love the way the arrogant shlts are already talking of next seasons finals !!

earth to windyhill....who's going to be in that team ?

Why is their VFL side allowed to play in September??

Why is their VFL side allowed to play in September??

Youd have to think most of the playing list were in the program. Cant be many that will be free and clear.

"Essendon are not a very good football club"

May God have mercy on Bomber Thompson's soul

Who said this?

Why is their VFL side allowed to play in September??

It would be a further concession, like the #18 Pick.

tic toc

tic toc

It would be a further concession, like the #18 Pick.

A pretty ordinary concession to the other clubs when i hear there are about 30 senior players who are eligable!!

It is just so haphazard.

12 months for Hird. I mean really.

The punishment seems light, but let's not forget it's only "disrepute" they've been charged with and 'convicted' for. In that regards, it makes sense that Hird's sentence is equal to Connolly's - he's been found guilty of the same crime.

The outcome of the ASADA investigation, and therefore any charges of players taking substances prohibited by WADA rules, are still yet to come. For those upset about the outcome, don't forget that this hasn't fully played out yet. I'd say the worst is still yet to come.

Pathetic;

• VFL players allowed to continue on.
• Brownlow medalist admitting to having AOD injected that year and keeps his medal.
• No round 1 & 2 draft picks in 2013 and 2014 - except the 2014 end of first round pick we (the AFL) are gfting you.
• 12 month suspension for Mr (Supreme Court) Teflon for overseeing the most extensive team drug consumption programme in the history of professional Australian sport ("The club and myself I see as one entity.", "I take full responsibility")

The punishment seems light, but let's not forget it's only "disrepute" they've been charged with and 'convicted' for. In that regards, it makes sense that Hird's sentence is equal to Connolly's - he's been found guilty of the same crime.

The outcome of the ASADA investigation, and therefore any charges of players taking substances prohibited by WADA rules, are still yet to come. For those upset about the outcome, don't forget that this hasn't fully played out yet. I'd say the worst is still yet to come.

Yeah but surely there are different punishments for the different levels of disrepute? Wasn't Hird himself charged with the same where he made comments about umpire McLaren?

And surely Essendon's level of disrepute far out ranks Melbourne's who everyone in AFL knows just did what a whole bunch of clubs had done before.

The punishment seems light, but let's not forget it's only "disrepute" they've been charged with and 'convicted' for. In that regards, it makes sense that Hird's sentence is equal to Connolly's - he's been found guilty of the same crime.

The outcome of the ASADA investigation, and therefore any charges of players taking substances prohibited by WADA rules, are still yet to come. For those upset about the outcome, don't forget that this hasn't fully played out yet. I'd say the worst is still yet to come.

salient points

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/wada-would-appeal-soft-sanctions-as-afl-prepares-to-charge-essendon-20130811-2rq9h.html

Wonder if WADA will step up to the plate..

A pretty ordinary concession to the other clubs when i hear there are about 30 senior players who are eligable!!

It is just so haphazard.

12 months for Hird. I mean really.

It probably seemed like the easy thing to do at the time as well as not being a big deal.

No doubt the Northern Blues are a bit disappointed.

Yeah but surely there are different punishments for the different levels of disrepute? Wasn't Hird himself charged with the same where he made comments about umpire McLaren?

And surely Essendon's level of disrepute far out ranks Melbourne's who everyone in AFL knows just did what a whole bunch of clubs had done before.

You are dead right. But this is the AFL protecting its outrageously overpriced broadcast deal. There is still 4 years to go and the TV stations need to make money.

But you are right it stinks.

Vlad will leave a mess when he walks.

bummers don't get a first round pick in 2014

but they get the next pick after the first round

this would be pick 18

errrr...isn't pick 18 a first round pick?

It could possibly be #19-24 if a priority pick is granted or if there are still compensatory GCFC/GWS picks to be utilised.

If Essendon finished, say, 8th, they'd normally be entitled to #11. It's still quite a demotion in the pecking order.

It could possibly be #19-24 if a priority pick is granted or if there are still compensatory GCFC/GWS picks to be utilised.

If Essendon finished, say, 8th, they'd normally be entitled to #11. It's still quite a demotion in the pecking order.

The AFL specifically stated in the ruling that the pick would be before any such compensation picks.

The AFL specifically stated in the ruling that the pick would be before any such compensation picks.

I heard that too, but presumably they meant any "after end of round 1 picks".

If a club has pick 4 and a 1st round compo pick giving them pick 5, how can the Essendon pick possibly be before that?

Same goes for a priority pick at pick 1.

Thanks WJ that was a fascinating interview - I couldn't pull myself away from it even though I was running late for something...

I stupidly found myself believing Mark Thompson. I thought it was very interesting when he said that the Essendon football club was very poorly structured when he got there and that it was his job to fix that.

We need someone just like him (from a culture/club like Geelong) - it would be tempting to offer him a job to help build our club with Geelong like foundations. He would like to step out of the spot light but I don't think he will walk on Essendon and we won't get him in any capacity anyway. But the point is we should really be targeting high profile Geelong staff who know what makes a good football club and culture.

Ling is not a staff member but would be a good start.

Well, I agree with what you say Machiavelli however the text on the AFL site reads;

4. The Essendon FC, in 2014, will be granted a selection at the end of round 1 of the National Draft prior to any compensation selections otherwise awarded under the Rules.

Why is their VFL side allowed to play in September??

This is not the reason but apart from anything else, the Essendon VFL side didn't exist in 2012. They were the Bendigo Bombers so technically the VFL can take the points off the Bendigo team (which didn't win a game).

4. The Essendon FC, in 2014, will be granted a selection at the end of round 1 of the National Draft prior to any compensation selections otherwise awarded under the Rules.

It refers to any 'end of 1st round compensation picks (for example, for UFAs or RFAs), not for earlier priority picks or compensation picks awarded mid-round.

It's a logical absurdity that they could get a pick at the end of round 1 before a compensation pick awarded earlier!

Thanks for this Jack.

Its been the best bit of Footy Classified I have seen. It was rivetting stuff.

Although he stuffed up, I really admire Bomber for fronting the media like he did. He is clearly has been doing this hard. This process is gruelling for all parties concerned. I dont understand why they made it harder for themselves with the charade that they have done nothing wrong.

I still dont think its realised what should have happened at EFC from Feb 5 when this issue broke.

The parties connected should have stood aside immediately. It would have taken some of the heat and damage out of this matter.

I am concerned that Bomber may have thought that if ASADA dont find anything that the AFL penalties are inappropriate. Indicated to me that he did not get it.

Mathew Lloyd needs to stop talking about Essendon as we.It slipped a couple of times. He has been hopelessly conflicted this year nad has provided little of value.

People , dont you understand... Essendon are VICTIMS in all this...

well ask them....

Burnside on 3AW:

Hird - so brave, a hero!

Burnside on 3AW:

Hird - so brave, a hero!

And some folk still think Burnside is beyond rebuke. laughable