History is going to rank us below the Bummers for 2013 although we have completed the year appropriately, whilst they have been put out of this years comp.

Surely if u malfunction & are disqualified you dont go to the middle of the field.

Understand the draft ranking point but its a soda to stipulate that they rank as 9th for this calculation.

i think it is important that we [& other clubs] are seen historical above the Bummers in 2013.

9th?? uuuhhhhh

9th is the worst spot to finish.

no finals so no shot at a flag

worst draft picks possible without a shot at a flag.

Richmond supporters are sooooo relieved

They should either finish last or be stripped of points and finals but attributed their final ladder position for the purposes of draft picks ie. be 7th or whatever they were set to finish as.

I don't understand 9th either.

9th is the worst spot to finish.

no finals so no shot at a flag

worst draft picks possible without a shot at a flag.

Richmond supporters are sooooo relieved

They should either finish last or be stripped of points and finals but attributed their final ladder position for the purposes of draft picks ie. be 7th or whatever they were set to finish as.

I don't understand 9th either.

They don't get any 1st or 2nd round picks this year so draft position is pretty much irrelevant.

Their 3rd round pick will be right at the end too. I actually like the 9th finish, its probably the worst case scenario for the bomber so sits well with me. Better than finishing bottom and getting the first 3rd round selection.

Im interested to see how many clubs trade picks for essondon players who could be banned by ASADA at some stage. risky move, but could be worth a punt

If you ask me, they should finish where they would normally - only with a big fat asterisk next to their name and no finals. That is the worst punishment of all.

Edited August 28, 201311 yr by Chook

History is going to rank us below the Bummers for 2013 although we have completed the year appropriately, whilst they have been put out of this years comp.

Surely if u malfunction & are disqualified you dont go to the middle of the field.

Understand the draft ranking point but its a soda to stipulate that they rank as 9th for this calculation.

i think it is important that we [& other clubs] are seen historical above the Bummers in 2013.

9th?? uuuhhhhh

They haven't been pulled out of the competition, nor have they had all their points stripped - they have just been stripped of playing finals, meaning they will finish 9th.

What a croc.

Have to admit I'd have taken much more pleasure in having them finish below us.

I suppose weakened draft position by the third round is a minor consolation, but they should be getting the spoon. With Hird's smiling face carved into the wood.

I hate them.

I've hated them so hard since 2000.

That dog that punched Greeny in the throat. The dog act by Long, lining up a young Troy Simmonds.

Farmer not getting rewarded for his tackles two or three times, 15 metres out from goal.

Hird is so delusional about his actions, that he actually thinks he's done nothing wrong. Fmd.

Simple matter of not rewarding them in the 3rd round of the draft. Probably doesn't mean a lot by then, 3rd round drafting's very hit or miss, but I wouldn't be happy if they were let back into the draft in a better position than us.

They've been withdrawn from the finals, so they can't be any higher than 8th.

However, they are participating in the draft from Round 3 onwards, so they need a position on the ladder to be allocated picks. Therefore, 9th is the 'worst' position they can have to participate in the draft whilst still being out of the finals.

Its worse to finish ninth than last.

It meanstheir third round pick which really there first will be at the endof the third round intead of the start.

To stuff up all wooden spoon bets. AFL sponsored by sportsbet

I had money on essendon for the spoon. $5 on essendon at 151-1 at Round 2. Knew this would always happen as the liability to the companies was too high after the Melbourne Storm insider trading fiasco. Unlucky for me, but as I said.. Was always going to happen.

The AFL just makes this stuff up as the blunder around the real issues.

I suspect it's all part of the Grand Compromise of 2013 (copyright). The history books will shown Essendon improved three places in 2013 compared with 2012. And i think the earlier suggestion that it avoids some argy-bargy on betting outcomes shouldn't be ignored.

Personally, as much as I would always like to finish higher on the ladder than every other team, to have done so this year by virtue of Essendon being placed below us would have been an insult to the competition. How would it look if we, with our pathetic performances were shown in the history books to be the third worst team.

Good Peter FitzSimons article here: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/afls-darkest-day-is-just-a--whitewash-20130828-2sqt2.html

Good Peter FitzSimons article here: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/afls-darkest-day-is-just-a--whitewash-20130828-2sqt2.html

Except he fails to note that side of things hasnt been addresed yet properly and by those empowered to do so i,e ASADA/WADA .

I too pretty well fell into that trap until wisely noted b some this isnt what this WHACK by Vlad is about.

This aint over yet

They had to have a position for the draft.

9th will mean they don't get the first pick of Rd 3 which is what a stripping of points would have allowed them.

I am fine with how they have treated this particular issue.