News Dons ASADA scandal (Latest: Pg 101 - CAS verdict. Guilty, 12 months.)

[Black_White]

heck me.
If the OC is against Essenscum I'm likely to change my POV!

 

[jmac70]

The derivations are unclear.

Some sources suggest that Hird is in fact even older, derived from a corruption of the language of The Elder Ones. Indeed, some suggest that in fact the Hird/Turd entity was the result of a particularly powerful defecation from the Great One C'thulu, becoming an albeit lesser member of the Deep Ones after C'thulu decided to make one of his number 2's a real number 2, so to speak.

There are suggestions in texts, now buried under Martin Hardie's sea kayak and protected by a small fox terrier called Boris, that in fact the chant of the followers of C'thulu, "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu Windyhill wgah'nagl fhtagn Hirdy" means "C'thulu in his dread city of WindyHill will Stand by his Hird Turd". If you are stupid enough to venture into the law library at Deakin on a Thursday night, you can just make out their chants somewhere between the CCH tax reporter and Halsbury's Laws of England. It might sound like gibberish, but it makes more sense than anything anyone on the Essendon board is likely to say on the matter.

This is, however, like all aspects of this saga, contested, especially by unbiased sources on BomberBlitz and the hot Topic Board.

Recently, things have become even more murky and sinister. There are hints that secret societies are involved, but not against Hird/Turd as their tame lapdogs would have you believe, but in fact on his behalf, and on behalf of his Dread Occasion master and creator (and defecatrix) C'Thulu.

In particular, the name of Robinson keeps coming up, and far from the buffoonish whiny idol worshiping sycophant that logic would suggest, he is in fact understood to be a key member of two shadowy conspiracies, The Inebriati and the Knights Tippler, who are working for a return of the Dread C'thulu to rule the world for darkness with his pet by his side, in exchange for the institution of mandatory 10 am skulling competitions and the banning of all beer receptacles smaller than the jug.

Then there are even worse, nay (or should I say neigh?) horrific stories of an even more evil and twisted conspiracy that has joined the fray on behalf of James Albert and his creator. The following picture, obtained by the Bothan spies, and taken from James' remaining luxury residence in Toorak suitable only for a poor working man and simple champion of the underdog, shows the new members of team Hird, and allegedly also his legal advisors.

Many brave Bothans died to bring us this picture.

There we have it ladies and gentlemen. Friendship is for untermensch, when you're a Turd. Ubersturmbannfuhrer Twilight Sparkle says its so.

I love you.

 

[Anzacday]

Mark Evans/AFL flexed their muscle?

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-13/match-is-scheduled-to-go

NO ESSENDON player who was at the club in 2012 will play in the NAB Challenge series, after a resolution was reached between the Bombers and the AFL to ensure their participation in the pre-season competition.

In a statement on Friday afternoon the AFL confirmed the Bombers will play their matches as scheduled, starting with the contest against St Kilda at Morwell on March 7.

With approximately 18 players still at the club who are provisionally suspended by ASADA, the AFL's football operations boss Mark Evans said he believed the club could be competitive with the use of top-up players.

"We have great sympathy with the players who are facing a difficult time, but we are confident that the club can deliver a good team for the NAB Challenge," Evans said.

Essendon chairman Paul Little said all players who were at the club in 2012 during the club's supplements program would be unavailable for the NAB Challenge, as a measure to "protect the identity of our players with provisional suspensions."

"It has always been the Essendon Football Club’s intention to work with the AFL to find a pragmatic solution to this complicated issue," Little said in a club statement.

"At no stage has the club refused to take part in the NAB Challenge competition. We needed to carefully consider the ramifications on all stakeholders involved.

"We understand the importance of our commitment to play in the pre-season competition and our responsibility to the broader AFL community, this has never been in question."

Essendon said earlier this week it would need to find 15-20 players to fill in a squad for the NAB Challenge while the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal considers its verdict for the 34 current and former players handed infraction notices.

As well as the provisionally suspended players and those sitting out the games to protect their teammates' anonymity, the Bombers also have a handful of injured players on their list and do not want to risk younger and older players by increasing their workload dramatically.

There is a precedent of top-up players being used by an AFL club, when Hawthorn called on seven Box Hill Hawks players to feature in a NAB Challenge game in 2009.

Evans was the Hawks' football manager at the time. "It created great opportunity out of that, and the younger listed players out of that game, some of them have gone on to be premiership players," Evans said earlier on Friday.

Essendon football manager Rob Kerr outlined the club's issues this week and the problems associated with using so many top-up players for the pre-season clashes.

"By our estimations … we're thinking we'd probably have to find in the vicinity of 15 to 20 players to be able to compete," Kerr told the club's website.

"We've all got to recognise that these (top-up) players haven't done an AFL pre-season … they are not at the level of the preparation and readiness that you would expect an AFL player to be.

"You quite simply couldn't expect those players to play the normal number of game time - it would be putting them at risk of injury and it wouldn't be fair."

 

[TradeDraft]

^^^
So all the Players on there 2012 List are Guilt until Proven Innocent

 

[Bard]

^^^
So all the Players on there 2012 List are Guilt until Proven Innocent

No. If they only don't allow the players under question to not play then everyone knows who they are. By banning all players from
2012 it keeps the anonymity to some extent.

 

[ppoiter]

Don't get why zaharakis can't play since everyone already knows his story

 

[pinky951]

This is actually kind of cool! Reminds me of

I hope they win a couple of games.

 

[TradeDraft]

No. If they only don't allow the players under question to not play then everyone knows who they are. By banning all players from
2012 it keeps the anonymity to some extent.

Well - Who does not play will still be seen as Drug Cheats

 

[rand corp]

So if you were on the list in 2012 and took no injections, you get forced by the club to stand down in order to protect the identity of those that did take banned substances. Go figure!

 

[Pedro]

So if you were on the list in 2012 and took no injections, you get forced by the club to stand down in order to protect the identity of those that did take banned substances. Go figure!

Protect the identity of the 34, as well as have the fingers pointed at you by default. Nice one

 

[Baltimore Jack]

So if you were on the list in 2012 and took no injections, you get forced by the club to stand down in order to protect the identity of those that did take banned substances. Go figure!

Don't think that is exactly right
As I understand it those given infraction notices will not play because they are provisionally suspended and the other players on the list in 2012 have decided as a group (think there are about 6 or 8 of them) they will also not play to protect the anonymity of those who got infraction notices

 

[Bard]

Don't think that is exactly right
As I understand it those given infraction notices will not play because they are provisionally suspended and the other players on the list in 2012 have decided as a group (think there are about 6 or 8 of them) they will also not play to protect the anonymity of those who got infraction notices

They'll probably get paid their match fee.

In fact I wouldn't put it past Essendon to pay the banned players their match fee either

 

[gutsroy]

Don't think that is exactly right
As I understand it those given infraction notices will not play because they are provisionally suspended and the other players on the list in 2012 have decided as a group (think there are about 6 or 8 of them) they will also not play to protect the anonymity of those who got infraction notices

That's the way I understood it, too, with top-up players to be used alongside available senior-listed players and selected VFL players(?)

 

[gutsroy]

Protect the identity of the 34, as well as have the fingers pointed at you by default. Nice one

That doesn't bother me as much, as it seems to have been a voluntary decision, but what is disconcerting is that the players that have moved on, like Crameri, Monfries, Ryder and now Dell'olio, aren't afforded anonymity. I realize that Essendon can't control that, but it still seems crook.

 

[gutsroy]

The derivations are unclear.

Some sources suggest that Hird is in fact even older, derived from a corruption of the language of The Elder Ones. Indeed, some suggest that in fact the Hird/Turd entity was the result of a particularly powerful defecation from the Great One C'thulu, becoming an albeit lesser member of the Deep Ones after C'thulu decided to make one of his number 2's a real number 2, so to speak.

There are suggestions in texts, now buried under Martin Hardie's sea kayak and protected by a small fox terrier called Boris, that in fact the chant of the followers of C'thulu, "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu Windyhill wgah'nagl fhtagn Hirdy" means "C'thulu in his dread city of WindyHill will Stand by his Hird Turd". If you are stupid enough to venture into the law library at Deakin on a Thursday night, you can just make out their chants somewhere between the CCH tax reporter and Halsbury's Laws of England. It might sound like gibberish, but it makes more sense than anything anyone on the Essendon board is likely to say on the matter.

This is, however, like all aspects of this saga, contested, especially by unbiased sources on BomberBlitz and the hot Topic Board.

Recently, things have become even more murky and sinister. There are hints that secret societies are involved, but not against Hird/Turd as their tame lapdogs would have you believe, but in fact on his behalf, and on behalf of his Dread Occasion master and creator (and defecatrix) C'Thulu.

In particular, the name of Robinson keeps coming up, and far from the buffoonish whiny idol worshiping sycophant that logic would suggest, he is in fact understood to be a key member of two shadowy conspiracies, The Inebriati and the Knights Tippler, who are working for a return of the Dread C'thulu to rule the world for darkness with his pet by his side, in exchange for the institution of mandatory 10 am skulling competitions and the banning of all beer receptacles smaller than the jug.

Then there are even worse, nay (or should I say neigh?) horrific stories of an even more evil and twisted conspiracy that has joined the fray on behalf of James Albert and his creator. The following picture, obtained by the Bothan spies, and taken from James' remaining luxury residence in Toorak suitable only for a poor working man and simple champion of the underdog, shows the new members of team Hird, and allegedly also his legal advisors.

Many brave Bothans died to bring us this picture.

There we have it ladies and gentlemen. Friendship is for untermensch, when you're a Turd. Ubersturmbannfuhrer Twilight Sparkle says its so.

 

[soreplums]

They'll probably get paid their match fee.

In fact I wouldn't put it past Essendon to pay the banned players their match fee either

Effect on salary cap?

 

[pauly_moss]

This is actually kind of cool! Reminds me of

I hope they win a couple of games.

Great movie and now you mention it does seem a bit this way. Who will be the guy with the Sugarbowl disaster

 

[Bard]

Effect on salary cap?

None? Match fees are already factored in. All extra 'top-up' players will have to fall under a separate salary.

 

[MagpieBat]

The AFL has granted the Bombers the use of top-up players should any of their AFL players currently under suspension be convicted and miss any or all of the premiership season:

ESSENDON will be restricted to recruiting players who have been on AFL lists in the past two seasons should any of its squad be suspended by the League's Anti-Doping Tribunal.

The AFL has released a statement pertaining to list concessions for Essendon to field a team in the NAB Challenge and contingency plans should any Bombers be suspended for the premiership season for their part in the club's 2012 supplements regime.

Click here to read the full AFL statement

About 18 of the 34 past and present players handed infraction notices by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) are reportedly still on the club's list.

Should any, or all, be suspended and miss home-and-away matches, the Dons can only recruit players who were on AFL lists in 2013 or '14 on temporary contracts.

Essendon will only be able to sign a maximum of two players from any club, except for its own VFL team.

However, the AFL's general counsel Andrew Dillon has the power to make exceptions to these guidelines, provided they don't unfairly disadvantage another club.

All 18 clubs have been advised of the recommendations, an AFL spokesman said.

The restrictions for the premiership season differ from those applied to Essendon for the NAB Challenge, which starts for the Bombers on March 7 against St Kilda in Morwell.

Essendon can use their VFL team's players but can also recruit any state league player for the pre-season matches.

Dillon said the list concessions and contingency plan were suitable outcomes for the competition.

“This is a reasonable and sensible package of concessions that recognises the unprecedented situation facing our competition, does not unfairly disadvantage other clubs, and allows Essendon to field a team,” he said.

The Bombers stated last week that all players who were at the club in 2012 during the club's supplements program would be unavailable for the NAB Challenge, as a measure to "protect the identity of our players with provisional suspensions."

The AFL said it would work with Essendon and the AFL Players' Association to ensure appropriate terms and conditions for the temporary players including minimum payments and provisions for injury, insurance and medical.

The AFL Commission also ruled that any payments to a temporary player would be included in Essendon’s Total Player Payments.

However, the club will be provided with a TPP allowance for those payments in a manner similar to the operation of the injury allowance.

The news comes as the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal hearing into the 34 past and present Essendon players draws to a close.

On Monday, the Tribunal heard oral closing submissions from ASADA.

All closing submissions will have been lodged and heard by February 18, when the Tribunal will adjourn to consider its decision.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-16/league-sets-topup-rules

And the full AFL statement...

AFL COMMISSION SIGNS OFF ON LIST CONCESSIONS FOR NAB CHALLENGE & CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR PREMIERSHIP SEASON

The AFL’s General Counsel, Andrew Dillon today submitted recommendations to the AFL Commission on list concessions for the Essendon Football Club to ensure the Club can field a team during the NAB Challenge, and further contingency plans in the event of suspensions to any Essendon Players during the Premiership Season as a result of the current AFL Anti-Doping tribunal hearing.

The Commission today formally delegated power to the General Counsel to oversee temporary list concessions for the 2015 NAB Challenge, and to implement further changes in the event of suspensions arising from the Anti-Doping Tribunal hearing.

In respect to the NAB Challenge, the Essendon Football Club will be allowed to use Players from their VFL list and also use Players from other State League teams to enable them to field a team.

In the event of suspensions from the Tribunal and the impact on the Premiership Season, the Commission gave power to the General Counsel to determine ongoing list concessions, based on the principle that there should be no undue disadvantage to the other clubs arising from the changes.

In principle, the Commission agreed that:

- The EFC may sign temporary playing contracts with any player not currently on an AFL list but who have been on an AFL list in the last two seasons;
- With the exception of their own VFL listed players, EFC is restricted to signing a maximum of two players from any club.

Mr. Dillon does have the power to agree to exceptions to these guidelines, but only in the circumstance that it does not unfairly disadvantage any other club.

The AFL will continue to work with Essendon and the AFLPA to ensure appropriate terms and conditions for the temporary players including minimum payments and provisions for injury, insurance and medical.

The Commission also ruled that any payments to a temporary player will be included in Essendon’s Total Player Payments but they will be provided with a TPP allowance for those payments in a manner similar to the operation of the injury allowance.

Mr. Dillon said that the package of concessions and policy recommendations signed off by the Commission would allow the Essendon Football Club to field a team during the NAB Challenge, allows them to enact a contingency in the event that Players are suspended for the Premiership Season, and was a suitable outcome for the competition.

"This is a reasonable and sensible package of concessions that recognises the unprecedented situation facing our competition, does not unfairly disadvantage other clubs, and allows Essendon to field a team," Mr. Dillon said.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-16/afl-statement-on-essendon-list-concessions
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-16/afl-statement-on-essendon-list-concessions
Wonder what Brock McLean's doing these days...?

 

[Bard]

The AFL has granted the Bombers the use of top-up players should any of their AFL players currently under suspension be convicted and miss any or all of the premiership season:



http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-16/league-sets-topup-rules

And the full AFL statement...



http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-16/afl-statement-on-essendon-list-concessions
Wonder what Brock McLean's doing these days...?

I'll cry if Luke Ball or Maxwell play... Ball is probably ruled out with his MRP duties and Maxwell with coaching @ Storm or whatever but still...

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Well - Who does not play will still be seen as Drug Cheats

Only by idiots.

 

[JA27]

with watson and fletcher playing in the international rules series and other essendon players sitting out of the nab challenge, what's the go with the aboriginal all stars match with ryder and dempsey?

 

[vjknight]

with watson and fletcher playing in the international rules series and other essendon players sitting out of the nab challenge, what's the go with the aboriginal all stars match with ryder and dempsey?

it would have to be the same. suspended from all activities. any involvement resets the clock.

 

[Boris the Contradiction]

That doesn't bother me as much, as it seems to have been a voluntary decision, but what is disconcerting is that the players that have moved on, like Crameri, Monfries, Ryder and now Dell'olio, aren't afforded anonymity. I realize that Essendon can't control that, but it still seems crook.

It really isn't voluntary. They may voluntarily choose to ostracise themselves from the majority of the player group and turn their own coach against them, or they may play along.

 

[TradeDraft]

So the Players coming in are called Squbs?