I agree that the AFL and Essendon are lock step in this together, forever as mutual interests intersect. I also agree that the relevant drug agencies are very unlikely to be influenced by the AFL. I believe the bombers have been major dodgey, but how do you prove it. Tests on samples that they have stored from that time period aren't going to tell us much because the technology hasn't quite caught up yet. Once they have perfected the tests down the track, perhaps we will have a better idea, but until then it all really comes down to Dank. He knows exactly what he gave them, but is unlikely to squeal and incriminate himself. The drug authorities are unlikely to do a deal with him as he is actually the guy they are after.

The AFL is the key here as they took action on Cousins without a positive drug test or criminal conviction. The chances of any penalty that is more than a slap on the rest in my view is very unlikely though, due to as I wrote the intersecting interests.

Mate, if you think any powerful AFL "personalities" are going to influence ASADA/WADA at all, you are sorely mistaken.

I wouldn't underestimate deals being done. ie. Increasing and widening testing in/out of season. Increasing $ for ASADA to conduct more tests.

Why would AFL Commissioner Bill Kelty visit the Hird's residence prior to his interview? Coaching?

#raisesaneyebrow

asada, will do the right thing and kyle reimers will be a credible witness

Captains quarters log: That. Was. Gold.

I think that all posters can already predict the outcome [even more so than the inquiry into our alleged tanking]. If we can be found 'not guilty' of tanking and still fined $500,000 for 'bringing the game into disrepute, then surely Essendon would be fined $2Million whatever the verdict on the same basis [especially when use of drugs in AFL brings the game into disrepute more than tanking does]. These are the facts but it won't happen.

p.s. The figure of $2 million was suggested by a learned QC as being a comparative penalty

p.s. The figure of $2 million was suggested by a learned QC as being a comparative penalty

As opposed to one of those QC's that just wings the exam...

OP: Nah, you're wrong, they're boned. Plus there's already a thread for this.

Wow. Still just getting used to that iPad are you champ?

i'm guessing he was 12 pints deep into a hafty session and thought he was hitting the space bar, but was actually hitting the full stop!

Wow. Still just getting used to that iPad are you champ?

gees for admin u got nothing smart to say

Just smart a#$

If this was going to be handled only by the AFL then I can assure you it would have been swept under the rug... at the end of the day its in their best interests

Edited April 16, 201312 yr by PJ_12345

Let me open with this. I have always admired Hird, a great player, decent human being and wished we had such a champion at our club.

My gut instinct tells me the Essendon Football Club tried to be cutting edge with all this supplement stuff, however my gut instinct also tells me that The Essendon falls within the Too Big To Fail scenario.

The Evans family are powerful in AFL circles, so is the Hird family.

The current AFL CEO was appointed by the AFL Commission - Evans Snr was on the Commission.

Current AFL Commissioner Kelty is very close to Hird and Evans and gave counsel to Hird in recent days.

My gut instinct tells me a deal has been done and the EFC will get a slap over the wrist.

Hird is a demigod in AFL circles and nothing will happen to him and he knows this. Forgive me for been a tad cynical about all this. Hird and the EFC are not bigger than the game itself but the outcome will show the opposite.

Finally I reckon I am not the only one who thinks that this EFC group of players are surprising many with their amazing fitness levels over the past 2 years. Make what you will of that. I smell rats everywhere at this club.

Thats the way it is.

gees for admin u got nothing smart to say

Just smart a#$

Go back and read your post and you might see why Nasher made the comment... seriously.

gees for admin u got nothing smart to say

Just smart a#$

stop digging

gees for admin u got nothing smart to say

Just smart a#$

Your post was barely readable. I don't expect English Professor level grammar, but I do expect people to pay attention to what they're posting. You clearly didn't.

Mrrry take. On this. The bommebyr have. Not taken banned drugs what. They. Have done is they took drugs that not have been.l. aproved for human use they should be fined for this.but what could. Happen is wads might. Find that. The drugs. Are prohibited. If they are then they might. Be in. Trouble. They. Should have had the drugs. Approved. First before takeing them.

They are laying the ground for a snow job.....

They are laying the ground for a snow job.....

Yeah , and there going to bury Hird under it, the bombers are screwed.

Didn't Megan Gale give Hirdy a snow job? Or something similar sounding.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist. It would be just typical though for a club like Essendon to get away with cheating.....again!

Surely the very best that they could hope for is "attempting to cheat".

Surely the very best that they could hope for is "attempting to cheat".

Not guilty but a fine of $3Mn

Let me open with this. I have always admired Hird, a great player, decent human being and wished we had such a champion at our club.

My gut instinct tells me the Essendon Football Club tried to be cutting edge with all this supplement stuff, however my gut instinct also tells me that The Essendon falls within the Too Big To Fail scenario.

The Evans family are powerful in AFL circles, so is the Hird family.

The current AFL CEO was appointed by the AFL Commission - Evans Snr was on the Commission.

Current AFL Commissioner Kelty is very close to Hird and Evans and gave counsel to Hird in recent days.

My gut instinct tells me a deal has been done and the EFC will get a slap over the wrist.

Hird is a demigod in AFL circles and nothing will happen to him and he knows this. Forgive me for been a tad cynical about all this. Hird and the EFC are not bigger than the game itself but the outcome will show the opposite.

Finally I reckon I am not the only one who thinks that this EFC group of players are surprising many with their amazing fitness levels over the past 2 years. Make what you will of that. I smell rats everywhere at this club.

... sharp!!!

My gut also smells something fishy, foul,,, & its a bit like poultry,,, or maybe moreso like a peacock @ the barbie.

I wonder if there is any political inference going on behind the sham scenes?

well connected out @ the Hanger, where the big peacocks fly in to land... & it won't be Andrew demitriou this time round.

if they ONLY fine the bombers for throwing drugs around left right and centre it will be a disgrace. no matter how big the fine.

the message will be "use whatever you want, you just have to pay $".

if youre a rich club, you might as well use them for a year and youll easily get those $ back in revenue.

imagine if a roman abramovic bought a club? heres a cool $100 million boys, use whatever you like, ill pay the fine.

no. they must ban anyone and everyone who is guilty. for years.

Didn't Megan Gale give Hirdy a snow job? Or something similar sounding.

Not snow but blow

Not snow but blow

More of a 'Plato'....

You can bet the ziggy report will as sir humphrey of Yes Minister would say, only have an enquiry when you know what the answer is. The a/cs payable girl will get the flick for paying PED bills without approval.

Andys demeanour last week indicated to me he was not happy and there are likely to be more Bomber shells to explode. Hirds issue is that in the initial presser he took responsibility for the football dept. If others under him go like corcoran he should quit based on this statement. If the reid letter ended in Robsons top draw then Robson should go. All this stuff is about goverance. The AFL will clobber Essendon over this as its easier to prove than the drugs part. There are probably OH and S issues and medicare issues too .