The AFL is one of the most corrupt organisations: Discuss

[timD 994]

A family was having a chat to dr Reid and of course the discussion was on the EFC drug scandal. One of the topics brought up was the rest of the competition using the exact same drugs. He mentioned that MFC even using dank but as the AFL were in damage mode after EFC self report they swept it under the carpet. The main difference between the rest of the AFL and EFC was the injections weren't brought in house but the players advised that a certain person (dank in mfc case) could provide benefits from supplements. The players could attend of there own free will even though 20 may have attended on the same arvo it wasn't co ordinated by the club.

Now it's easy to shoot the messenger as we don't want to be involved in it but I doesn't surprise me nor does the cover up. If mfc were under investigation and the information in the article below was out there I would have no issue thinking we were guilty like EFC. Trent Croad was a salesman for these supplements and he didn't find them away from football.

Text messages reveal Dank involved with Demons

I have no issue believing this as the AFL did the exact same thing the Melbourne with tanking. Whilst it was obvious that it had been happening for years and many clubs were involved by investigating and charging one they are able to close the issue and say they dealt with it.

The AFL as so focused on running the competition as a business and the overall gods of the sport that they have lost the morale compass to deal with things as it will effect their revenue. If the AFL was running a league they would surely have to suspend EFC from the comp if a drug program was proven but I really doubt they will give a punishment as not to effect their bottom line.

It nearly time that the AFL to split the organisation and have one running the league and one running the sport which may allow for more prudent decision making as it appears that many decision having conflicting interests

Dr. Reid believing that others clubs do bad things is not proof.

The "grape-vine" is a shocking reason to engage in any form of behaviour. If that is his justification (everyone else is doing it - they just hate us) then no wonder a dangerous and experimental drug regime found its foothold. IF this is what he has said, he should be de-registered.

[John Dee 445]

The AFL is squeaky clean when compared to bastions of corruption like FIFA and the IOC.

[george_on_the_outer 7,426]

Two things......both which require reading the article:

1. It was written in April 2013.

2. "None of these substances are specifically banned by ASADA,"

There is no connection between the EFC and Reid circumstances or apologies, to Melbourne's situation.

[binman 41,937]

Dr. Reid believing that others clubs do bad things is not proof.

The "grape-vine" is a shocking reason to engage in any form of behaviour. If that is his justification (everyone else is doing it - they just hate us) then no wonder a dangerous and experimental drug regime found its foothold. IF this is what he has said, he should be de-registered.

My thoughts exactly. For gods sake he is the club doctor. And the longest standing AFL one at that. Perhaps if he heard it was going on elsewhere and he was concerned (as suggested by his infamous letter) he might have shown some blooody leadership and spoken to other AFL docs about his concerns or even the AMA. Weak

Edited March 19, 2015 by binman

[binman 41,937]

Oh and on the AFL being corrupt, what tosh. I reckon Wolfie you've been drinking the EFC, News corp Kool aid. Dees2014 and BB might have been sipping on the same drink given their belief the drug tribunal are AFL patsies.

Funny how little reporting there was of Middleton's praise for the AFL and the process they followed with ASADA and the investigation. Having a respected judge look at all the evidence about processand come to the conclusion that the AFL (and AD in particular) did theire job very well hardly fits the AFL are corrupt narrative

[rpfc 28,045]

Let's cool it with the 'troll' accusations...

Reid is just trying to deflect blame with the 'everyone else was doing it' brush.

Pure Essendon.

They would like themselves absolved and everyone else indicted and they could hartily justify it to themselves and each other too.

This is a club that organised this and 'lost' the receipts, and think they should escape penalties based on the fact that we don't know exactly what they took because they have no records of what they took...

I am certain all other clubs have been touched by peptides, but the systemic experimentation and conspiratorial running of a scheme seems to be Essendon's issue alone.

I am not going to throw the rest of the league or the AFL admin into their corrupt basket.

And, Old Dee says, let's not confuse incompetence with corruption.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,379]

I believe it was in the interim report that Essendon themselves stated that they implemented the supplements regime as they were of the belief that 'everyone else was doing it.'

It's a child's excuse; and not a very good one at that.

[Ethan Tremblay 29,970]

I believe it was in the interim report that Essendon themselves stated that they implemented the supplements regime as they were of the belief that 'everyone else was doing it.'

It's a child's excuse; and not a very good one at that.

Pretty sure it is actually one of the legally recognised defences along with "I know you are I said you are but what am I?"

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,379]

Pretty sure it is actually one of the legally recognised defences along with "I know you are I said you are but what am I?"

'You've got the wrong twin!'

[hemingway 7,615]

Let's cool it with the 'troll' accusations...

Reid is just trying to deflect blame with the 'everyone else was doing it' brush.

Pure Essendon.

They would like themselves absolved and everyone else indicted and they could hartily justify it to themselves and each other too.

This is a club that organised this and 'lost' the receipts, and think they should escape penalties based on the fact that we don't know exactly what they took because they have no records of what they took...

I am certain all other clubs have been touched by peptides, but the systemic experimentation and conspiratorial running of a scheme seems to be Essendon's issue alone.

I am not going to throw the rest of the league or the AFL admin into their corrupt basket.

And, Old Dee says, let's not confuse incompetence with corruption.

rpfc never have truer words been written. absolutely spot on in every respect.

[daisycutter 29,301]

Pretty sure it is actually one of the legally recognised defences along with "I know you are I said you are but what am I?"

i still prefer the dog defence

[loges 6,767]

My mail from 2 years ago, which I posted at the time, was that MFC were all set to go with Dank, subject to finding the money. In the meantime the whole scandal broke so they quickly backed out. So in essence NOTHING HAPPENED!!!!

[Red and Bluebeard 2,075]

i still prefer the dog defence

As in "everyone else's dog ate their homework, so I fed mine to our dog. I am the victim in this!"

[Tony Tea 2,800]

I don't know about corrupt. But when Andrew Demetriou started at the AFL it was considered a bit of a clunky operation, but basically thought to have the game at heart. Now, though, right or wrong, basically everyone assumes every AFL decision to be dodgy. The AFL is so obsessed with brand management and spin, they it has spun itself into a perpetual state of assumed corruption.

[Allen Jakovich 516]

It all depends on how you define "corrupt" but the standard definition is "guilty of dishonest practices, as bribery; lacking integrity; crooked."

On that basis, and given what is known about a number of other organisations around the country, I don't think you've made out your case that the AFL is "one of the most corrupt." I would suggest that whilst many of its practices in recent years could be looked upon as open to debate on integrity and governance and its decision making found lacking in a number of areas I'm not prepared to label the AFL itself as "corrupt".

We've seen some highly questionable conduct from some constituent clubs and individuals and the way it's run often is open to criticism but calling the organisation itself "corrupt" is way out of line compared to some of the things that go on in this country and elsewhere in the world.

Exactly. Do you expect an organisation to uphold all morale virtue no matter the expense? Sorry but that's unrealistic. There is a lot worse going on in sporting organisations across the world.

[Dr John Dee 1,057]

Given that nothing new or interesting is emerging from this, I'm acting on a request from one poster and the views of several given already, and provisionally closing it.

It's going nowhere, and there's a thread for stuff about Essendon and drugs, and Jack has already given an opinion on the accuracy or otherwise of the title.

If the other mods think there's anything to be gained from re-opening it no doubt one or other of them will do so.