THE ESSENDON 34: ON TRIAL

[Clintosaurus 6,587]

I thought Daniel Andrews was fairly strong in the belief that Hird should not be returning to coach the Bummers.

What I thought was more interesting was that the two new members of the EFC board are very much in the Hirdashian camp and were very public in outlining their position before the election. Of course the Kool-Aid drinkers lapped it up.

Are the fans of any of the other clubs so enamoured with a current or former player or coach like Bummer fans are with Hird? I don't understand it personally.

[Dees2014 2,377]

I thought Daniel Andrews was fairly strong in the belief that Hird should not be returning to coach the Bummers.

What I thought was more interesting was that the two new members of the EFC board are very much in the Hirdashian camp and were very public in outlining their position before the election. Of course the Kool-Aid drinkers lapped it up.

Are the fans of any of the other clubs so enamoured with a current or former player or coach like Bummer fans are with Hird? I don't understand it personally.

It is one thing to be against Hird's return (most of the more astute Essendon powerbrokers are) it is another thing entirely to support appropriate and substantial penalties on players, management (including Hird) and Directors. They will all fight to the death on that one. The question is - will Andrews?

[hoopla 418]

It is one thing to be against Hird's return (most of the more astute Essendon powerbrokers are) it is another thing entirely to support appropriate and substantial penalties on players, management (including Hird) and Directors. They will all fight to the death on that one. The question is - will Andrews?

The independence of the judiciary is paramount .

As proper legal mechanisms - through both ASADA and WorkSafe- can ( SHOULD) attack Essendon - Andrews has to stay right out of it. Supporters groups are separate from the club - but Andrews would be well advised to step down as Chair of the Spring St Bombers before a perceived conflict a least ,arises. As Premier he can easily say that he'll be too busy. He should do it now

[deefrag 277]

The independence of the judiciary is paramount .

As proper legal mechanisms - through both ASADA and WorkSafe- can ( SHOULD) attack Essendon - Andrews has to stay right out of it. Supporters groups are separate from the club - but Andrews would be well advised to step down as Chair of the Spring St Bombers before a perceived conflict a least ,arises. As Premier he can easily say that he'll be too busy. He should do it now

Spring St Bombers, sounds like the suicide wing of ISIS?

To sum up 2014: Pro Bomber, pro doping!

Chrs

[Wolfmother 182]

I really doubt work safe will be coming in hard like claimed here. Why I don't know, but ASADA is investigating performing enhance drugs only.

The AFL has already charged them for corporate governances issues which is more worksafes area and they haven't said boo. The performance enhancing area would/should not effect them so since they haven't done anything in nearly two years I doubt they will

[Dees2014 2,377]

The independence of the judiciary is paramount .

As proper legal mechanisms - through both ASADA and WorkSafe- can ( SHOULD) attack Essendon - Andrews has to stay right out of it. Supporters groups are separate from the club - but Andrews would be well advised to step down as Chair of the Spring St Bombers before a perceived conflict a least ,arises. As Premier he can easily say that he'll be too busy. He should do it now

I know he has to stay right out of it, but the question is will he? This is totally different from ASADA/WADA, WADA in particular is a totally independent body completely divorced from the Australian mainstream.

Worksafe (Vic) is not. The pollies can and do interfere with it as is their wish. My bet is that Andrews will kill the investigation into ESSENDON stone dead. Any political fallout will be minor compared to his hero status at EFC. I know Worksafe is supposed to be independent, but given the behaviour of the building unions and what they have been able to get away with under previous Labor Administrations, I wouldn't count on much independent action.

WADA will prevail. No credit to anyone in Australia though except the outstanding work of ASADA.

[hoopla 418]

I know he has to stay right out of it, but the question is will he? This is totally different from ASADA/WADA, WADA in particular is a totally independent body completely divorced from the Australian mainstream.

Worksafe (Vic) is not. The pollies can and do interfere with it as is their wish. My bet is that Andrews will kill the investigation into ESSENDON stone dead. Any political fallout will be minor compared to his hero status at EFC. I know Worksafe is supposed to be independent, but given the behaviour of the building unions and what they have been able to get away with under previous Labor Administrations, I wouldn't count on much independent action.

WADA will prevail. No credit to anyone in Australia though except the outstanding work of ASADA.

You paint a very unflattering picture of politicians - particularly Labour politicians!!

Not sure you can say that the "political fallout will be minor compared to his hero status at EFC". Not only will he alienate supporters of 17 other clubs- but also the non-AFL section of the community who expect cheats to be punished. There is also a relatively quiet ( to date?) - but not insignificant group of Essendon supporters who expect those who have dragged the club's image through the mud to be called to account for their actions..

Can't see his Labor friends at Fairfax Media condoning any interference designed to spare Mr and Mrs Hird !!

Edited January 1, 2015 by hoopla

[Willmoy1947 3,808]

So far Andrews has walked the walk and talked the talk , now he had better do a bit of whatever it takes type action....

[djr 1,071]

I know he has to stay right out of it, but the question is will he? This is totally different from ASADA/WADA, WADA in particular is a totally independent body completely divorced from the Australian mainstream.

Worksafe (Vic) is not. The pollies can and do interfere with it as is their wish. My bet is that Andrews will kill the investigation into ESSENDON stone dead. Any political fallout will be minor compared to his hero status at EFC. I know Worksafe is supposed to be independent, but given the behaviour of the building unions and what they have been able to get away with under previous Labor Administrations, I wouldn't count on much independent action.

WADA will prevail. No credit to anyone in Australia though except the outstanding work of ASADA.

I think you need to lie down.

[Melbman2 226]

Worksafe (Vic) is not. The pollies can and do interfere with it as is their wish. My bet is that Andrews will kill the investigation into ESSENDON stone dead. Any political fallout will be minor compared to his hero status at EFC. I know Worksafe is supposed to be independent, but given the behaviour of the building unions and what they have been able to get away with under previous Labor Administrations, I wouldn't count on much independent action.

Depends I guess on who is running Worksafe and who put them there, would predate Labour safe to assume.

[Dees2014 2,377]

You paint a very unflattering picture of politicians - particularly Labour politicians!!

Not sure you can say that the "political fallout will be minor compared to his hero status at EFC". Not only will he alienate supporters of 17 other clubs- but also the non-AFL section of the community who expect cheats to be punished. There is also a relatively quiet ( to date?) - but not insignificant group of Essendon supporters who expect those who have dragged the club's image through the mud to be called to account for their actions..

Can't see his Labor friends at Fairfax Media condoning any interference designed to spare Mr and Mrs Hird !!

I am certainly not singling out Labor politicians in this. For heavens sake, the current conservative federal government is hardly a bastion of even handedness when it comes to favouring their political mates (eg policies on climate change, education reform, media regulation and funding, Lords and Dames - need I go on?)

What I am saying is that particularly State Government politicians often favour historically their parochial personal interests. This applies to both sides of the aisle unfortunately. The "Spring Street Bombers" is not a Labor lobby group, and has powerful members from both sides of the House including Louise Asher, ex Liberal Innovations Minister, Justin Madden, ex Labor Planning Minister, Hugh Delahunty, ex Liberal minister for Sport, and of course Andrews himself. No doubt all of those people have the same myopic view of the EFC as we see every day from all the ESSENDON supporters we all know. Why wouldn't we believe that they would not reflect that in their political activities. Worksafe is directly governed and regulated by the State Government it is therefore at the centre of State politics. All I am saying this is a strong test for the integrity of the Andrews Government given the Premier's very strong personal interest in the subject, and subject to all the propaganda which has come out of his club for the last three years.

I hope he doesn't fail the test.

On the subject of the Fairfax Press condoning interference, the sad part is we probably would never know whether there is political interference or not, although of all media outlets Fairfax has the best record of going after corruption and dodgy practices. One of the things I admire about Caro is she goes after back room deals and corruption no matter who it is, of whatever colour. And that is the way it should be.

Edited January 2, 2015 by Dees2014

[sue 8,463]

So it was the dingo that ordered all those injections:

http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2014/10/20/james-hird-new-lindy-chamberlain/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+New+Daily+Friday+2115+Aus+Super&utm_content=The+New+Daily+Friday+2115+Aus+Super+CID_df38acb1ab6b2af2342cbb9e1fe4d438&utm_source=&utm_term=Why%20James%20Hird%20is%20the%20new%20Lindy%20Chamberlain

[deanox 8,709]

So it was the dingo that ordered all those injections:

http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2014/10/20/james-hird-new-lindy-chamberlain/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+New+Daily+Friday+2115+Aus+Super&utm_content=The+New+Daily+Friday+2115+Aus+Super+CID_df38acb1ab6b2af2342cbb9e1fe4d438&utm_source=&utm_term=Why%20James%20Hird%20is%20the%20new%20Lindy%20Chamberlain

That article sums up the Hird supporter camp position: everyone is against him because he is great and there is no evidence otherwise.

I'd suggest he should be sacked purely for his involvement in the "uncontrolled pharmaceutical experiment" that was identified in the initial report (and in Essendon's own internal report).

He was in charge. He failed a duty of care. Isn't that all he needs to lose his job?

[Red and Bluebeard 2,044]

So it was the dingo that ordered all those injections:

http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2014/10/20/james-hird-new-lindy-chamberlain/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+New+Daily+Friday+2115+Aus+Super&utm_content=The+New+Daily+Friday+2115+Aus+Super+CID_df38acb1ab6b2af2342cbb9e1fe4d438&utm_source=&utm_term=Why%20James%20Hird%20is%20the%20new%20Lindy%20Chamberlain

Thanks. I needed a good chunder ...

[deefrag 277]

So it was the dingo that ordered all those injections:

http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2014/10/20/james-hird-new-lindy-chamberlain/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+New+Daily+Friday+2115+Aus+Super&utm_content=The+New+Daily+Friday+2115+Aus+Super+CID_df38acb1ab6b2af2342cbb9e1fe4d438&utm_source=&utm_term=Why%20James%20Hird%20is%20the%20new%20Lindy%20Chamberlain

I think it's time we stopped all this "Dingo's bashing"! A close friend of mine swears he saw James Hird in the vicinity of Ayres rock on the night baby Chamberlain disappeared!

[daisycutter 28,635]

I think it's time we stopped all this "Dingo's bashing"! A close friend of mine swears he saw James Hird in the vicinity of Ayres rock on the night baby Chamberlain disappeared!

at least the alpacas are safe. no-one has ever seen one near ayers rock

[rjay 23,955]

All I am saying this is a strong test for the integrity of the Andrews Government given the Premier's very strong personal interest in the subject, and subject to all the properganda which has come out of his club for the last three years.

I hope he doesn't fail the test.

Agree...

[Redleg 37,891]

Thanks. I needed a good chunder ...

It is abundantly clear that in football it is a far bigger crime to lose matches, than it is to reign over a program of pharmacological experimentation on your team.

[deefrag 277]

at least the alpacas are safe. no-one has ever seen one near ayers rock

WTF!!

We are gonna have to re-think this whole Asada/Lindy/JFK thing!

[Whispering_Jack 28,021]

I think it's time we stopped all this "Dingo's bashing"! A close friend of mine swears he saw James Hird in the vicinity of Ayres rock on the night baby Chamberlain disappeared!

True, he was behind the grassy knoll.

[FireInTheBennelly 4,026]

So it was the dingo that ordered all those injections:

http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2014/10/20/james-hird-new-lindy-chamberlain/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+New+Daily+Friday+2115+Aus+Super&utm_content=The+New+Daily+Friday+2115+Aus+Super+CID_df38acb1ab6b2af2342cbb9e1fe4d438&utm_source=&utm_term=Why%20James%20Hird%20is%20the%20new%20Lindy%20Chamberlain

Is it just me or is he starting to look a bit like Sheedy? Lovechild???

[deefrag 277]

True, he was behind the grassy knoll.

What sort of twisted monster are we dealing with here?

[hoopla 418]

. All I am saying this is a strong test for the integrity of the Andrews Government given the Premier's very strong personal interest in the subject, and subject to all the propaganda which has come out of his club for the last three years.

I hope he doesn't fail the test.

All I am saying is that the political odds must surely weigh heavily in favour of him passing the test. A significant chunk of the public expect Essendon to be punished !

That article sums up the Hird supporter camp position: everyone is against him because he is great and there is no evidence otherwise.

I'd suggest he should be sacked purely for his involvement in the "uncontrolled pharmaceutical experiment" that was identified in the initial report (and in Essendon's own internal report).

He was in charge. He failed a duty of care. Isn't that all he needs to lose his job?

Agree with that.Surely Hird's only defence against a WorkSafe action is that others - the CEO and the Board - were responsible- and that he was just following orders - which just doesn't wash

Edited January 2, 2015 by hoopla

[biggestred 4,356]

When do we start getting answers?

[Carlos Danger 380]

This thing is beyond a joke.

Essendon did the wrong thing, they were caught and admitted to it but because the evidence of the particulars isn't concrete- this thing keeps going and will likely continue to gradually play on until they are in a position to walk away scot-free.

Cronulla in the same position fought it, then eventually conceded for considerably reduced penalties (which were also offered to Essendon) and now the Sharks, NRL and ASADA have moved on from the issue.

That's the way it should've also played out here.

FFS Essendon put the wallet away and accept the consequences.