Great post RPFC.

  On 07/02/2013 at 03:50, billy2803 said:

I'm not sure how anyone else feels about the AFL and world sport in general at the moment, but me, I'm starting to get a bit sick of it to be honest.

Being a Melbourne supporter all my life (30-40 years), like most on here I have never experienced the ultimate success. 1987 was heartbreaking, 1988 was embarrassing, 2000 was expected but still bloody hurt. All I wanted growing up, and all I still want to this day, is to celebrate my beloved Demons winning a flag.

At stages in my life, I've probably been guilty of thinking that I'd do anything to see us win a flag, and hoped that the Club felt the same. But to what extent does a team have to go to to reach such heights? I look back in my time and remember the dominant Hawthorn team of the 80's, the power of the Eagles in the early 90's, the brilliance of Essendon in 2000, the Brisbane legacy of the early to mid 2000's, and the recent Geelong era. But did I sit back watching in admiration and jealousy under false pretense?

I read on here recently about the rumour of the 80's Hawthorn team being on the juice. The Eagles were always rumoured to have had assistance, even to the point where one of their premiership players hinting to me a couple of years ago (in a private conversation) that there was a great deal of fact behind some of those reports. Essendon in 2000? Based on the past 48 hours - who knows? And given the connection between then coach, Mark Thompson and the men of the moment, "The Pharmacist" and "The Weapon", questions have to be raised about the Geelong team. The only one I'm yet to hear anything about is the Lions (although Alastair Lynch's treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome wereas questionable), which I sincerley hope their 3-peat is squeaky clean, because I have no doubt that team was the best I've seen in my life time.

So, it makes me wonder, is it really worth winning a flag? Are we going to be able to legally compete against some of these top sides, especially if we keep our noses clean (pun intended), when at various stages others don't? I don't know what would be more heartbreaking, going through life not seeing a flag, or finding my team that dominated an era and created its own legacy did so under the assistance of drugs.

Luckily(?) it's not just AFL that is under the pump. However, it is a terrible shame that elite sport has come to this, and hope that either the senior figures of all codes can stamp it out, or that I'm overreacting!

I was told a quote one day out fishing when I lost the standard "big one". It is better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all. I guess we would all love to feel that sensation of winning a flag, even if years later it was found that we had assistance. To leave here one day not knowing what that feeling is like, good folk like ourselves shouldn't be put in that situation.

I'm old enough to have seen flags and would love to see a few more, but if it means the players have to take drugs I'd rather not.

I long for the day the players will once again rely on their natural ability and not on some mystery potion that in some cases may even have a detrimental effect on their health down the track. Football may not have been as fast and as spectacular years ago but at least it was honest.

  On 07/02/2013 at 23:46, RobbieF said:

I'm old enough to have seen flags and would love to see a few more, but if it means the players have to take drugs I'd rather not.

I long for the day the players will once again rely on their natural ability and not on some mystery potion that in some cases may even have a detrimental effect on their health down the track. Football may not have been as fast and as spectacular years ago but at least it was honest.

Amen to that RobbieF

There is no going back I know but I do long for those days.

For some time now I have had no interest in Cycling or Athletics and as a consequence the Olympic games.

The sad part is now my enthusiasm for Football codes is diminished because every time I see a great performance

I think Hmm I wonder if.....

  On 08/02/2013 at 01:11, old dee said:

Amen to that RobbieF

There is no going back I know but I do long for those days.

For some time now I have had no interest in Cycling or Athletics and as a consequence the Olympic games.

The sad part is now my enthusiasm for Football codes is diminished because every time I see a great performance

I think Hmm I wonder if.....

been wondering that for more than 10 years od. ever since players suddenly started looking like action figures

another good reason to reduce rotations and reduce the gut running, continuous maul style of football

  On 07/02/2013 at 03:50, billy2803 said:

I'm not sure how anyone else feels about the AFL and world sport in general at the moment, but me, I'm starting to get a bit sick of it to be honest.

Being a Melbourne supporter all my life (30-40 years), like most on here I have never experienced the ultimate success. 1987 was heartbreaking, 1988 was embarrassing, 2000 was expected but still bloody hurt. All I wanted growing up, and all I still want to this day, is to celebrate my beloved Demons winning a flag.

I make no secret of my distaste of where the game has been going for the last 7 odd years, or more.

I don't like the 'Bling ness', of the game now, where it is as much about sculpted body looks, as it is about old fashioned footy & biffo.

"Bling ness". Imagery, the way the game has been tailored to the player being able to appear like a gladiator, but still run flat out for bits of a 2HR game.

I liked it better before the professional era came in, where players had jobs, & occaisionally got [censored].

the FUN has gone, into an ether of stats & data, & a blur of bodies off & on the interchange bench...

  On 08/02/2013 at 01:46, dee-luded said:

I make no secret of my distaste of where the game has been going for the last 7 odd years, or more.

I don't like the 'Bling ness', of the game now, where it is as much about sculpted body looks, as it is about old fashioned footy & biffo.

"Bling ness". Imagery, the way the game has been tailored to the player being able to appear like a gladiator, but still run flat out for bits of a 2HR game.

I liked it better before the professional era came in, where players had jobs, & occaisionally got [censored].

the FUN has gone, into an ether of stats & data, & a blur of bodies off & on the interchange bench...

i think we all did DL.

I shall always prefer Hendrix & The Stones when i listen to music but those days are over.

It shall be interesting to see what happens. This is the first time the AFL are not in full control.

They will not like that at all.

  On 08/02/2013 at 02:17, why you little said:

i think we all did DL.

I shall always prefer Hendrix & The Stones when i listen to music but those days are over.

It shall be interesting to see what happens. This is the first time the AFL are not in full control.

They will not like that at all.

This is the concerning part for me WYL, especially with our own investigation still lurking.

Pre-yesterday's events, the AFL had more reason to close the case as quetly as possible. Now, given that the integrity of the game is being questioned by many, they have a chance to go hard on us, just like they will have to go hard on Essendon.

I have a gutfeel that if they had any intention of punishing us, there is greater opportunity, and probably expectation, that they will ramp that right up.

It will be an interesting year in football, season 2013.

  On 07/02/2013 at 10:30, Jman said:

Of course we were drug free - why would we take performance enhancing drugs if we were supposedly trying to lose?

LOL. Aint that the truth!? If they are so dead-set about accusing us of trying to lose, they can hardly also accuse us of taking performance-ENHANCING substances!

Love it!

  On 08/02/2013 at 02:23, billy2803 said:

This is the concerning part for me WYL, especially with our own investigation still lurking.

Pre-yesterday's events, the AFL had more reason to close the case as quetly as possible. Now, given that the integrity of the game is being questioned by many, they have a chance to go hard on us, just like they will have to go hard on Essendon.

I have a gutfeel that if they had any intention of punishing us, there is greater opportunity, and probably expectation, that they will ramp that right up.

It will be an interesting year in football, season 2013.

but Billy, the AFL may want to go hard on us...but with what hard evidence? Fumbling the ball??

The AFL are right in it now...The MFC will defend these charges i have no doubt.

I was waiting for serious allegations but i really don't think they are available. If they were, i am sure the MFC would have been advised.

  On 08/02/2013 at 02:33, why you little said:

but Billy, the AFL may want to go hard on us...but with what hard evidence? Fumbling the ball??

The AFL are right in it now...The MFC will defend these charges i have no doubt.

I was waiting for serious allegations but i really don't think they are available. If they were, i am sure the MFC would have been advised.

Time will tell WYL. I hope to Chirst that you are right, because I know that I will proudly tell all of my mates that we have been cleared of tanking, and show them the ladder to prove we are definitely not on performance enhancing substances!

  On 08/02/2013 at 02:17, why you little said:

i think we all did DL.

I shall always prefer Hendrix & The Stones when i listen to music but those days are over.

It shall be interesting to see what happens. This is the first time the AFL are not in full control.

They will not like that at all.

The Ox had 'wind' of this investigation on supplements & organised crime in sport,12 months back thru his gambling support contacts. He had to keep quiet about it.

I think some have has word of it for the past month or 2.

Pert went public for a reason, 5 or so weeks back. And then Ed backed him.

I don't believe the Bombers have just heard of it in the last days, but think it has been released in the media as a timed release, with all parties teed up into a public mudia scrum schedule.

Just the timing was required to announce the issue & the heat to follow.

So IMO, the AFL would have known well before Xmas.

  On 08/02/2013 at 10:10, dee-luded said:

The Ox had 'wind' of this investigation on supplements & organised crime in sport,12 months back thru his gambling support contacts. He had to keep quiet about it.

I think some have has word of it for the past month or 2.

Pert went public for a reason, 5 or so weeks back. And then Ed backed him.

I don't believe the Bombers have just heard of it in the last days, but think it has been released in the media as a timed release, with all parties teed up into a public mudia scrum schedule.

Just the timing was required to announce the issue & the heat to follow.

So IMO, the AFL would have known well before Xmas.

yes. But this is now a WADA and ACC issue. The AFL can only sit and sweat right now.