Melbourne Demons escape AFL sanction over Stephen Danks role at club

MELBOURNE has escaped AFL sanctions, despite controversial sports scientist Stephen Danks involvement at the club in 2012.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority is investigating the possible use of banned substances at Melbourne, but the AFLs investigation has found the Demons did not bring the game into disrepute, a charge that helped deliver savage penalties for Essendon.

An AFL spokesman said: The AFL has conducted a thorough investigation in relation to Stephen Danks involvement at Melbourne FC, including interviews and examination of documentation.

Based on the evidence before it, no action has been taken to date, but the matter remains open due to ASADAs ongoing inquiries.

Anything the AFL does is fairly meaningless if ASADA's enquiry reveals there has been a anti doping rule violation. It's not clear on what we've heard as to whether any have been committed because all we have to go on are SMS's from Dank to Dr. Bate that, of themselves would not be sufficient to indicate a breach of the laws.

Hopefully, no breaches have been committed but, as the article says, the case remains open.

key differences

Melbourne

AOD cream
Prescribed by club doctor due to injury

Without knowledge of club officials

discussion of AOD injections

Essendon

AOD injections (multiple)

Club doctor (apparently) subverted

done with full knowledge of football department

AOD injections adminstered offsite

Edited April 2, 201411 yr by biggestred

key differences

Melbourne

AOD cream

Prescribed by club doctor due to injury

Without knowledge of club officials

discussion of AOD injections

Essendon

AOD injections (multiple)

Club doctor (apparently) subverted

done with full knowledge of football department

AOD injections adminstered offsite

I dont think thats fully correct.

Melbourne

Rogue doctor operating under poor governance and oversight arrangements.

Doctors failure of professional duty of care and judgement.

Thankfully issues were limited to short time and few players involved.

Appears limited to use of AOD cream

Essendon

Rogue sports medicine "expert" operating poor governance and oversight arrangements.

Program extended across full playing group over an extended period.

Numerous club officials failure of professional duty of care and judgement.

A number of potential illegal substances may have been involved

I dont think thats fully correct.

Melbourne

Rogue doctor operating under poor governance and oversight arrangements.

Doctors failure of professional duty of care and judgement.

Thankfully issues were limited to short time and few players involved.

Appears limited to use of AOD cream

Essendon

Rogue sports medicine "expert" operating poor governance and oversight arrangements.

Program extended across full playing group over an extended period.

Numerous club officials failure of professional duty of care and judgement.

A number of potential illegal substances may have been involved

According to ASADA rules no difference. All depends on proof of use. Hopefully there is none.

key differences

Melbourne

AOD cream

Prescribed by club doctor due to injury

Without knowledge of club officials

discussion of AOD injections

Essendon

AOD injections (multiple)

Club doctor (apparently) subverted

done with full knowledge of football department

AOD injections adminstered offsite

There is a LOT more going on with Essendon than just AOD and more than Trengove involved at MFC (I remember at least Dunn and maybe [censored] among others mentioned in texts relating to receiving injections).

Edited April 3, 201411 yr by Demonland
please get the facts right

According to ASADA rules no difference. All depends on proof of use. Hopefully there is none.

True, but this is the AFL and their investigation's results.

Let's be honest, this article is written by Essendon's/Hird's biggest fan. This is a way for Robbo to drum up some sympathy for them by leveling it at a club that's easily attacked at the moment.

I don't mind listening or reading what he write's but when its about Essendon or gets another club involved with their mess, it's a massive waste of time.

Of course we were never going to be found to bring the game into disrepute, we never hired the guy and he only dealt with the Doc, who didn't inform the club of their dealings.

I dont think thats fully correct.

Melbourne

Rogue doctor operating under poor governance and oversight arrangements.

Doctors failure of professional duty of care and judgement.

Thankfully issues were limited to short time and few players involved.

Appears limited to use of AOD cream

Essendon

Rogue sports medicine "expert" operating poor governance and oversight arrangements.

Program extended across full playing group over an extended period.

Numerous club officials failure of professional duty of care and judgement.

A number of potential illegal substances may have been involved

Where's the bit about Jim's 12 month study tour, $1,000,000 and a contract extension.

Stinks.

There is a LOT more going on with Essendon than just AOD and more than Trengove involved at MFC (I remember at least Dunn and maybe [censored] among others mentioned in texts relating to receiving injections).

Pretty sure they were reported as vitamin injections though.

Not remotely comparable.

Even if findings were made against an individual medico or player at Melbourne, and that's unlikely since there's nothing other than talk and no confirmation Trengove even picked up the cream, let alone used it, that is a world away from a near-universal club program of thousands of injections.

Not even close.

He tries Robbo, but does not get there.

Not remotely comparable.

Even if findings were made against an individual medico or player at Melbourne, and that's unlikely since there's nothing other than talk and no confirmation Trengove even picked up the cream, let alone used it, that is a world away from a near-universal club program of thousands of injections.

Not even close.

He tries Robbo, but does not get there.

Which is why the AFL has concluded as it has. But ASADA may still act on any specific, provable violations whether it's one player or more, and at any sporting club, AFL or not.

Let's be honest, this article is written by Essendon's/Hird's biggest fan. This is a way for Robbo to drum up some sympathy for them by leveling it at a club that's easily attacked at the moment.

I don't mind listening or reading what he write's but when its about Essendon or gets another club involved with their mess, it's a massive waste of time.

Of course we were never going to be found to bring the game into disrepute, we never hired the guy and he only dealt with the Doc, who didn't inform the club of their dealings.

I thought the same thing, the tone of the article is very much "if Essendon got sanctioned then so should Melbourne", he makes it out as if we're guilty and it's dumb luck we're getting away with it.

I can remember back when it first came out of Melbourne's involvement that a key difference was that Bates actually recorded everything that was given to each player, and the only AOD that was used was a cream (not illegal). I suppose the AFL could've come down on us for failure of governance but it's nowhere near the level of Essendon.

It's pretty laughable. Sure we may have stuffed up and if we did things that breached the rules we should cop it. But trying to equate what happened at MFC with what happened at Windy Hill? What a joke, the two circumstances are WORLDS apart and even a hack journo like "Robbo" should be clued on enough to discern the difference; it is his job after all, even if he thinks it's just sinking pi$$ and hanging out with his idols.

If it is true, might explain why trengove has been under performing (stressed that he is in trouble).

The AFL will try to protect mfc, the club may not be able to handle a blow like this, if its as big as the essendon saga, mfc is in trouble.

Also, if the club is found to be guilty of something, to punish the club wouldn't make sense, most of the board and coaching staff has had a complete turnover since 2012. for instance why should the clubs current two main coordinators who were essentially put in place by the AFL, (roos and PJ) be put at a further disadvantage while trying to resurrect the basket case?

we will see what happens.

I thought the same thing, the tone of the article is very much "if Essendon got sanctioned then so should Melbourne", he makes it out as if we're guilty and it's dumb luck we're getting away with it.

I can remember back when it first came out of Melbourne's involvement that a key difference was that Bates actually recorded everything that was given to each player, and the only AOD that was used was a cream (not illegal). I suppose the AFL could've come down on us for failure of governance but it's nowhere near the level of Essendon.

Gee these blokes are hypocrites,I wonder why he didn't apply the same logic to the tanking investigation

I think the AFL have realised they cant keep fining us because we will just keep going back tot hem for money. But you cannot compare us with essendon now way in hell. Our players wernt taken to a room and given a lot of injections

also anything we did sniff or rub on or inject obviously did bugger all.

Which is why the AFL has concluded as it has. But ASADA may still act on any specific, provable violations whether it's one player or more, and at any sporting club, AFL or not.

JT's career will be over before they get to him!

Drugs cannot solve for poor skills, turnovers and fumbles.

If only ...

JT's career will be over before they get to him!

I'd like to think you're commenting on the slow pace of the investigation rather than the slow pace of the player.

I'd like to think you're commenting on the slow pace of the investigation rather than the slow pace of the player.

Actually LDvC I was thinking of both.

Not big wrap for JT

I think he is an old fashion HF.

Not much place for those in the modern game.

Poor mid fielder IMO

The only thing that has kept him in the 22 IMO was being captain last year and no one better to replace him.

In almost all other sides he would playing VFL right now.

Governance issues at Melbourne? Never. Best run club in the land.

Governance issues at Melbourne? Never. Best run club in the land.

Water tight.

Water tight.

If you read the article you might have noticed that it says the "AFL has determined the club did not put the players’ health at risk and Bates’ relationship with Dank did not constitute governance failings".

Just out of interest, if Bates was conducting his liaison with Dank completely outside of the MFC and did not inform the club, what more do you think the club could do?

If any employee of an organisation is associating with undesirable characters and doing so in private, what can that organisation do short of invading the privacy of the employee (for which it may be accused of breaches of the law as well as bad governance) to protect itself in those situations?

If it is true, might explain why trengove has been under performing (stressed that he is in trouble).

The AFL will try to protect mfc, the club may not be able to handle a blow like this, if its as big as the essendon saga, mfc is in trouble.

Also, if the club is found to be guilty of something, to punish the club wouldn't make sense, most of the board and coaching staff has had a complete turnover since 2012. for instance why should the clubs current two main coordinators who were essentially put in place by the AFL, (roos and PJ) be put at a further disadvantage while trying to resurrect the basket case?

we will see what happens.

This doesn't seem to be a problem at EFC