Bombers scandal: charged, <redacted> and <infracted>

[Sir Why You Little 36,891]

RESISTANCE IS USELESS

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

I find it amazing how the big winner in all this is James Hird!

Essendon:

• lost 2013 Premiership points (taking them out of the final eight);
• lost first & second round draft picks in 2013 & 2014;
• paid a $2Million fine to the AFL;
• paid out another $1M upfront to James Hird; and
• incurred $180K in legal costs.

James Hird (on the other hand):

• receives $1M upfront for taking a holiday in 2014;
• has received a coaching contract extension from 2015 at the same rate; and
• has been rewarded handsomely for being the key player in the supplement scandal.

Because of all the controversy also the Demons were denied a Priority Pick in 2013 despite only winning two matches because Paul Little and the other Club Presidents like Eddie McGuire objected. What a mess the AFL has dug for itself under its overpaid CEO!

Like

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

It must have been comforting for the Essendon faithful who attended the club's AGM last night that their players never took any illegal or performance-enhancing drugs -Essendon chairman Paul Little tells members players did not ingest anything illegal.

The meeting was highlighted by the fact that there was hardly a dissenting voice among the crowd which included the man already appointed to coach the club in 2015, Jimmy Hird who once took responsibility for that which now never happened. No mention of $60,000.00 chemist bills for substances which Little apparently now says were never taken by the players or 4,000 injections, many of them administered off-premises and which must have contained placebos. Or the fact that the records of what was taken have mysteriously disappeared which makes one wonder how Little is so certain of his "facts".

I expect Essendon's lawyers (is that you, Tanya?) have coached Mr Little on the important distinction between ingesting and being injected. If you can't have integrity, at least you can have deniability.

[DemonFrog 1,352]

The new generation of MessyDrug Player

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I can't see Mini Me anywhere.

[puntkick 325]

I want the MFC President to come out and catorgorically state we won't be charged and fined for tanking in 2013 !

Vivala Little Vivala Hird Down with Dimwit !

Long live Meh'ico !

[Gorgoroth 12,910]

They were on drugs when the wrote "they're" on that pic...

[dees189227 12,361]

Little man has missed the point. They might not have been illegal but you still don't know the side effects of the drugs that were injected. Some wernt even meant to be for human use.

The nerve of Hird to go to the AGM. He obviously wanted to get his ego even bigger as he knew the deluded faith would clap him.

I guarantee 100% if it was Knights in the same position he wouldnt be getting the same treatment and he would have been sacked.

[monoccular 17,407]

It must have been comforting for the Essendon faithful who attended the club's AGM last night that their players never took any illegal or performance-enhancing drugs -Essendon chairman Paul Little tells members players did not ingest anything illegal.

The meeting was highlighted by the fact that there was hardly a dissenting voice among the crowd which included the man already appointed to coach the club in 2015, Jimmy Hird who once took responsibility for that which now never happened. No mention of $60,000.00 chemist bills for substances which Little apparently now says were never taken by the players or 4,000 injections, many of them administered off-premises and which must have contained placebos. Or the fact that the records of what was taken have mysteriously disappeared which makes one wonder how Little is so certain of his "facts".

Great summation of the arrogance and delusion endemic at EFC.

Disgraceful that a highly paid CEO would invoke the ostrich defence. Clearly no one at that club has taken responsibility for what went on in 2012. The belief is obviously that nothing wrong was done and that the club, James Hird and Corcoran are being made scapegoats. This is despite there own review finding the contrary.

It is hard to see how Essendon can take the stance they have taken and treat the Weapon like they have or are they saying that things were done wrong at the club but Robinson was the only one who deserved a punisment. I hope the Weapon wins and stiches them up.

Corcoran and Hird have been punished by taking paid holidays. How is that equitable when other good people have copped for more for less?

The Bummers are morally bankrupt and deserve our undying contempt. The have lied cheated and fought dirty through this entire fiasco to the detriment of the AFL and the code. Their actions in honouring club - coach/administrator contracts above AFL sanctions have challenged the authority of the AFL and have set a very dangerous precident. The competition needs the AFL to regulate and to do that the AFL needs authority and Essendons actions undermine that. Without the AFL the competiton cannot exist in its current format, clubs battling each other for self interest without a common purpose will put Melbourne and the Doggies etc at risk and we will end up with an EPL style comp.

The game and the AFL are bigger than EFC - sure, banning them would result in some short or even medium term loss of almighty $$$$s, but allowing them to ride roughshod over the competition makes an even bigger mockery of the AFL and is to the long term detriment of the game and the competition, and of any semblance of integrity the AFL has left.

[puntkick 325]

His legal adviser Tanya probably told him to go and pick up his brown paperbag AFL endorsed Chrissy present !

[Cards13 9,117]

Remember Hird only took responsibility early at the guidance of others and in hindsight wouldn't have said it was his responsibility.

[Crompton's the man 659]

Remember Hird only took responsibility early at the guidance of others and in hindsight wouldn't have said it was his responsibility.

When you say "remember" : has he actually come out and said that he was wrong to have said that ?

(If not then presumably we can still rely on that admission)

[Soidee 1,496]

I've seen some stinkers in my time but this farce must take the cake! Punishment? What is the bloody punishment? For Hird

The only punishment he has received is bad press!!

This country looks bloody stupid with this farcical carp. AFL, Essendon and Demetriou are morally bankrupt.

[Whispering_Jack 29,686]

Let's just keep this one under the rug, Mr. Little - Doctor warns of deadly supplements and in the unlikely event that Essendon's million dollar man runs short of funds, his old mate can help out - Shane "Dr Ageless" Charter links with loan dealer.

[DemonFrog 1,352]

I want the MFC President to come out and catorgorically state we won't be charged and fined for tanking in 2013 !

Vivala Little Vivala Hird Down with Dimwit !

Long live Meh'ico !

2013 the year of the

Edited December 19, 2013 by DemonFrog

[Soidee 1,496]

Smug arrogant and untrustworthy - That is the Essendon Football Club!

Not once during this whole saga have I hear the word sorry come from anyone at this morally bankrupt club.

Thousands of injections of STUFF because no one has a clue what they injected into their bodies!

Paul Little and his arrogant club deserve whatever comes to them. They have brought this great game into shyte hole .

[What 18,810]

did i read correctly.... James Hird actually turned up to the AGM?

[Bedraggled Dee 336]

Yep Hird apparantly was there. Cant believe that so few people at this club hold this man to account for the disaster that was last season without even considering the impact physically and mentally on the group of young men that were under his duty of care.

I suspect that this cult will end up where it should despit Demetiou and the AFL's best efforts. Little and Hird will get found out playing the short game (the AFL and next season) when the focus should have always been on the long game (ASADA/WADA) and the ensuing legal action by players and officials that will bankrupt them.

It will play out shortly after Cronulla are dealt just after the New Year.

[daisycutter 29,596]

seems hird's real punishment was being banned from the xmas party

i wonder if ahmed saad has put his request in to the afl for his $1M lump sum yet?

[old dee 23,682]

did i read correctly.... James Hird actually turned up to the AGM?

Yep your eye sight is excellent!

[jazza 1,323]

did i read correctly.... James Hird actually turned up to the AGM?

levitated in and then sat cross legged on a persian floating rug

rose petals were rained down on him every 3 minutes

tania counted the rose petals for proof of adoration

[old dee 23,682]

Still no charges !

[dee-luded 2,959]

And by the way, totally agree with (ex) WADA President John Fahey when he questions why Worksafe Victoria have not, nor are they, investigating the EFC in regard to this supplement/injection program.

Remember those ads where employers' faces went grey with fear as the Worksafe inspector arrived?

Another level of farce, pretence and cover-up.

political involvement no doubt, 'peacock' feathers all around windy hill.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Some views from the Murdoch press on the subject -

Andrew Demetriou is preparing for the fight of his professional life, writes Rebecca Wilson

A million bucks for Hird to twiddle his thumbs - quite a punishment

And this story from Emma Quayle at Fairfax - Essendon warned charges loom

Caroline Wilson is apparently on leave ATM.

Nothing new from Uncle Roy since he savaged Vlad on Wednesday.

christmas wish

[Pink Freud 364]

I've been very impressed by the way the NRL CEO has conducted himself in handling the Cronulla situation. He's smooth and comes across as a highly competent operator. I can't see the Sharks or any other club making him look the dill like Essendon did to Vlad.