It is only an extraordinary revelation to those with their fingers in their ears shouting na na na that the AFL 'knew' is was Essendon. To cove his bum, AD should have rang every club after he rung Essendon so no one could claim he breached the law. Was he stupid enough not to have done so, or maybe he has another defence? AD's 'guilt' put him on the back foot last year, but how it absolves Essendon in any way is beyond belief.

Is it just me or do you picture Asada walking into court in cowboy boots and hat, placing a six shooter on the table, putting both boots up and sucking on a cigar! As to say, "Do your best, you're fu$ked!"

What does it matter if the AFL DID know it was Essendon ? They were obviously under surveillance for a very good and simple reason; they're as guilty as all can. The ACC were watching Dank Carter and Weapon with good cause.

What are Essendrug suggesting ; they're exempt because they had been found out. I.E they're innocent because they're guilty ?

Has anyone seen so much shlt concentrated in one place !!

It goes beyond comedy.

It is only an extraordinary revelation to those with their fingers in their ears shouting na na na that the AFL 'knew' is was Essendon. To cove his bum, AD should have rang every club after he rung Essendon so no one could claim he breached the law. Was he stupid enough not to have done so, or maybe he has another defence? AD's 'guilt' put him on the back foot last year, but how it absolves Essendon in any way is beyond belief.

I don't think Vlad needed to do anything to cover his bum if, as he claims, he wasn't informed by the Feds of the identity of the club. The fact that he had suspicions would probably not be enough to land him in any legal hot water.

The fact that there might have been some wink, wink, nudge, nudge arrangement in place between the various parties won't make the club (or its players and employees) any less guilty if they are found to be so and doesn't make the joint investigation any more or less illegal. If that's the best weapon in their armoury going into an important and expensive legal case, they would be better advised pooling the money set aside for the case, walking into Crown Casino and betting on black or red at the roulette table.

Love the work on this thread

Thanks for the input everyone - especially WJ and others for their insights to how this all works

Essendrug's arguments are unreal. Should change their guernsey for a sash to a snake.

post match Bomber Thompson press conference

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-08-08/postmatch-dons

You can tell he cant wait to get out of that club especially with armageddon about to hit

Odds on him being at the MFC next season?

liked bomba's comment about an "injection of enthusiasm and energy".....hmmmmm

WJ, does the AFL knowing or not have any bearing on the case or is it purely a distraction?

If you will accept the answer from me, it is a distraction only, something we refer to as a "Red Herring".

I don't think Vlad needed to do anything to cover his bum if, as he claims, he wasn't informed by the Feds of the identity of the club. The fact that he had suspicions would probably not be enough to land him in any legal hot water.

Many people were saying he couldn't take on the doctor for fear of this being raised in court so I wasn't aware he claimed that. They'd be enough witnesses to back him up or contradict him, so I'd guess he's either very stupid (unlikely) to claim it or in the clear. Not that it is relevant to Essendon's guilt or innocence.

If you will accept the answer from me, it is a distraction only, something we refer to as a "Red Herring".

lucky you answered it then 'Red'

The parties have filed their submissions in readiness for the opening of Monday's hearing in the Federal Court. It would also appear that the players who have been served with show cause notices will be represented and a brief submission will also be made on their behalf.

This case is not about whether anyone from Essendon took or was given any banned substances.

The Essendon case is that the joint investigation was unlawful. They seem to be using a scattergun approach to bring down everybody involved including the former government but if you follow their logic they were also involved up to the hilt as well. If you believe this line, everybody seemed to be acting in their own self-interest in some conspiracy to sweep the whole thing under the carpet.

There might be a ring of truth in that but all through the 95 pages of the submission, I was waiting for the connection to be made between all of the allegations and hints of conspiratorial conduct and the legal basis for alleging that this joint investigation was unlawful. However, it didn't come and I'm not sure if they've made a case for anything in particular (other than that some lawyers are highly overpaid).

The ASADA case is more matter of fact and lays down its response that the relevant legislation provides for co-operation between ASADA and the relevant sporting body, in this case the AFL.

REDACTED AND CORRECTED OUTLINE OF OPENING SUBMISSIONS

OUTLINE OF RESPONDENT'S OPENING SUBMISSIONS

Youd have to laugh if on Monday after all the presentations Middleton retires for 15 mins to have a nice cup of tea before returning to dismiss the case as having shown nothing to contend.

Make my day

Youd have to laugh if on Monday after all the presentations Middleton retires for 15 mins to have a nice cup of tea before returning to dismiss the case as having shown nothing to contend.

Make my day

I reckon Middleton J might allow it to run the three day course and then reserve his judgement. He's going to have to consider a substantial body of evidence and legal argument and, even if the outcome appears to be simple, a great deal of time and thought needs to be put into addressing those things. End of the month at the earliest unless one of the sides caves in and the parties reach a settlement.

In any event, they won't be playing the Bombers theme song at the end of the proceedings.

http://thecheapseats.com.au/essendon-versus-asada-afl-under-spotlight/

I am now dumber for reading this

http://thecheapseats.com.au/essendon-versus-asada-afl-under-spotlight/

I am now dumber for reading this

My god, that Cheapseats thing was a confusing piece of writing.

Our own Whispering J is the king of clear expression.

From what I can gather, Essendons main defence is their outrage at the fact that the AFL supported the investigation.

As my kids would say...like, er ...if the AFL wants to protect the integrity of the game, how could it not support the investigation?

I also don't get why they're banging on about Demetriou supposedly giving them a warning, as if that's a greater crime than their own funnelling of gallons of Pig [censored] or Bat's Blood or whatever it was into their own players. From what I can see, he'd heard whispers about the Bummers program, heard an investigation was coming, put two and two together and tried to do them a favour. Does absolutely nothing to validate their own disgusting activities.

... From what I can see, he'd heard whispers about the Bummers program, heard an investigation was coming, put two and two together and tried to do them a favour. Does absolutely nothing to validate their own disgusting activities.

That really gets me. Bunch of dirty ingrates.

Just a bit of spice.

Two issues now, the main game , Did Essendon do the wrong thing with drugs?

The secondary item, did the AFL act appropriately in its dealings?

Don't think there is much change.

My god, that Cheapseats thing was a confusing piece of writing.

Our own Whispering J is the king of clear expression.

From what I can gather, Essendons main defence is their outrage at the fact that the AFL supported the investigation.

As my kids would say...like, er ...if the AFL wants to protect the integrity of the game, how could it not support the investigation?

I also don't get why they're banging on about Demetriou supposedly giving them a warning, as if that's a greater crime than their own funnelling of gallons of Pig [censored] or Bat's Blood or whatever it was into their own players. From what I can see, he'd heard whispers about the Bummers program, heard an investigation was coming, put two and two together and tried to do them a favour. Does absolutely nothing to validate their own disgusting activities.

Ess are trying to have the whole thing thrown out by proving it was an illegal investigation and that ASADA acted outside their powers by conducting a joint investigation.

ASADA are saying it is within their powers to conduct a joint investigation but even if it wasn't they could simply start another investigation and get all of the evidence they now have. Ergo throw the Ess case out.

They will win.

Ess are trying to have the whole thing thrown out by proving it was an illegal investigation and that ASADA acted outside their powers by conducting a joint investigation.

ASADA are saying it is within their powers to conduct a joint investigation but even if it wasn't they could simply start another investigation and get all of the evidence they now have. Ergo throw the Ess case out.

They will win.

Which "they"?

The way I see it,

Essendon are all in because they simply have no other option

ASADA are sitting back with the trigger cocked ready to fire the shot that ends the bombers

James Hird is pointing the finger at everyone else

Which "they"?

ASADA!

Let the games.......commence !!!!

Is this on TV? If so what channel and time?

How's it looking?

If it's on tv and you're watching, make sure you have lots of popcorn available.