THE ESSENDON 34: ON TRIAL

[Dr. Gonzo 24,121]

That recently?

I suspect it goes waaay back.

The Eagles burst on the scene in a pretty big fashion back in the 80's and brushed all aside. Hadn't seen anything like it until Geelong became a power (in more than one sense of the word) though have always wondered about the Hawks in the 80's too.

When one team suddenly presents as bigger, fitter & stronger than all the others, its as if they are a new species of human, or they had assistance. Superior skills I can put down to drafting but who could predict through drafting sudden massive future growth unapparent at draft time?

I could be wrong but weren't steroids only made illegal in the 80's?

[old dee 23,682]

I noticed today that "Japan Post" has made a takeover offer for "Toll"

Toll have recommended it be accepted.

That may leave Mr. little with more time to plan the great escape.

[old dee 23,682]

The main thing I'm surprised of to date is why Hird hasn't been issued an Infraction notice.

You are a silly boy.

Don't you know by now.

He has done nothing wrong and has spent many dollars trying to stop investigators from proving other wise.

Foolish boy he is innocent of any wrong doing!

[beelzebub 23,311]

I noticed today that "Japan Post" has made a takeover offer for "Toll"

Toll have recommended it be accepted.

That may leave Mr. little with more time to plan the great escape.

just about to post( sic) same thing.

Someone cash strapped perhaps ?? hmmmmmm

Toll receives $6.5b takeover offer

[Melbman2 226]

I could be wrong but weren't steroids only made illegal in the 80's?

Interesting question.

I had a read of "History of Steroid Use" at http://www.intheknowzone.com/substance-abuse-topics/steroids/history.html (Education Specialty Publishing, LLC) and while it is a US publication our rules generally follow the US in these areas it seems.

Anyway, it appears you are correct for personal non sport use:

In 1988 the sale of anabolic-androgenic steroids for non-medical purposes was illegal under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. In 1990, possession of anabolic-androgenic steroids without a prescription was made illegal in the U.S.

Olympic rules:

All of this "doping" was against the sports organizations' rules and against the law. In 1964, the International Olympic Committee first published a list of banned drugs and practices for athletes, but the IOC did not ban steroids until 1975.

The AFL? Illegal to be caught I assume ;-)

[ManDee 7,124]

just about to post( sic) same thing.

Someone cash strapped perhaps ?? hmmmmmm

Toll receives $6.5b takeover offer

Mr Little, already one of Australia's wealthiest people with a net worth of $820 million and chairman of the AFL football club Essendon, will make some $340 million from the deal.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/not-so-little-meet-the-340m-winner-in-japan-posts-takeover-of-toll-20150218-13h0ti.html#ixzz3S3Mhf2eb

[sue 9,096]

Mr Little, already one of Australia's wealthiest people with a net worth of $820 million and chairman of the AFL football club Essendon, will make some $340 million from the deal.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/not-so-little-meet-the-340m-winner-in-japan-posts-takeover-of-toll-20150218-13h0ti.html#ixzz3S3Mhf2eb

No problem funding James' retirement from footy then.

[jnrmac 20,042]

Mr Little, already one of Australia's wealthiest people with a net worth of $820 million and chairman of the AFL football club Essendon, will make some $340 million from the deal.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/not-so-little-meet-the-340m-winner-in-japan-posts-takeover-of-toll-20150218-13h0ti.html#ixzz3S3Mhf2eb

The $820 number already includes an amount for the value of Toll......its not additional...

Just saying.......

[beelzebub 23,311]

The $820 number already includes an amount for the value of Toll......its not additional...

Just saying.......

and the 340 M becomes avail as readdies...should he hae some large expenses lurking

[CBDees 3,167]

I don't understand what this "provisionally suspended" joke is about, considering the fact that the Essendon list are still training (and coached again by Hird)? When Saade was suspended from the Saints for two years, he was not even allowed to train until just before his suspension expired (and then it was with their VFL associate)! Why should not Essendon be any different and not have their suspension commence from the date that they are found guilty?

Also why should we have to play their topped up VFL team and not be able to play Casey, along with our rookies and players outside our top 22? The players that Essendon is getting in to top up are being trained by their VFL coaching structure rather than Hird and we should be entitled to give our Casey boys a good hit-out against them! If it looks like a VFL side, smells like a VFL side and plays like a VFL side then it is a VFL side and that's who we should pit against them!

[Tatu 416]

I'm more than happy to take the blame mr little...

Edited February 18, 2015 by Red Horns

[hemingway 7,615]

I could be wrong but weren't steroids only made illegal in the 80's?

I think that's right Doctor.

However, I am really sick of all the hypocrisy around drug use. I am not condoning Essendon's behaviour. They deserve sanction and punishment, however, lets be realistic. The Bombers are not alone. Perhaps the thing that differentiates them from others has been the fact that unlike others they have been caught and outed. In addition, Essendon had a highly organized program with a heavy injection regime over a short period of time. We have never before known of an organized and systemic program as that implemented by the EFC. The Club, its coach and club officials have not helped themselves in the way they have behaved since it became public.

However we know that drug use has been part of professional sport for decades. This includes the VFL/AFL. Anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a fools paradise. The drug of choice from the early 1970's was steroids and other similar substances commonly found in gyms around the country, and were often taken over summer during weigh training and gym work. As gym junkies know they are often distributed by trainers and power lifters/bodybuilders.

Two successful clubs in the seventies had a reputation for this activity. As an aside, footballers who have taken or been on "the roids" take on a different look particularly jaw lines, neck, shoulders, legs etc. They become thicker through the trunk. The shape is not induced by weight training alone. Anyone involved in athletics knows the body type from looking at Olympic 100m sprinters. Anecdotally, it seems that drug use in footy has been more random and left to the individual rather than being part of a program initiated or endorsed by the club. In the past, players often did gym work away from the club or had contacts within the gym world. Clubs preferred not to know.

Since the early 1990s we have seen the impact of sports science and increased sophistication of drug use. We are all rightly suspicious about some of the power clubs from 1990-early 2000. For example, the use of growth hormone has been popular in sports such as athletics because of the difficulty of detection. Drug testing in the AFL has been very limited compared to other sports such as cycling. I have always been annoyed by comments from AFL administrators (particularly Demetriou) about the drug culture in cycling knowing what they must know. Its all about protecting and promoting "the brand." As with cycling there has been a code of silence within VFL/AFL about drug use. Administrators, ex-players and media commentators (particularly ex-players) have maintained the silence. Players seeking a competitive advantage are not going to tell others what they have done.

So by all means one can condemn Essendon but let's not pretend that others in the football world are innocent bystanders. Perhaps the scope and magnitude is different but lets not think that drug use has been confined to the EFC players.

[biggestred 4,976]

of course other players from other clubs have taken stuff they shouldnt have.

what makes essendon stand out is that it was a club run systematic mass doping scheme.

that and the fact they have blamed anyone and everyone else since.

[dpositive 1,663]

of course other players from other clubs have taken stuff they shouldnt have.

what makes essendon stand out is that it was a club run systematic mass doping scheme.

that and the fact they have blamed anyone and everyone else since.

I think that this is what amazes me the most. Hemingway also supports some of my thoughts.

What has changed is that the AFL are now presenting on the world stage. What was a local minor sport is now wanting recognition as a world class organisation. They wanted the benefits of that reputation but have not yet recognised the obligations that accompany that status.

[deefrag 277]

I don't understand what this "provisionally suspended" joke is about, considering the fact that the Essendon list are still training (and coached again by Hird)? When Saade was suspended from the Saints for two years, he was not even allowed to train until just before his suspension expired (and then it was with their VFL associate)! Why should not Essendon be any different and not have their suspension commence from the date that they are found guilty?

Also why should we have to play their topped up VFL team and not be able to play Casey, along with our rookies and players outside our top 22? The players that Essendon is getting in to top up are being trained by their VFL coaching structure rather than Hird and we should be entitled to give our Casey boys a good hit-out against them! If it looks like a VFL side, smells like a VFL side and plays like a VFL side then it is a VFL side and that's who we should pit against them!

Exactly!

And we could rightfully ask: why are the Bombers allowed to compete at all! There are 34 players provisionally suspended for doping, now what were the circumstances of the alleged doping? Oh, thats right they were doped by EFC employees and contractors IE THE CLUB!! So what in the name of er Cazaly are they "f'n" doing fielding any side in any AFL competition?

[beelzebub 23,311]

Exactly!

And we could rightfully ask: why are the Bombers allowed to compete at all! There are 34 players provisionally suspended for doping, now what were the circumstances of the alleged doping? Oh, thats right they were doped by EFC employees and contractors IE THE CLUB!! So what in the name of er Cazaly are they "f'n" doing fielding any side in any AFL competition?

why indeed

[ManDee 7,124]

If we have players injured by these fill ins what are our legal rights?

Let's say James Magner (who I like) just for the fun of it runs through Hogan or Jones (Good luck with that) and causes a serious injury.

Do we offer to play a 2nd team to protect our stars?

Why is our preparation compromised because the cheats are still in the competition for the time being?

Is it a coincidence that Essendon are playing the bottom 3 sides? Don't the bottom sides matter?

What would Collingwood or Hawthorn have to say?

[whatwhat say what 22,552]

I certainly am hoping we have a decent crack in the first two challenge games, then ease right off against the peptides.

I'd be sending out a second string side as much as possible against them.

[sue 9,096]

I certainly am hoping we have a decent crack in the first two challenge games, then ease right off against the peptides.

I'd be sending out a second string side as much as possible against them.

We'd probably get done for tanking

[Buffalo 203]

What astonishes me is the hypocrisy of the players here...the players at the club in 2011/12 who did not take drugs (precious few it seems) are not playing because they want to protect the identity of their team mates. A bit extreme I would have thought. So what will happen if their drug taking team mates are found guilty and suspended? Will they not compete during the season proper? I hardly think so...

[biggestred 4,976]

i like the fact that 8 players from essendons list in 2012 have been kept on

the other 34 have been charged

thats 42 players, which is about the size of a list inc rookies etc

which means they have only traded/delisted/etc players who WERE involved in the injection scheme.

[grazman 7,394]

Interesting that Alex Rodriguez (A Rod) from the New York Yankees is about to return to baseball after serving his 12 months for using performance enhancing drugs. The interesting side note to the story is that A Rod like Essendon obfuscated and held a belligerent line about his wrong doing. He has now written a hand written note to fans asking for forgiveness. He was banned for 162 matches (the entirety of the 2014 season - though this was actually less than the original ruling of 211 matches). While not completely similar it is worth reflecting that A Rod is as big as they come in a given sport. Sports will survive the misdemeanours of individuals (even superstars) and move on, what puts the AFL in a bind is that this wasn't one or two players this was a systematic program implemented by one of their constituent clubs. While the AFL may feel the need to get this over and done with I can't see anything less than a 12 month ban for the players and the removal of those responsible (including: Coach, Doctor, CEO and President - though 2 of those are now gone) from the game.

[biggestred 4,976]

AND im pretty sure the MLB is NOT signed up to the WADA code.

Interesting that Alex Rodriguez (A Rod) from the New York Yankees is about to return to baseball after serving his 12 months for using performance enhancing drugs. The interesting side note to the story is that A Rod like Essendon obfuscated and held a belligerent line about his wrong doing. He has now written a hand written note to fans asking for forgiveness. He was banned for 162 matches (the entirety of the 2014 season - though this was actually less than the original ruling of 211 matches). While not completely similar it is worth reflecting that A Rod is as big as they come in a given sport. Sports will survive the misdemeanours of individuals (even superstars) and move on, what puts the AFL in a bind is that this wasn't one or two players this was a systematic program implemented by one of their constituent clubs. While the AFL may feel the need to get this over and done with I can't see anything less than a 12 month ban for the players and the removal of those responsible (including: Coach, Doctor, CEO and President - though 2 of those are now gone) from the game.

[Redleg 40,776]

What astonishes me is the hypocrisy of the players here...the players at the club in 2011/12 who did not take drugs (precious few it seems) are not playing because they want to protect the identity of their team mates. A bit extreme I would have thought. So what will happen if their drug taking team mates are found guilty and suspended? Will they not compete during the season proper? I hardly think so...

And stuff the players at other clubs, who are named in the media every time there is an ASADA/Bombers story.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,665]

Interesting that Alex Rodriguez (A Rod) from the New York Yankees is about to return to baseball after serving his 12 months for using performance enhancing drugs. The interesting side note to the story is that A Rod like Essendon obfuscated and held a belligerent line about his wrong doing. He has now written a hand written note to fans asking for forgiveness. He was banned for 162 matches (the entirety of the 2014 season - though this was actually less than the original ruling of 211 matches). While not completely similar it is worth reflecting that A Rod is as big as they come in a given sport. Sports will survive the misdemeanours of individuals (even superstars) and move on, what puts the AFL in a bind is that this wasn't one or two players this was a systematic program implemented by one of their constituent clubs. While the AFL may feel the need to get this over and done with I can't see anything less than a 12 month ban for the players and the removal of those responsible (including: Coach, Doctor, CEO and President - though 2 of those are now gone) from the game.

Just out of curiosity, what did Rodriguez use? I think it's relevant when comparing him to the EFC situation to know whether he used an accepted performance enhancing drug or a dodgy peptide of unknown benefit which is nevertheless on the banned list.