding is that vital to them. It's a hard sell granted, but would be interesting if they went down that path.

I still think an option open to them is to drop out of the wada code for a few years and rejoin once everything has been cleaned up. It could be sold on the basis that mass suspensions would breach contractual obligations and threaten the survival of the competition. Keep in mind based on the reports Essendon isn't the only club potentially, only takes two players in on club to breach and club sanctions apply. If the wada code is strictly applied, there's potentially multiple clubs suspended for 4 years. I don't think the afl will wear that.

 

[pinot]

Its WADA's executive powers of banning scores of atheletes in a team... imagine 30 players from Essendon, Geelong, Melbourne and Gold Coast being banned in one fell swoop in late August. The competition is already compromised the mass bannings would destroy it.

 

[carlton2dabone]

I'm not sure that would entirely be the case, the North American professional leagues aren't wada signatories and they have no shortage of sponsors, nor is professional boxing wada compliant and a host of other sports. The afl could argue that as it's not an international sport wada compliance isn't necessary and have their own code in place. I'm not sure government funding is that vital to them. It's a hard sell granted, but would be interesting if they went down that path.

I still think an option open to them is to drop out of the wada code for a few years and rejoin once everything has been cleaned up. It could be sold on the basis that mass suspensions would breach contractual obligations and threaten the survival of the competition. Keep in mind based on the reports Essendon isn't the only club potentially, only takes two players in on club to breach and club sanctions apply. If the wada code is strictly applied, there's potentially multiple clubs suspended for 4 years. I don't think the afl will wear that.

And if that happened, do you really think WADA will welcome them back with open arms once the AFL decide to join up again?

 

[Chameleon75]

And if that happened, do you really think WADA will welcome them back with open arms once the AFL decide to join up again?

I think asada will welcome back the $250k a year. It's a code not a club.

 

[carlton2dabone]

I think asada will welcome back the $250k a year. It's a code not a club.

Yes the money might be welcomed by them, but if they accepted they open up a can of worms where any code it and that means they have lost their power of being the regulating body.

 

[Freo2012]

I think asada will welcome back the $250k a year. It's a code not a club.

lol, sorry but the fee is small bickies compared to the Fed govt funding they (will) receive and the cost of not maintaining their integrity. If they were to allow the AFL backin after a "spell" to get their act together they would not be lenient in a number of areas, such as penalties and who gets to determine them. This is where the AFL has to tread extremely carefully.

 

[Freo2012]

I'm not sure that would entirely be the case, the North American professional leagues aren't wada signatories and they have no shortage of sponsors, nor is professional boxing wada compliant and a host of other sports. The afl could argue that as it's not an international sport wada compliance isn't necessary and have their own code in place. I'm not sure government funding is that vital to them. It's a hard sell granted, but would be interesting if they went down that path.

I still think an option open to them is to drop out of the wada code for a few years and rejoin once everything has been cleaned up. It could be sold on the basis that mass suspensions would breach contractual obligations and threaten the survival of the competition. Keep in mind based on the reports Essendon isn't the only club potentially, only takes two players in on club to breach and club sanctions apply. If the wada code is strictly applied, there's potentially multiple clubs suspended for 4 years. I don't think the afl will wear that.

I understand what you are saying, but the north american market is massively different to Oz. Population for starters (+400m vs 23m) as well as the number of companies that can make massive sponsorship deals (massive $ for an Oz company, small bickies for the very large number of large nth amercian companies). And the AFL is reliant on Federal and state governments a lot more than everyone realize with not only direct funding, but facilities, stadiums, association with AIS etc etc etc. What about the state of grass roots footy and if the Federal govt sought to take any association away from the AFL due to the image and drug problems worsened by AFL withdrawing from WADA. You could also kiss goodbye the expansion markets - If NRL complied and AFL went out on its own the GC and GWS strategies would fail massively more than they are now (numbers of new supporters and attendances aren't good at all) and NRL would gain everything back and more and would probably mean the death of Sydney and Bris as well, not just the new expansion teams.

Boxing is a totally different type of show - it is another WWE with all but the choreography.

 

[Chameleon75]

I understand what you are saying, but the north american market is massively different to Oz. Population for starters (+400m vs 23m) as well as the number of companies that can make massive sponsorship deals (massive $ for an Oz company, small bickies for the very large number of large nth amercian companies). And the AFL is reliant on Federal and state governments a lot more than everyone realize with not only direct funding, but facilities, stadiums, association with AIS etc etc etc. What about the state of grass roots footy and if the Federal govt sought to take any association away from the AFL due to the image and drug problems worsened by AFL withdrawing from WADA.

Boxing is a totally different type of show - it is another WWE with all but the choreography.

I'm not advocating it. I just think it would be interesting if they choose to go down that path.

 

[Chameleon75]

lol, sorry but the fee is small bickies compared to the Fed govt funding they (will) receive and the cost of not maintaining their integrity. If they were to allow the AFL backin after a "spell" to get their act together they would not be lenient in a number of areas, such as penalties and who gets to determine them. This is where the AFL has to tread extremely carefully.

ASADA didn't cover themselves in glory with the elka Graham or werner reitener allegations. The funding increase of $1.76m a year is only guaranteed until the 2014/15 fy.

 

[Freo2012]

ASADA didn't cover themselves in glory with the elka Graham or werner reitener allegations. The funding increase of $1.76m a year is only guaranteed until the 2014/15 fy.

Yeah but the whole purpose of ASADA (their "charter" for existence) would be undermined if they bowed to the will (wants) of the AFL, don't think WADA would be supportive/want to be associated and then you find massive problems would ensue with olympic sports etc - whatever bad image ASADA are portraying now they will tighten their own procedures and policies up as a result and become even tougher after all of this, not the other way round bowing to pressures of a "non-compliant" "sport".

AFL supporters have a very biased view as to how important AFL is when considering all sport and WADA compliance - there is no way rules and the actual "charter" of WADA and ASADA will be "lightened" because of what AFL wants.

 

[byronstjames]

[USER]Freo2012[/USER] you are completely incorrect.

As has been stated previously, the main North American leagues are not a part of WADA. If the AFL pulled out, the federal government can make all the song and dance they want about it, but it wouldn't change ANYTHING.

Purely because the opposition would IMMEDIATELY use it as a platform against them, as we are already seeing now.

I don't actually even have any idea why this is being discussed because it's so far from a realistic scenario that it's laughable. However, I just need to point out that you are completely wrong.

[USER]Blackshadow[/USER], you are correct I want to see us 'get away with it'. However, I think we mean different things. I want to see Essendon cleared in the sense that none of their supplements were illegal and everything was above board as they thought it was. You are another one of those crazy North supporters that have this bizarre and delusional hatred for a club who you see as being the 'haves' to your 'have nots'. This hatred twists your thinking into Essendon deliberately used performance enhancing drugs, believing they would get away with it, in order to win more games of football.

I assure you I care about the bigger picture, clearly more than you do.

 

[Freo2012]

[USER]Freo2012[/USER] you are completely incorrect.

As has been stated previously, the main North American leagues are not a part of WADA. If the AFL pulled out, the federal government can make all the song and dance they want about it, but it wouldn't change ANYTHING.

Purely because the opposition would IMMEDIATELY use it as a platform against them, as we are already seeing now.

I don't actually even have any idea why this is being discussed because it's so far from a realistic scenario that it's laughable. However, I just need to point out that you are completely wrong.

[USER]Blackshadow[/USER], you are correct I want to see us 'get away with it'. However, I think we mean different things. I want to see Essendon cleared in the sense that none of their supplements were illegal and everything was above board as they thought it was. You are another one of those crazy North supporters that have this bizarre and delusional hatred for a club who you see as being the 'haves' to your 'have nots'. This hatred twists your thinking into Essendon deliberately used performance enhancing drugs, believing they would get away with it, in order to win more games of football.

I assure you I care about the bigger picture, clearly more than you do.

lol, no - you want to believe I am wrong

Need to look at the big picture from an independent point of view - a very difficult thing for an Essendon supporter to do atm

 

[byronstjames]

lol, no - you want to believe I am wrong

Need to look at the big picture from an independent point of view - a very difficult thing for an Essendon supporter to do atm

I don't need to because it's not even an issue.

I am just telling you what would really happen if the AFL ever went down that road.

You seem to be over estimating our governments. As soon as funding withdrawal was announced, the opposition would be spruiking that they'd be giving it back - provided they were in power. No government would take that risk, especially in this day and age. Sport is one thing that 99% of Australian could probably agree on, insofar as policy goes.

That's how it works.

 

[Freo2012]

I don't need to because it's not even an issue.

I am just telling you what would really happen if the AFL ever went down that road.

You seem to be over estimating our governments. As soon as funding withdrawal was announced, the opposition would be spruiking that they'd be giving it back - provided they were in power. No government would take that risk, especially in this day and age. Sport is one thing that 99% of Australian could probably agree on, insofar as policy goes.

That's how it works.

You are missing the whole point - if the AFL tried to cover things up or start acting like it would not meet the requirements of WADA the funding threat by the government would mean the end of Vlad and result in AFL bowing to the demands of WADA - AFL would concede and do what was demanded.

Its not kindergarten - at the end of the day AFL is a small organisation that hasn't the power or control many supporters think it has - when sh1t hits the fan they will tow the line.

Clubs, players and supporters complained and still do about the onerous obligations and controls put in place following the WCE recreational drug scandal. That is nothing compared to what is likely to happen - Essendon will be thanked for putting Sports Science backwards in relation to AFL - at least the AFL will attain one of its aims out of all this - to reduce the ever increasing footy department spend of clubs.

 

[maculosus]

Bonuses from all the profits they're making? Fair play I say. Would you have them cap their pay? You're a commie, aren't you?

Yeah, watch out - I might be under your bed (with all the tin-foil hats)

 

[Mordecai]

Yeah, watch out - I might be under your bed (with all the tin-foil hats)

 

[maculosus]

I was going to include him in my post but figured he's irrelevant

 

[Baldur]

I don't need to because it's not even an issue.

I am just telling you what would really happen if the AFL ever went down that road.

You seem to be over estimating our governments. As soon as funding withdrawal was announced, the opposition would be spruiking that they'd be giving it back - provided they were in power. No government would take that risk, especially in this day and age. Sport is one thing that 99% of Australian could probably agree on, insofar as policy goes.

That's how it works.

The govenment and opposition would count votes. Essendon fans vrs the rest of Australia. More then 99% of Australians would say, better to kill Essendon then allow Australia's good name as a sporting nation to be sullied as badly as East Germany.

You are the less then 1%. Therefore powerless in politics, that is how it works.