Unfortunately, ASADA now look ridiculous. Here's three weeks Cronulla but Essendon, we are still going after you...well, sort of.

They have denied it. Why do they look ridiculous? Because another poorly informed media hack writes a BS story?

Dank's been handed a lifetime ban from the NRL

I don't understand the Cronulla back dating.

I mean, I get that you can backdate a ban, but weren't those players PLAYING during that backdated period?

How is that a ban?

I is confused.

I don't understand the Cronulla back dating.

I mean, I get that you can backdate a ban, but weren't those players PLAYING during that backdated period?

How is that a ban?

I is confused.

Me too 'Choke' as I've said before just doesn't add up. It's the rule for some and then for others, it seems poor athletes are the others and rich athletes or those with huge backing are the some.

Turds first day back at work... Bombers fans celebrating.

Dank's been handed a lifetime ban from the NRL

This decision is about the only thing in this messy saga that everyone - the NRL, AFL, media, ASADA and supporters - all agree with. Appears Dank is completely friendless.

Turds first day back at work... Bombers fans celebrating.

Hope he enjoys the month or 2 before his life ban

I can't see that happening now, the whole process has been a farce and continues to be. I feel they will get away with most of it at this point.

If I was an Olympic athlete I would be livid at the seeming double standards applied to them than to Ess and Cronulla.

Whispering you have mentioned a couple of times the reason there is very little leniency in the ASADA - WADA code is to not allow an athlete to say a coach/doctor/physio/friend/hanger on gave them a banned substance they were unaware of, the Cronulla back dating seems to fly in the face of that ethos. Penny for your thoughts in it?

the longer this goes on the more it smacks of bulldust deals being done and pressure being put on asada by politicians.

Bombers snub AFL soft bans deal

"ESSENDON’S board rejected a quick fix to footy’s drug crisis by which players would serve bans in the off-season and not miss any matches.

Bombers chairman Paul Little raised the option with the club’s directors at 3pm on Thursday, hours after a meeting with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan at AFL House."

This is definitely about the club not admitting any guilt lest it open itself to a whole lot of nasty stuff..

Still not admitting isnt the same as being innocent....eh Paul !!!!

Players will be collateral damage in a war of egos.

Silly silly Essendon

how the hell can the afl offer reduced bans?

how the hell can the afl offer reduced bans?

Its actually theAFL who hands down the ban . WADA/ASADA wil ldetermin eit but the actual sporting code themselves issues the ban.

Just call it unfortunate and/or provacative headlining !!!

Its actually theAFL who hands down the ban . WADA/ASADA wil ldetermin eit but the actual sporting code themselves issues the ban.

Just call it unfortunate and/or provacative headlining !!!

yes but i mean how can the AFL offer a reduced ban over the off-season? surely asada wouldnt approve that? unless there was extraordinary pressure from someone higher up (ie govt.). oh. wait.

surely wada wont stand for this

yes but i mean how can the AFL offer a reduced ban over the off-season? surely asada wouldnt approve that? unless there was extraordinary pressure from someone higher up (ie govt.). oh. wait.

surely wada wont stand for this

Youll probably find its a bit of a beat up.. WADA/ASADA wont offer anything whilst Middleton is still out there thinking.

Essendon are the current kings of propaganda remember.

how the hell can the afl offer reduced bans?

They haven't.

Gill denied it tonight.

ASADA boss flatly denied any deal with Bombers until after Federal Court decision.

This may be nothing more than Gill asking Little if it was offered by ASADA what would be the club's reaction. Interestingly it is the player's decision and they don't need to decide as there is no offer on the table.

All these rumours on the day Hird returns. Distraction?

All these rumours on the day Hird returns. Distraction?

Essendon still trying to set the agenda. Theyll be knocked back into their Little box soon enough .

They haven't.

Gill denied it tonight.

ASADA boss flatly denied any deal with Bombers until after Federal Court decision.

This may be nothing more than Gill asking Little if it was offered by ASADA what would be the club's reaction. Interestingly it is the player's decision and they don't need to decide as there is no offer on the table.

All these rumours on the day Hird returns. Distraction?

It's politics 'Red' so anything could be going on behind the scenes I guess.

However the one thing I don't understand in all this is that if ASADA had a deal wouldn't it be between the players and them and not the club. Forgive me if I'm wrong but wasn't that what happened at Cronulla, my understanding is the NRL had no idea of the deal and the club had no part in it.

The deal or discussion between little and Gil was regarding them standing down voluntarily... This is available to the players thus if they stand down at the end of the season and the court case, show cause gives them a six month ban in January the penalty is backdated as the player stood themselves down

Just tricks to reduce time away from the game... They can't train at windy hill but can train together so surely essendon will just do training at another venue...

Busy yesterday but I've just read this piece by Patrick Smith who I believe is best at distilling through the spin about the ASADA/Cronulla decision and its implications for Essendon. Our athletes and swimmers are correctly stunned at what's happened but one should never be surprised at what power and political influence can achieve. Nevertheless, we are looking at a lengthy period during which we are going to be on the nose in the eyes of the sporting world as a consequence of the Cronulla decision.

Everyone’s a dope when an ill-equipped authority meets two inadequately prepared codes

Busy yesterday but I've just read this piece by Patrick Smith who I believe is best at distilling through the spin about the ASADA/Cronulla decision and its implications for Essendon. Our athletes and swimmers are correctly stunned at what's happened but one should never be surprised at what power and political influence can achieve. Nevertheless, we are looking at a lengthy period during which we are going to be on the nose in the eyes of the sporting world as a consequence of the Cronulla decision.

Everyone’s a dope when an ill-equipped authority meets two inadequately prepared codes

cant read it Jack....nasty folk want me to pay...lol

In a fashion Sport holds too much sway in this country. Its fine to hold up as a role model for effort and success , achievement through dedication etc but with that must come adherence to what I always thought sacrosanct, the notion of 'fair' play. Inits ultimate form fairness is keeping to the rules of whatever sport or code. Pure sport will do this, bastardised sport will look for any leg up. The AFL needs to get its act together.

It's politics 'Red' so anything could be going on behind the scenes I guess.

However the one thing I don't understand in all this is that if ASADA had a deal wouldn't it be between the players and them and not the club. Forgive me if I'm wrong but wasn't that what happened at Cronulla, my understanding is the NRL had no idea of the deal and the club had no part in it.

All I know is what we all know from recent public statements. Gill and McDevitt have flatly denied any deal is on the table.

Any discussion between Gill and Little is probably general in nature and about tactics available. Clearly the players need to agree to any deal.

cant read it Jack....nasty folk want me to pay...lol

In a fashion Sport holds too much sway in this country. Its fine to hold up as a role model for effort and success , achievement through dedication etc but with that must come adherence to what I always thought sacrosanct, the notion of 'fair' play. Inits ultimate form fairness is keeping to the rules of whatever sport or code. Pure sport will do this, bastardised sport will look for any leg up. The AFL needs to get its act together.

Copy the article title, paste into Google search and you should get a link that will provide the whole article. I did.

The deal or discussion between little and Gil was regarding them standing down voluntarily... This is available to the players thus if they stand down at the end of the season and the court case, show cause gives them a six month ban in January the penalty is backdated as the player stood themselves down

Just tricks to reduce time away from the game... They can't train at windy hill but can train together so surely essendon will just do training at another venue...

Surely you don't mean they would try to cheat ?? :-)

Turds first day back at work... Bombers fans celebrating.

And as smug as ever, in complete denial