BREAKING: Essendon players have been found GUILTY of doping and will be suspended for 12 months.

[donbooger]

On the bright side with having to field there VFL side they are guaranteed the second pick in the draft now. Right after Carlton.

 

[Mofra]

Does this mean Clinton Jones will be playing again?

You can't keep this guy out of the AFL.

Ben Hudson to come out of retirement for the 15th time

 

[Naked_North]

This is great news - justice is finally served.

 

[PurpleWizard]

Great for fantasy footy, shit for all the banned players and Essendon supporters.

It'll be horrible for fantasy. Everyone will have the same team. This year they were trying to stop that with reasonable pricing for players that didn't play last year!

 

[Bombermania]

Essendon win the 1984/85 flags by accusing their rivals of using performance enhancing drugs...

Essendon get destroyed by PEDS 30 years later. The irony is delicious

Only recently I was walking around Glenferrie Oval and there were little flowers growing, they looked suss

 

[Ron The Bear]

Been convicted on largely circumstantial evidence. But it was strong evidence, and the fact Essendon worked to protect its own interests rather than bringing "the truth" to light strengthens the general belief that this finding is just.

 

[Only Forwards]

Feel for the players

Nah not really.

I mean sure I feel for those who were kids straight outta the draft. The rest not so much.

Watson was the captain of a club and cannot definatively say what was put in his body. As a professional athlete he has to be better than that.

If they were a cycling team, or swimmers who didn't have massive club coin to bankroll their defence and media agencies willing to tout this 'poor players, poor players' tripe the perspective on them would be a little different.

They willingly went into practices that they themselves commented were "as close to the line as possible" and they got burned. I feel nothing for them.

The club set about to systematically cheat through a loophole and got caught found guilty and have been punished. Guilt was always going to result in on field bans.

 

[Jaeger]

Confirms without doubt that they are drug cheats.

 

[MinerBoy]

Only recently I was walking around Glenferrie Oval and there were little flowers growing, they looked suss

Planted by Paul Puopolo

 

[Gavin Excell]

Except I don't think the two are mutually exclusive.

The players clearly did something wrong. They can't feign innocence, because at any point they could've refused to comply or have reported what was happening. They deserve their bans.

But, that's not to say they can't also sue the club for this systematic doping and for unduly influencing the players to take part.

True but their actions dont deserve this sympathy that seems to be a common refrain in the media this morning. The popular myth will be they had no idea and were lead like lambs. Their actions in hiding from their club doctor for chrisakes suggests they knew it was wrong.

 

[captain cotch 9]

If Dank spoke could of he actually got these guys off?
Surley if his "evidence" was that good it could of made a difference.

 

[Crows4Eva]

"It is the same evidence ASADA presented to the AFL tribunal, however the different outcome represents the proper application of the burden of proof - comfortable satisfaction - as intended by the World Anti-Doping Code."

Pretty much proof that the AFL deliberately tried to bend the rules to protect their own interests.

 

[pOleK]

Absolutely the right call. Really puts Bombers out of contention for the year and slightly affects those 4 other clubs (especially Port copping a double loss of players).

Maybe the Blues won't come last after all

 

[dvas987]

Says it all:

 

[Bombermania]

Surely essendon wont get rewarded with pick 1 at seasons end if they finish last?

We haven finished last...........yet

 

[Bleeeeeeeeep]

SUCK SH*T!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tiges1229]

Im shocked to be sitting here.

 

[Mr Commissioner]

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threa...l-remain-angry.1109092/page-128#post-42546702

You're all very welcome.

 

[Eldou]

Finally Justice.

Absolute disgrace it took so long, and in reality it should be for two years.

My feeling is they got off lightly

 

[Underdog]

Today...is a great day

 

[captain cotch 9]

So Richmond are to release Dustys punishment today....?

 

[Thrawn]

And yet, Carlton will still find a way to win the wooden spoon

Nope, Essendon have it in the bag.

Don't underestimate the enormity of suddenly losing 12 of your best 18, and having VFL quality players (or worse) suddenly jump in without much of a preseason.

 

[blitznu]

We haven finished last...........yet

You not read the word if??

 

[adelaidecrows]

Amateur hour at the AFL is over!

 

[Tiges1229]

Im just wondering can the players claim the dole now for a year ?