The Bombers ASADA/WADA Saga

[KissKiss]

Does it matter? Aside from that it sounds like they'll allow Jobe to plead his case, and once that's decided to take place you're going to have to give him time to actually prepare.

Makes them look very weak IMO. Basically looks like they don't want to make a decision, they are leaving it for Jobe to hand it back or wait until things quieten down so they can make a decision quietly.

Also did Gil actually say he hadnt read the report yet?

 

[luthor]

If Essendon finish last, I feel sorry for the team who finishes 17th. They will lose the no 1 pick and not get the re-injection of talent that the Bombers will get in 2017.

Leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Agree.

The Bombers have already had more than their fair share of re-injections

 

[Chezzalenko Reborn]

I don't blame the Commission wanting to decide the medal until February. I don't think its a decision that could be easily made on the same day as the CAS decision being made.

That said, having heard, and read the statements from the AFL and ASADA, my impression is that the medal can easily be stripped off him. My gut tells me though we haven't heard the end of this 'NO SIGNFICANT FAULT' thingy and the Commission could easily factor that into their decision

 

[dlanod]

Makes them look very weak IMO. Basically looks like they don't want to make a decision, they are leaving it for Jobe to hand it back or wait until things quieten down so they can make a decision quietly.

Also did Gil actually say he hadnt read the report yet?

The AFL spent most of the last few years apologising for the Bombers and trying to avoid having them wiped out for significant periods of time despite the Bombers antagonising them at every turn... and having some period lapse before deciding on a fairly minor issue is what makes them look weak?

Also bear in mind that it's almost certain that the AFL got the report this morning, the same as everyone else - if anyone in Australian sport had gotten early info there's zero doubt it would've leaked. No real surprise if the CEO hasn't had a chance to actually read a 40-something page report given he would've been in fire-fighting meetings, etc, most of the day. There's no doubt he would have had the salient points summarised to him though.

 

[Gibbo_88]

Watson should have the brownlow taken off him. He has been banned for injections he received in the season he won it. Hopefully he returns the medal himself.

 

[Gadzorks]

Leadership is a wide mix of qualities. Maybe there has been too much emphasis in on field stuff and not enough on moral fibre and ability to stand up against management???? hird the great player Roth win at all cost on field he failed miserably in the coach role. The best field general's may not be the best at overall strategy.

 

[luthor]

Lindsay Tanner currently having a massive dummy-spit.

Sounding like a typical pollie.

 

[Gadzorks]

3 Brownlow Medalists in the year they won it had Dank either in their club or as their 'personal' trainer as I understand it. I think they should take submissions on this. James Hird's Brownlow is one of them as him and Dank go back to his Brownlow season and Hird admitted the coaching staff had the same stuff as I read it somewhere.

I think they should take it off him, it would seem extraordinary if they don't.

If that's the case it's a huge statement on why we need a drug code to keep an even playing field.
Marsh (AFL players association boss) has said he has 'long been a critic of the WADA code ....we have concerns with its applicability'. Is he the right person to lead the inevitable review of cheating in the AFL?

 

[Hollow Knight]

Lindsay Tanner currently having a massive dummy-spit.

Sounding like a typical pollie.

Yep, Essendon sticking to their arrogant "everyone is out to get us" posture.

Increasingly impossible to have sympathy for them.

 

[Kojihama]

Finally sanity prevails and the correct decision is applied. Sad it's happening but glad it's happened. My POV is that as a professional sportsperson, regardless of sport, you are taught that you are responsible for anything that goes into your body. Warney got banned for 12 months for half a pill his mum had given him.. I don't see how this is any different. At least Warney admitted it (even though he blamed someone else)... these players have taken absolutely no responsibility whatsoever and have just blamed the club. Same with the AFLPA... their position is disgraceful. The AFLPA maybe should take a look at themselves and see what else they could've done to educate players to prevent this happening again. Blaming WADA for players negligence is just stupid.

 

[royboy2]

Isn't there something in the code about have 2/3 or more players on the same team getting done then the whole team goes down in some fashion?

Didn't Little repeatedly emphasize that Essendon had only been done for governance issues that it was nothing to do with drugs?

Wouldn't the penalty for being a convicted organised drug cheating mob be greater than that for mere administrative issues (governance)

My level of sympathy for athletes who repeatedly lie when ASADA asks them if they have taken anything not on the list is statistically indistinguishable from zero ...

If they were a cycling team the whole team would be gone for years

 

[Hollow Knight]

Might be a good result for Adcock. Will probably get Crameri's senior spot.

 

[Panthera]

If Essendon finish last, I feel sorry for the team who finishes 17th. They will lose the no 1 pick and not get the re-injection of talent that the Bombers will get in 2017.

Leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

If it's indeed pick #1 - no way the AFL will allow it to stand.

That right there would be bringing the game into disrepute

 

[Hollow Knight]

If it's indeed pick #1 - no way the AFL will allow it to stand.

I bet they do. They would make a call now otherwise.

 

[Panthera]

I bet they do. They would make a call now otherwise.

I've already lost a bet to you recently so I wont go there...but pick #1 cannot be a reward for a club in the particular year that results were as a result of doping offence suspensions.

That'd be like rewarding tanking!!!

Oh wait

 

[POBT]

I reckon Essendon was a pretty fair chance of coming last even without the suspensions.

 

[KissKiss]

The AFL spent most of the last few years apologising for the Bombers and trying to avoid having them wiped out for significant periods of time despite the Bombers antagonising them at every turn... and having some period lapse before deciding on a fairly minor issue is what makes them look weak?

Also bear in mind that it's almost certain that the AFL got the report this morning, the same as everyone else - if anyone in Australian sport had gotten early info there's zero doubt it would've leaked. No real surprise if the CEO hasn't had a chance to actually read a 40-something page report given he would've been in fire-fighting meetings, etc, most of the day. There's no doubt he would have had the salient points summarised to him though.

I agree with the first bit, I guess I am still disappointed in how weak they have been the whole way.

But I disagree with the second paragraph. It is the number one issue for them at the moment and they have had plenty of warning. 40 pages is not that big and even with getting advice on all the legal implications I'd expect him to have set out half an hour this morning to read through it

 

[Ray Button]

Was just cruising the Essendon forum Top Up thread - names being thrown around include Golby & Polkinghorne.

I know Polks is well-placed since he's with Essendon's VFL team, but any idea where Golby has gone?

 

[Roylion]

If it's indeed pick #1 - no way the AFL will allow it to stand.

They will. McLachlan has already confirmed that Essendon will not be issued with any more AFL penalties in light of this morning's announcement. If they finish last, Essendon will receive the No. 1 draft pick.


"The AFL has already acted against the Essendon Football Club with the penalties handed down in 2013 and there will be no further action against the Essendon Football Club by the AFL on this matter.”

 

[POBT]

Was just cruising the Essendon forum Top Up thread - names being thrown around include Golby & Polkinghorne.

I know Polks is well-placed since he's with Essendon's VFL team, but any idea where Golby has gone?

Port Melbourne, IIRC.

 

[Viceregal]

If they were a cycling team the whole team would be gone for years

I suspect that would be more of a deterrent to an organisation in the future who wanted to copy the Dons playbook on the issue ... if the Dons had won a flag over the last few years would the AFL be looking at removing it or just let it ride?

 

[alscotoz2]

I suspect that would be more of a deterrent to an organisation in the future who wanted to copy the Dons playbook on the issue ... if the Dons had won a flag over the last few years would the AFL be looking at removing it or just let it ride?

Surely, it would have to be stripped.

BTW, Hird is such a ****ing prick.

 

[MacMum]

Hird has issued a statement saying this is a miscarriage of justice. WT....!!

Wish he would just disappear never to be seen again, sick of even seeing his name in print.

HUN also reporting one player is already looking to sue the club.......and other players could do so with good cause according to a leading lawyer.

This judgement today is the only right and proper outcome. NOW and only now will the general football public see that the correct action has FINALLY been taken on this dodgy practice. Up until now, it has seemed like a token effort by the AFL to punish with a feather.

Hated the way McLachlin and his co-hort heaped praise on this "great" club in their presser. Sickening.

Essendon will never be great again in my eyes, not in my lifetime.

 

[Hollow Knight]

http://www.ethics.org.au/events/event-details/james-hird-in-conversation

Wow.

 

[Gibbo_88]

I can see former Essendon players suing the club but not so sure about current ones that want to remain there.