EFC players: Comfortable satisfaction not reached.

[Lance Uppercut]

My goodness. Is this even real? What the hell is the head of ASADA doing making commentary like that?

Spitting the dummy

 

[theboxmike]

* I feel a sense of injustice for Ahmed Saad. Yes, he did the wrong thing, but equally as unknowingly as the Essendon players, yet his career suffered and could have ended while the Bombers cop an (admittedly large) penalty for mismanagement and walk away. Feels unfair.

Don't get me wrong mate what happened to saad was complete and utter BS. Nobody from Essendon will be gloating about that. We are merely having some fun with the foamers like they have for the last couple of years.

 

[Dan26]

* The gloating of Bomber supporters, both here and on social media, is very unflattering. I have been on the other side of the "cheat" insult, and it's infuriating to be labelled as such, but the widespread celebrating is equally as bad a look.

To be fair, there is a lot of pent up frustration there. Essendon supporters have had to put up with baiting, taunting, and generally disgusting behaviour from many opposition supporters who actively wanted players suspended, simply because of their own dislike for Essendon. This was irrespective of the fact that it would damage the sport they follow, damage the league, and therefore damage their own clubs. Two years, Essendon fans have had to put up with this. I can tell you, it's been a quiet hell. I think you need to cut some slack.

 

[Underdog]

Actually, the way the rules work is that, without proof that the players had the drugs in them, that the little niggling footnote about "intent" controls everything in this decision, and you cannot demonstrate the players had any intent to use a prohibited substance.

If Dank gets done for supplying, it still does not demonstrate intent on the part of the player.

Signed agreements to be injected with Thymosin is enough evidence of intent I would have thought

 

[fabulousphil]

I don't recall saying much to you that wasn't fair and reasoned argument, other than my usual joking around, which was just that.
But I guess if this is how you are when you have a win, fair play to you.

I hope my tears nourish and sustain you.

Well then i guess when the boot is on the other foot for a couple of years then you might have some idea, coupled with the fact that as a club i did not even barrack for Essendon, so i did not have the solidarity of Essendon fans to rely on.

Your tears are so Claremont

 

[Crankyhawk]

Oh come on. Your premiership was, and will always be tainted unless Essendon get a rematch.

Only if we get buddy back. You can get Ryder.

 

[Buddy89]

Congratulations Essendon, you truly dodged a bullet. The moral of this story is ..hide everything, that way they cant prove anything, have a great shredder, if anyone dares tell the truth pay them huge monies so they remain silent and it goes on.....

I have this sick feeling that they will find Dank guilty but somehow the players are cleared? AFL you have come out on top !!

 

[Stopher]

What a great day!

 

[boncer34]

Because insufficient evidence does not clear your players

Actually that's what not guilty means. The players are clear to play.

 

[Zerg]

They will appeal.

Unlikely, but of course possible, imo.

That ex Judge has never had a successful challenge to one of his rulings.

 

[pablo668]

Well then i guess when the boot is on the other foot for a couple of years then you might have some idea, coupled with the fact that as a club i did not even barrack for Essendon, so i did not have the solidarity of Essendon fans to rely on.

Your tears are so Claremont

I guess to yo, being magnanimous is something that other people do.

No class mate

 

[Dan26]

The ban was because the club failed at records keeping. Sooooo.... nope. Definitely fair. Scurry back to the Dons board, shill.

You do realise was joking don't you, buddy? Or did it all go over your head?

 

[The Dustbin]

Well done you.

Congrats essendon supporters, it must be a relief.

Somehow though, football was the loser here today. The dream of a clean sport died.

That made me laugh. Keep dreaming, dreams do come true.

 

[on the de goey]

Essendon players have been found not guilty not the Essendon football club. There is a big difference

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

It's a terrible outcome and sets a shocking precedent for future scenarios involving other sporting clubs.

Essendon are clearly guilty of poor governance and while there was insufficient evidence to prove them of such guilt in terms of their players using banned substances this doesn't mean they're innocent of any charges, it just means it couldn't be proven sadly.

When records of a players supplementation are not recorded (which demonstrates poor governance) then how on earth was ASADA going to prove absolute guilt towards the 34 past and present Essendon players plus it didn't help that Essendon kept hindering ASADA's investigation at every turn rather than cooperating with them.

Sadly I'm not surprised by the outcome and I think this is a tragedy for football to be honest! A systematic doping regime by a whole football club has resulted in no punishments and yet two of our own players are going to get severely punished and rightly so if there b sample tests are shown to be 'positive' but the mind boggles sometimes.

It's a crap day all round! No one should be satisfied about this.

 

[sbdan]

I always thought the case was struggling when asada was so desperate to get an admission from one of the players. It is very difficult to prosecute without an admission or hard evidence. There is the message for all you kiddies in trouble with the law:
1. Say nothing 2. Get a lawyer 3. Deny.
And you'll be right.
The worst thing bombers did was self reporting in the first place. No clubs will fall for that again.

 

[Masto]

Congratulations Essendon, you truly dodged a bullet. The moral of this story is ..hide everything, that way they cant prove anything, have a great shredder, if anyone dares tell the truth pay them huge monies so they remain silent and it goes on.....

And get a tip off from the AFL CEO.

 

[ep2018]

With TV rights deals and a whole lot of $$$ lost for the AFL if Essendon were uncompetitive for two years, I don't understand why you all thought the AFL would find them guilty.

 

[Art Corvelay]

To be fair, there is a lot of pent up frustration there. Essendon supporters have had to put up with baiting, taunting, and generally disgusting behaviour from many opposition supporters who actively wanted players suspended, simply because of their own dislike for Essendon. This was irrespective of the fact that it would damage the sport they follow, damage the league, and therefore damage their own clubs. Two years, Essendon fans have had to put up with this. I can tell you, it's been a quiet hell. I think you need to cut some slack.

LOL - regardless of the result, are you saying we should always overlook drug cheating for the reasons highlighted?

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

Essendon:- The O.J Simpson of Australian rules Football.

The 2015 Number 1 ticket holder.

I'm more pissed at the AFL for the way they've handled it than Essendon getting away with murder. The unscrupulous way they go about protecting 'the brand' is quite unbelievable at times.

 

[mxett]

Essendon players have been found not guilty not the Essendon football club. There is a big difference

the club wasnt charged with anything

 

[getgaff]

Had a mate inside AFL house who took a photo as the decision was handed down. Can't confirm or deny why McDevitt looks like Shane Watson.

#mcdevitttoreplaceWatsonat3

 

[Chief]

I am absolutely entirely comfortable. Of course I am.

I don't see how anyone can be. It's a Pyrrhic victory at the very least. The club's reputation is forever blackened and supporters are behaving like the club has been absolved of all sin.

At the most any level headed supporter should be happy to have gotten away with it, but insist the club removes Hird and Reid at the very least to avoid even the slimmest chance that such a shambolic program will ever be run at the club again.

 

[mxett]

With TV rights deals and a whole lot of $$$ lost for the AFL if Essendon were uncompetitive for two years, I don't understand why you all thought the AFL would find them guilty.

the AFL didnt decide

 

[thegerman]

Congratulations Essendon, you truly dodged a bullet. The moral of this story is ..hide everything, that way they cant prove anything, have a great shredder, if anyone dares tell the truth pay them huge monies so they remain silent and it goes on.....

I have this sick feeling that they will find Dank guilty but somehow the players are cleared? AFL you have come out on top !!

Funny that Prince Vlad calls Dons, they self report, there's no paperwork. Where did they get the idea to lose the paperwork? Hmmm who was legal counsel at the time.