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

[mjt 640]

from bomebr blitz;

Someone on another clubs coterie told me two Victorian clubs. One pretty wealthy club (assuming Collingwood, Carlton or Hawthorn) and one club that is known for being battlers (Melbourne, North, Doggies, Saints[?]).

oh man i hope we arent involved!

Yeah looks like J Watts is on the junk, christ it took the kid 4 yrs to put on 10kgs, theres no way its us.

[Robbie57 2,020]

As in - they have names and will prosecute?

No doubt from earlier presser is that they have names but cant release them for obvious statutory restrictions not to mention, operational and privacy reasons.

Vic Pol saying use of performance enhancing drugs more problematic from a prosecution point of view but use of illicit drugs and fixing will be subject to possible prosecution.

[Robbie57 2,020]

Vic Pol:

"Competition design is a risk factor around match fixing."

[sue 9,096]

Interestingly I was just thinking that - presumably, like the AFL Integrity mob, the Crime Commission leaks.

I don't think it has. The AFL has leaked about us for months. Clearly to organize today's presser the Crime Commission had to inform lots of people, politicians, various codes and print the report. It is quite likely there would be a leak at a late stage, for example 2 days ago a supporter of a certain club working at the printers.... gosh I could take CW's job,

[The Reverend 1,736]

A bit off topic, but: You've got to hand it to journos. Here is the first few sentences by M Robinson today:

UNQUESTIONABLY, James Hird would have asked himself in recent days whether he should resign as Essendon coach.

The answer is no. Resign for what?

That Hird even contemplated the question tells us the weight of responsibility he feels.

Sentence 1 - speculation

Sentence 3 - written as if the speculation was fact.

It may be that I've missed seeing elsewhere (and before this article was written) that Hird had said he had considered reigning, but then sentence 1 is wrong.

What a difference one letter can make>

[DemonWA 3,929]

Yeah looks like J Watts is on the junk, christ it took the kid 4 yrs to put on 10kgs, theres no way its us.

Im just paranoid! Misson and Craig are cutting edge sports scientists afterall!

But you're right, Morton didnt bulk up last year so we couldnt have been on anythig decent

[Robbie57 2,020]

I don't think it has. The AFL has leaked about us for months. Clearly to organize today's presser the Crime Commission had to inform lots of people, politicians, various codes and print the report. It is quite likely there would be a leak at a late stage, for example 2 days ago a supporter of a certain club working at the printers.... gosh I could take CW's job,

Clearly ACC does not leak that would be extraordinary and explains why Essendon suddenly knew about it. No doubt they were told what was going to be in the report release today over the weekend.

Doubt the AFL knew much earlier.

[beelzebub 23,313]

surf's up !!

[monoccular 17,413]

Im just paranoid! Misson and Craig are cutting edge sports scientists afterall!

But you're right, Morton didnt bulk up last year so we couldnt have been on anythig decent

Cale was probably scared of needles;-)

[Range Rover 1,935]

I find the charge of forcing players to accept injections against their will, absolutely heinous.

I'm not a parent ... but few things would be more repellent to me if I had kids and was in the process of guiding them into a particular sport.

The scribes are right. This is the biggest scandal in AFL history.

[sue 9,096]

Well, maybe the Demons have been a really good side for the last few years. Just looked awful because everyone else was cheating.

[monoccular 17,413]

Will Dimitriou use a STRONG ARM and LANCE this boil before it destroys the brand?

[biggestred 5,015]

players being injected with stuff that hasnt undergone human testing?

told they are given stuff that is legal, when it is illegal and just dressed up as legal stuff? ie itd be pretty easy to put HGH in vitamin B containers....

wow, just wow.

[1858 285]

Im just paranoid! Misson and Craig are cutting edge sports scientists afterall!

But you're right, Morton didnt bulk up last year so we couldnt have been on anythig decent

I have utmost confidence in Craig. When he says "high performance with high integrity" he means it.

In 2006 Dank approached the Crows with his "services" and in no uncertain terms he was told they were not required. He recently got knocked back by us, common denominator is Craig.

We're in good hands.

[monoccular 17,413]

I find the charge of forcing players to accept injections against their will, absolutely heinous.

I'm not a parent ... but few things would be more repellent to me if I had kids and was in the process of guiding them into a particular sport.

The scribes are right. This is the biggest scandal in AFL history.

players being injected with stuff that hasnt undergone human testing?

told they are given stuff that is legal, when it is illegal and just dressed up as legal stuff? ie itd be pretty easy to put HGH in vitamin B containers....

wow, just wow.

Totally unconscionable behaviour by any club.

Shame, Bombers, Shame.

Surely it is criminal, and presumably sanctioned by the club.

Shame

[old55 23,392]

An instance of team-based doping, orchestrated by some club officials and coaching staff, has also been identified ...

... While the level of suspected use of peptides varies between sporting codes, officials from one club have been identified as administering, via injections and intravenous drips, a variety of substances, possibly including peptides. Moreover, the substances were administered at levels which were possibly in breach of WADA anti-doping rules ...

... The apparent willingness of some high-performance coaches, trainers and sportsscientists to administer WADA-prohibited and experimental drugs and their advocacy of ‘off-label’ substance use, raises concerns over the welfare of players who are being administered these substances and broader issues for sports administrators in Australia. It was also identified that some high-performance coaching staff utilised medical staff

rom outside their respective clubs to administer substances to players. In some cases, the medical staff administering these substances were not communicating with the appointed team doctors nor advising team doctors of the treatments or substances being administered to players. No party appeared to be maintaining comprehensive medical records in relation to treatments being given to players. (my underlining).

That's why Evans, Robson and Hird were looking "ashen-faced ©" at their press conference. But there's quite a few "possiblies" in there.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Totally unconscionable behaviour by any club.

Shame, Bombers, Shame.

Surely it is criminal, and presumably sanctioned by the club.

Shame

I would not be surprised if a number of parents of Essendon players are in contact with police and/or lawyers today.

[DeeVoted 583]

The can of worms has just has its lid blown clean off.

I'll start with taking a swipe back at our so called expert sports writers, not all of them, but we all know who they are.

Seems they have been all too busy slandering the MFC and demanding we had the book thrown at us,they have missed leaking or alludiing to a story, that is the biggest in Australian sports history. They were all pretty good at throwing and digging up mud to support their agenda. I wont rehash it all over again, but you'll understand my point.

Speculation:

I would guess that the AFL / Essendon knew the news on this drug investigation was on the verge of breaking and therefore gave the EFC a chance to announce any concerns that they had before this Doping investigation was blown wide open. In other words, announce their concerns and do it now.or face harsher penalities if anything un-toward is found to be within their club. Not a get out of jail free card,but lessen the penalty if any proven. My hunch is the AFL informed the EFC, the best we can do for you, is warn you, its in your best interests, to come out and make a statement on your own accord. After that its out of our hands.

My 1st thoughts when it was announced by the EFC was you beauty!! I hope you go down big time, if proven illegal drugs have been involved within the club. Probably because we have just been put through the wringer re our 'tanking'. It was nice to hear someone else in the gun.

But having digested most of the facts and the penalities that can be invoked, I hope they are clean. I also hope no other AFL club get hits hard over this. I pray like hell, the name of the MFC doesnt even get a mention in passing. Even though McLardy said we have nothing to worry about. Reassurring as that is, I'll rest easy when an offical announcement to made known by ASADA there is no mention of the MFC or any parties assocciated with it. Then they announce who they will be targetting, then who faces penalities.

I HATE C'wood Essendon, Carlton as my top 3 teams, made no mistake about that. But wishing any of them to face these charges, is NOT something I would want to hear or see . If the Dees were confronting this, I would be well past shattered.

Lets remember, when the MFC was looking down the barrel, Eddie / CFC were one of the 1st to help with a lending hand. We as a code, should at the end of the day, stand side by side when support is required. But I'll take thrashing them on a footy ground and 20 goals and not blink an eyelid.

Anyone that has a teenager hoping to play AFL or any other sport, would like to know that their kid isnt about to be pumped full of drugs, to keep in pace, or make them better than someone else. Use natural ability, not reliant on drugs to perform.

If ,and it doesnt sound good at stands atm, Essendons lifeline may be beyond help, if its proven. It will be a sad day. It makes our tanking investigation look like a ripple in the ocean.

I welcome the stand ASADA / AFL has taken to stamp out drugs in sport. it should make anyone think long and hard when managing players etc.

There is no place for drugs, organised crime, gambling running our game. I hope for a good outcome for all that have come under investigation. But if found guilty. They can only blame themselves, and they get what they deserve.

Edited February 7, 2013 by DeeVoted

[daisycutter 29,604]

Yeah looks like J Watts is on the junk, christ it took the kid 4 yrs to put on 10kgs, theres no way its us.

Exhibit 1 your honour....I give you Cale Morton

Exhibit 2 Jack Watts

Exhibit 3 Lucas Cook

Exhibit 4 Jordan Gysberts

We rest our case

[Range Rover 1,935]

Exhibit 1 your honour....I give you Cale Morton

Exhibit 2 Jack Watts

Exhibit 3 Lucas Cook

Exhibit 4 Jordan Gysberts

We rest our case

Judge: "The jury has announced it needs more time to deliberate".

OldDee QC for the Defence: "Permission to approach the bench, Your Honour ..."

Judge: "Granted".

OldDee QC for the Defence: "Listen ...we didn't think we'd need to submit Exhibit 5 but here it is ..."

Judge: "Case dismissed ... Next!"

[Dan Fantastik 50]

Hilarious selection of comments from Essendon supporters in the 'Hun today.

"As a lifelong supporter of the Essendon Football Club I will be tearing up my membership."

"As a 71.y.o lifelong supporter, I am finished with this club. To imagine these practices could go on unnoticed by club officials on the scale it appears to have done beggars belief. 100 years of proud tradition wiped out."

"As an Essendon supporter I think the club should not be able to play for premiership points this year and should be stripped of all draft picks. You do the crime you do the time."

Talk about perception becoming reality!

I dont see how this is hilarious...

The supporters dont deserve this, Imagine if it was us in there position.

[daisycutter 29,604]

I dont see how this is hilarious...

The supporters dont deserve this, Imagine if it was us in there position.

yeah, makes we want to cry

i'm enjoying essendopes discomfort after so many years of personally putting up with their arrogant put-downs, regardless of their innocence or otherwise

[diesel 420]

Here's the juicy bit from the ACC report as it may relate to Essendon?

ELITE ATHLETES

Widespread use of peptides has been identified, or is suspected by the ACC, in a number

of professional sporting codes in Australia. Although the use of peptides appears to be

more widespread in some major codes, individuals from a number of other sports are also

suspected of using peptides.

Multiple players (in one code) from a number of clubs are suspected of currently using or

having previously used peptides, which could constitute an anti-doping rule violation.

Some players have also been identified as sourcing peptides for personal use. An instance

of team-based doping, orchestrated by some club officials and coaching staff, has also been

identified.

Apart from the peptide’s anabolic effects, it has been found that injured elite athletes,

particularly players from one sporting code, have been using peptides to assist in

rehabilitating soft tissue injuries.

While the level of suspected use of peptides varies between sporting codes, officials

from one club have been identified as administering, via injections and intravenous drips,

a variety of substances, possibly including peptides. Moreover, the substances were

administered at levels which were possibly in breach of WADA anti-doping rules. This

activity was orchestrated by some club officials and the club’s high performance unit.

[Grapeviney 9,712]

I dont see how this is hilarious...

The supporters dont deserve this, Imagine if it was us in there position.

We are in their position - there are allegations against us which have not been proven.

Have you torn up your membership?

[rjay 24,877]

Does anyone here believe AD's claim that Essendon didn't know this report and press conference were coming????