THE ESSENDON 34: ON TRIAL

[Moonshadow 16,168]

I remember reading somewhere (can't remember where) that the afl have provisions to call up players from state comps to cover players suspended at the bombers.

[sue 8,430]

I would have thought that if they are all found guilty of the same offence, then they would all receive the same penalty... anything else and I would think that WADA would have something to say about it.

One would think so, but I wouldn't underestimate the creativity of the AFL highlighting differences between individuals, with an eye on ASADA or perhaps in cahoots with it with a plan to keep WADA at bay. Though I admit it is hard to think of convincing possible differences between the players since the evidence seems to be based on what was ordered etc.

[hoopla 418]

I would have thought that if they are all found guilty of the same offence, then they would all receive the same penalty... anything else and I would think that WADA would have something to say about it.

I would think that the first year players could reasonably argue that - having been grilled to buy into team routines etc - they just followed the leaders. They could hold out for a lesser penalty on the basis that they assumed that what the established group did was normal - legal- practice at an AFL club. The tribunal could go some way to appeasing the "innocent victims lobby" by recommending leniency for the new recruits etc.

Regardless of the PR war, I actually think that the Tribunal ought to come down especially hard on the leadership group. As senior professionals charged with responsibility for leading their teammates - and with heftier contracts to boot - they cannot reasonably argue that they were duped by the "club"

In all this I could live with some players wearing some penalty - even a discounted penalty - as the basis for hitting Hird with the sledgehammer he deserves. It is absurd that through all this Little has funded an international training course to set Hird up for a life without football. I'm not sure that a sanction for a breach of the ASADA code would disqualify him from accepting directorships etc - but it would surely make it hard for him in this town.

Even a one month penalty for one player would sink Hird - and that would be justice!!

Then I'd like to sit back and watch Workcover do its job!!

[Whispering_Jack 27,968]

The first week of the AFL Tribunal hearing into the anti-doping charges laid by ADRVP against the "Essendon 34" was rather uneventful in terms of the lack of information that came out of the three days of sitting during which time ASADA's counsel laid out most of its case (there's more to come when the case resumes in the new year).

That there was very little news to come out of it all might have something to do with the fact that the Bombers were refused permission to be involved in the hearing. We knew that ASADA wasn't going to leak and would imagine the players have been warned not to pass on any information so there was very little for the Essendon propaganda machine to hang its hat on.

Chip Le Grand was so starved of material that he went with this sensationalist piece of tripe ~ New drug and two more clubs in AFL doping saga

THE AFL doping scandal is wider than previously revealed, with ASADA accusing Essendon** players of taking a second banned substance and sports scientist Stephen Dank of trafficking peptides to club officials at the Gold Coast Suns and Carlton and covering up doping by a Gold Coast footballer.

An outline of ASADAs case and other documents currently before a specially convened AFL tribunal allege that Dank supplied banned substances including human growth hormone to a Carlton coach and provided the banned peptide CJC-1295 to more than one official at the Gold Coast Suns.

Carlton hit back with this retort that seems to have shut Le Grand Bouefe up for the time being ~ Carlton FC statement

We also had Peter Jess' outpouring on behalf of his client and former Bomber Nathan Lovett-Murray where he suggested legal action against the AFL was in the pipeline for its failure to adequately take steps to prevent the programme that nobody at Bomberland knows much about. I don't know about anyone else but Jess' comments left me thinking that the case so far isn't going well for the players despite the fact that the likes of Rohan Connolly were convinced last week that it was falling apart because Charter and Alavi weren't prepared to testify and the Supreme Court wasn't prepared to compel them to do so.

Meanwhile, Essendon supporters the world around continue to believe in their players' innocence ("at worst they'll get a couple of weeks") and are embracing the hashtag #Illinjectwithyou

[Crompton's the man 635]

There was an apologist for Essendon who was posting frequently in recent times - "Querty" ??

Totally missing that skewed contribution with its zany love of all things Hird

Querty where art thou ?

[whatwhat say what 18,918]

Meanwhile, Essendon supporters the world around continue to believe in their players' innocence ("at worst they'll get a couple of weeks") and are embracing the hashtag #Illinjectwithyou

For real??

[Whispering_Jack 27,968]

For real??

No, just a little bit of poetic licence

[deefrag 277]

No, just a little bit of poetic licence

Made me laugh! (out loud!)

[Deecisive 1,651]

So why is it that Asada is not looking into the coaching side of this whole story, and recommending penalties there, after all the coaches are the ones that set this up either through stupidity, neglect or outright dishonesty.

[sue 8,430]

So why is it that Asada is not looking into the coaching side of this whole story, and recommending penalties there, after all the coaches are the ones that set this up either through stupidity, neglect or outright dishonesty.

good question, been wondering myself if there are separate proceedings for them after Hird's court case is concluded. Anyone know?

[deanox 8,582]

I suspect that of the case against the players is proved then show cause notices will be issued against all the coaches and support staff. But getting the players sorted first is more important: they are still currently playing!

[rjay 23,903]

Chip Le Grand was so starved of material that he went with this sensationalist piece of tripe ~ New drug and two more clubs in AFL doping saga

Carlton hit back with this retort that seems to have shut Le Grand Bouefe up for the time being ~ Carlton FC statement

...but it was signed by Trigg who really does not have a lot of credibility either.

Meanwhile, Essendon supporters the world around continue to believe in their players' innocence ("at worst they'll get a couple of weeks") and are embracing the hashtag #Illinjectwithyou

Some long time supporters I know have actually left the club in disgust 'Jack'. Unfortunately there are still way too many apologists.

[Dees2014 2,377]

Wouldn't be surprised if the AFL finds those players no longer active in the AFL or EFC more guilty than the rest, so they can end up with harsh penalties for them, lesser ones for marginal players and next to nothing for those players who are important to Essendon in 2015. Maybe one scapegoat amongst the latter to make things look respectable.

I expect they could do that even if the evidence is very similar in each case - we know It's not beyond the talent of the tribunal to hand out different or no penalties for the same offence, though I know the basic evidence appears to be at the club level, not th individual player level. They'd try to fine tune it to keep ASADA/WADA from appealing - ASADA at least would be happy to get some scalps after the PR campaign that has been run against them.

That way the AFL appears to be doing something noble about drugs, but doesn't affect the competition/TV too much or upset those legions of EFC supporters.

WADA would still get them. The AFL will ultimately have little to do with it at CAS.

[felixdacat 459]

I would think that the first year players could reasonably argue that - having been grilled to buy into team routines etc - they just followed the leaders. They could hold out for a lesser penalty on the basis that they assumed that what the established group did was normal - legal- practice at an AFL club. The tribunal could go some way to appeasing the "innocent victims lobby" by recommending leniency for the new recruits etc.

...............................................

The Anti Doping Code would not allow the tribunal to take this into account. If they are found guilty of ADV the only reduction in sentence can be for no fault (does not apply) or pleading guilty and assisting with investigation to uncover further ADV. EFC 34 if found guilty will get no reduction and will need to take the full wack.

The no fault is if you were injected by mistake or was unconscious when getting injected or simialr where you can prove that you were dupoed into taking a banned substance. The EFC 34 reportedly signed waivers/permission sheets to allow the injections. They are aware of the code and their obligations when signing to play for an AFL team. As I have said previously whilst ppl might feel for players they signed up to the code and they had a personal resposibility and obligation to understand what they were getting into. Ignorance is no excuse.

If guilty the AFL tribunal will need to apply the Code as it is written if they dont then there will be appeals to CAS by ASADA and WADA.

Edited December 21, 2014 by felixdacat

[old dee 22,851]

Good article in today's HUN written by Rita P summarises in well from my view.

She is not a sports writer so obviously not part of the HUN fan club.

Worth a look IMO.

This is one dispute that won't go away

[Freddy Fuschia 661]

Robbo must be on holidays aka lying paralytic on the Murray's bank somewhere near Echuca no doubt

[daisycutter 28,508]

Good article in today's HUN written by Rita P summarises in well from my view.

She is not a sports writer so obviously not part of the HUN fan club.

Worth a look IMO

This is one dispute that won't go away

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/this-is-one-dispute-that-wont-go-away/story-fni0fhh1-1227163636719

[beelzebub 22,225]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/this-is-one-dispute-that-wont-go-away/story-fni0fhh1-1227163636719

am not a subscriber...will try to find another linky

[jazza 1,323]

Robbo must be on holidays aka lying paralytic on the Murray's bank somewhere near Echuca no doubt

Drinking shots with Gary lions son at Inverloch pub.

Robbo was taken back to caravan park at 4 in the arvo.

Regurgitated fish n chip lunch later that evning.

All in all a normal inverloch nuff nuff day.

[daisycutter 28,508]

am not a subscriber...will try to find another linky

just google the title e.g. this-is-one-dispute-that-wont-go-away

this gets you past the paywall

[Bedraggled Dee 336]

Very good article by Rita, sums things up very well

I think this will drag on and on and on, dont forget that where 2 or more players in a team are found guilty the team may be sanctioned. Dont expect ASADA and/or WADA to finish with the players as much as ASADA may want to. The Club and officials will likely be next once the players sanctions are finalised and they run the defence we new nothing about it we were duped. The next question by ASADA/WADA will be by who and the answer is????

[beelzebub 22,225]

just google the title e.g. this-is-one-dispute-that-wont-go-awaythis gets you past the paywall

don't always work. Lol

[premiers in my lifetime? 30]

don't always work. Lol

replace the start of the web address in your browser with "news"

"http://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/news/1/index.html?sourceCode=HSWEB_WRE150_a&mode=breached&dest=http://www.heraldsun".com.au/news/opinion/this-is-one-dispute-that-wont-go-away/story-fni0fhh1-1227163636719&memtype=anonymous

http://www.news.com.au/national/this-is-one-dispute-that-wont-go-away/story-e6frfkp9-1227163636719

[beelzebub 22,225]

replace the start of the web address in your browser with "news"

"http://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/news/1/index.html?sourceCode=HSWEB_WRE150_a&mode=breached&dest=http://www.heraldsun".com.au/news/opinion/this-is-one-dispute-that-wont-go-away/story-fni0fhh1-1227163636719&memtype=anonymous

http://www.news.com.au/national/this-is-one-dispute-that-wont-go-away/story-e6frfkp9-1227163636719

cheers...was looking for the news' version.. didnt think to swap out...good thinking 99

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

Slow news week people.

First Charles LeGrande then the Persian Princess.

If ASADA hasn't leaked info, which I don't believe they have.

Then ths is just garbage to fill columns over the xmas period.

Great if true, but seems very doubtful.