Starting to get the feeling the players wont face any sanctions.

Yep

Thursday is d-day - Hird or teh The Bombers.. could be one of teh biggest days in football tomorrow.

Don't think anything will happen tomorrow.

The players will get off, the club will get 2mil fine, lose points this year (useless) and draft penalties for this year only.

Will be the biggest joke since..., well since forever!

Don't think anything will happen tomorrow.

The players will get off, the club will get 2mil fine, lose points this year (useless) and draft penalties for this year only.

Will be the biggest joke since..., well since forever!

I expect you are right. I can't see how the drug saga is only 4 times in $ as damaging to the AFL as the 'MFC didn't tanked' saga was. But this is the ever consistent AFL so $2m wouldn't surprise me.

I have a funny feeling we're only seeing the start of things now.

The various parties are positioning themselves. They are shoring up their defences ( with wigs ) and posturing prior to the real stoush.

I also think that for the first time in a long whiles Demetriou may well and truly come unstuck. This is not totally his circus though without doubt a star clown.

This is not some inclusive look and see/ slap on wrist between Essendon and the League, even if thats what they might like it to be. We have other outside interested parties. WADA, ASADA The AFLPA, The Gov itself and then we have the disgruntled. Robinson, and Dank. Dont forget the self serving piousness of the media ( well certain elements therein ).

Grab your seats

oh....and like a dam...it will take only one well placed crack Once the fabric of cohesiveness breaks it will be catastrophic.

I expect you are right. I can't see how the drug saga is only 4 times in $ as damaging to the AFL as the 'MFC didn't tanked' saga was. But this is the ever consistent AFL so $2m wouldn't surprise me.

They had a net profit of $400k last year so with a $2m fine + loss of members, sponsorships, and axings/appointments things could get messy.

Also I'd expect draft repercussions - priceless and would be the biggest fine.

There are deep DEEP pockets at Essendon...money lives in the woodwork there.

Fine them 5M and they could find it. Fine us the same wed be finished.

Don't think anything will happen tomorrow.

The players will get off, the club will get 2mil fine, lose points this year (useless) and draft penalties for this year only.

Will be the biggest joke since..., well since forever!

The AFL may well fine the club and take away their premiership points, but the AFL will have nothing to do with, and no say in, player bans. As I understand it, ASADA was given greater investigative powers (correct me if I'm wrong) and this is far from over (the report handed over the other day was just an interim report)... ASADA/WADA will have absolutely no qualms about passing on player bans and there will be nothing that the AFL, Essendon FC, Hird, etc can do about it.

So what happens if Essendon is banned from the comp under the two or more players in a team rule. Do the AFL invite a Williamstown or some other established club to join the comp? They won't/can't have a bye under the TV rights deal.

So what happens if Essendon is banned from the comp under the two or more players in a team rule. Do the AFL invite a Williamstown or some other established club to join the comp? They won't/can't have a bye under the TV rights deal.

probably get the mfc to field two sides - lol

probably get the mfc to field two sides - lol

Maybe our best chance of a win in 2014 dc

probably get the mfc to field two sides - lol

hell...we can field ONE !!!

So what happens if Essendon is banned from the comp under the two or more players in a team rule. Do the AFL invite a Williamstown or some other established club to join the comp? They won't/can't have a bye under the TV rights deal.

Could be the opening that Tasmania has been waiting for

So what happens if Essendon is banned from the comp under the two or more players in a team rule. Do the AFL invite a Williamstown or some other established club to join the comp? They won't/can't have a bye under the TV rights deal.

probably Otway districts or Apollo bay. it would depend who finishes higher on the ladder

probably Otway districts or Apollo bay. it would depend who finishes higher on the ladder

we dont want anyone toooo good . Like to win a few games next year

Prefer Norwood myself it might give me something in red and blue worth watching.

we dont want anyone toooo good . Like to win a few games next year

We can all dream bb

Prefer Norwood myself it might give me something in red and blue worth watching.

What ever happened to Dandenong ?

What ever happened to Dandenong ?

They went down the path the MFC has been on for a few years bb

Now just a memory

So it seems the players will be safe because (according to media reports) ASADA can't tell who took what, the players have provided no positive test results and the consent forms signed were insufficient in that they didn't differentiate between approved and non-approved supplements. While the knee jerk reaction might be to suggest that this is a bad result, I actually think it's a good one as long as significant penalties are handed out to the club. I've always believed the players were innocent pawns (irrespective of the WADA directive that players are responsible for what they take).

Whether the AFL-supporting community is satisfied will depend on what penalties the AFL now imposes. It's somewhat similar to the tanking matter in that there is no proof that Melbourne tanked and, apparently, no proof that Essendon players took non-approved supplements. However, I think Essendon's culpability is greater as it took the game into a greater area of disrepute than did (allegedly) Melbourne. I'm not convinced that there will be points taken away or draft restrictions, but I think a number of the employees of the Essendon Football Club will be suspended or forced to stand down. If Dean Bailey can be suspended for 16 weeks (is that the right amount? correct me if I'm wrong) then I think James Hird will be suspended for 12 months. And I don't think he'll be the only one.

ldvc

jobe was under the impression that he signed a form stating he would be injected with AOD

im not sure but think its relevant that hes under the impression of taking AOD

this is apparently enough to get you suspended by WADA

personally I think they will go soft,but am hoping for the full brunt of the law

So it seems the players will be safe because (according to media reports) ASADA can't tell who took what, the players have provided no positive test results and the consent forms signed were insufficient in that they didn't differentiate between approved and non-approved supplements. While the knee jerk reaction might be to suggest that this is a bad result, I actually think it's a good one as long as significant penalties are handed out to the club. I've always believed the players were innocent pawns (irrespective of the WADA directive that players are responsible for what they take).

I must admit I have a different view. I was never expecting ASADA to get positive test results and nor would I expect paperwork to be in order for such an investigation. But I don't see why that means that the players should get off or be seen as innocent?

Whilst I think the players are victims of a 'pack mentality' where there would have been a lot of pressure to sign up and do things because everyone else has done so... I am still very dubious of the fact that these players didn't think something funny was going on either. How more 'innocent' are these guys than Ahmed Saad really? I think they are all idiots, and the EFC has let them down very badly.

If every players escape penalty here, I would be amazed, and ASADA would look like a joke to the rest of the world in my opinion. The AFL are conflicted in this because they don't want to damage their competition by suspending half the players, but if that is what it takes, it should be done.

Melb Storm played a season without points, they came through it, why would the EFC and their 50k odd members be any different?

I must admit I have a different view. I was never expecting ASADA to get positive test results and nor would I expect paperwork to be in order for such an investigation. But I don't see why that means that the players should get off or be seen as innocent?

Whilst I think the players are victims of a 'pack mentality' where there would have been a lot of pressure to sign up and do things because everyone else has done so... I am still very dubious of the fact that these players didn't think something funny was going on either. How more 'innocent' are these guys than Ahmed Saad really? I think they are all idiots, and the EFC has let them down very badly.

If every players escape penalty here, I would be amazed, and ASADA would look like a joke to the rest of the world in my opinion. The AFL are conflicted in this because they don't want to damage their competition by suspending half the players, but if that is what it takes, it should be done.

Melb Storm played a season without points, they came through it, why would the EFC and their 50k odd members be any different?

THIS ^^^^^

If they get away with this I will loathe and despise them even more.

I have a healthy detest for Collingwood. It's in the fine print when you sign up as a Dee. I don't hate them per se and admire and respect them as a club, but they are filth lol

Carlton I can't stand and we can all think of any number of reasons to fulfill that stance.

Essendon I particularly dislike, to the point of actual hate. This would be the tipping for mine.

If they get away with this I wish loathe and despise they even more.

I have a healthy detest for Collingwwod. Its in the fine print when you sign up as a Dee. I dont hate them per se and admire and respect them as a club, but they are filth lol

Carlton I cant stand and we can all think of any number of reasons to fulfill that stance.

Essendon I particularly dislike, to the point of actual hate. This would be the tipping for mine.

bb59, I think you're conflicted. If Essendon lose points this year before the final series, Carlton may end up in the eight by default. How will you cope with that?

Edit: typo