The AFL"s support policy is now officially on a knife edge.

If they support the bombers it could cost them millions.

If they support WADA it could cost them millions and their jobs.

If they don't support anybody it could cost them millions their jobs and the Game.

.....and what's worse is it's their own fault.

It's very interesting isn't it?

The problem is now far worse - WADA have got their back up and things are now out of the AFL's hands.

If Essendon and it's players had sat down with the AFL & ASADA and nutted out some sort of deal early on, this whole thing would now be a thing of the past (albeit with the players doing some sort of time for transgressing the drug code)

Whilst ASADA & WADA supposedly don't do deals ordinarily, I reckon with the circumstances of this situation, a deal could have been done - especially with Paul Little's history of brokering deals.

WADA has only appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport twice on Australian sports doping matters. It lost both cases.

Anyone know what these cases were? Quick search didn't turn anything up.

AFL360 . . Hird blames everyone Asada, the press, the AFL, factors within the club. Seems this jerk has completely distanced himself from the saga, must be some sort of paranoid narcissist! (Where is Freud when you need him) apparently Asada have destroyed the EFC spreadsheets showing what the players were given aka thymomodulin. Watley was ok but obviously didn't want Hird to walk out like last time. Take home: Hird is delusional and dangerous! Robbo total waste of space . . . .

AFL360 . . Hird blames everyone Asada, the press, the AFL, factors within the club. Seems this jerk has completely distanced himself from the saga, must be some sort of paranoid narcissist! (Where is Freud when you need him) apparently Asada have destroyed the EFC spreadsheets showing what the players were given aka thymomodulin. Watley was ok but obviously didn't want Hird to walk out like last time. Take home: Hird is delusional and dangerous! Robbo total waste of space . . . .

only.....just a bit..... like a really big bit !!!

Slobbo is a yes lackie...mouth for hire...and cheaply

Hird has now become totally detached... probably Whelans fault !!

and so it unravels !!!

Can I post the 34 names temporarily released by CAS or will I have an EFC black hawk hovering over my home, with James Hird and Paul Little abseiling in through my window?

AFL360 . . Hird blames everyone Asada, the press, the AFL, factors within the club. Seems this jerk has completely distanced himself from the saga, must be some sort of paranoid narcissist! (Where is Freud when you need him) apparently Asada have destroyed the EFC spreadsheets showing what the players were given aka thymomodulin. Watley was ok but obviously didn't want Hird to walk out like last time. Take home: Hird is delusional and dangerous! Robbo total waste of space . . . .

I was in the little boy's room.

AFL360 . . Hird blames everyone Asada, the press, the AFL, factors within the club. Seems this jerk has completely distanced himself from the saga, must be some sort of paranoid narcissist! (Where is Freud when you need him) apparently Asada have destroyed the EFC spreadsheets showing what the players were given aka thymomodulin. Watley was ok but obviously didn't want Hird to walk out like last time. Take home: Hird is delusional and dangerous! Robbo total waste of space . . . .

Whateley redeemed himself for me tonight.

That bit about ASADA destroying the spreadsheets is the height of ridiculousness. The guy is either a compulsive liar (possibly) or outright delusional (probably).

Can I post the 34 names temporarily released by CAS or will I have an EFC black hawk hovering over my home, with James Hird and Paul Little abseiling in through my window?

It's in the Hun now anyway - you know the same paper who previously named some of the players and then blamed the AFL/ASADA for leaking them to them and has gone on and on about the players and their privacy.

Can I post the 34 names temporarily released by CAS or will I have an EFC black hawk hovering over my home, with James Hird and Paul Little abseiling in through my window?

The HS has an article naming them all. It must be EFC approved as we all know nothing goes in that paper without written approval from the Little Hird.

Can I post the 34 names temporarily released by CAS or will I have an EFC black hawk hovering over my home, with James Hird and Paul Little abseiling in through my window?

Not sure what I'm liking more, the WADA appeal and all that follows or some of the quotes on here. Some posters clearly doing some of their best work.

AFL360 . . Hird blames everyone Asada, the press, the AFL, factors within the club. Seems this jerk has completely distanced himself from the saga, must be some sort of paranoid narcissist! (Where is Freud when you need him) apparently Asada have destroyed the EFC spreadsheets showing what the players were given aka thymomodulin. Watley was ok but obviously didn't want Hird to walk out like last time. Take home: Hird is delusional and dangerous! Robbo total waste of space . . . .

... and if Hird was just an average or reasonably good player and not an absolute champion of the game, most of the Dons fans would have probably turned on him long ago - being great gets you lots of brownie points.

Let's not forget that less than 2 and a half years ago, Hird had the utmost respect and admiration of most people in the football world. Hard to believe now but that's how it was.

I can fully understand Essendon fans still standing by him even now. Because they don't want any of this stuff to be true, they probably just can't process things like they normally could. That's my take on it anyway.

The HS has an article naming them all. It must be EFC approved as we all know nothing goes in that paper without written approval from the Little Hird.

How bizarre, how bizarre

How bizarre, how bizarre

What's the bet they take it down and then blame someone else like they did last time?

I wonder whether the HS have deliberately listed the 34 names temporarily released by CAS, when other media have to date refrained, to make a point of CAS's apparent breach of guidelines? Helps EFC and sympathisers undermine CAS processes and case?

What's the bet they take it down and then blame someone else like they did last time?

certainly trying to play games of some sort, but haven't they been all along

!! Difference being both sides are now engaged.

What a magnificent first day...!

I was in the little boy's room.

you mean your mother's bedroom?

The afl tribunal couldn't compel people to appear due to it not being deemed an arbitrator, not due to AFL rules. If was due to AFL rules then they would not have even got to the court. CAS is an arbitrator and has been deemed as much, so they should be able to compel people to appear.

The change in the case isn't down to the rules they will be hearing it under, it will be the interpretation of those rules, and where they set the burden of proof that will make the difference.

But where are the quality online "blogs"/sites that are not affiliated with the AFL asking these questions? There are a number sites in the US, UK where they are counter points to the news media that has some conflicts as they are involved in those sports. We just seem to have a dearth of counter points on this that is being communicated in any media.

Have a look at Crikey, they have posted some rippers on this subject over the last couple of years. They are very close to some of the players close to ASADA.

... and if Hird was just an average or reasonably good player and not an absolute champion of the game, most of the Dons fans would have probably turned on him long ago - being great gets you lots of brownie points.

Let's not forget that less than 2 and a half years ago, Hird had the utmost respect and admiration of most people in the football world. Hard to believe now but that's how it was.

I can fully understand Essendon fans still standing by him even now. Because they don't want any of this stuff to be true, they probably just can't process things like they normally could. That's my take on it anyway.

He was respected as a player, though does anyone maybe have some doubts now?? What was around then? What was tested then?

It's very interesting isn't it?

The problem is now far worse - WADA have got their back up and things are now out of the AFL's hands.

If Essendon and it's players had sat down with the AFL & ASADA and nutted out some sort of deal early on, this whole thing would now be a thing of the past (albeit with the players doing some sort of time for transgressing the drug code)

Whilst ASADA & WADA supposedly don't do deals ordinarily, I reckon with the circumstances of this situation, a deal could have been done - especially with Paul Little's history of brokering deals.

I can tell you Evans, the AFL, ASADA, and their PR and a legal advisors just about had a settlement across the line in 2013 to the satisfaction of everyone except James Hird. He, along with Doc Reid, would have had to have admit guilt and resign. Instead, he stabbed his "best friend" Evans in the back, brought in Little and went on an orgy of litigation purely to save his own neck, and buggar the welfare of the players, Evans (who subsequently had a nervous breakdown) and Essendon.

For him now to say continually "it is all about the players and always has been" is staggeringly hypocritical.

I think Whateley knows that and at last was calling him out on it.

Promising start from Gerard Whateley and James Hird on AFL360.

Intro from Whateley:

"WADA steps in to appeal the Bombers' not guilty verdict again jeopardising the futures of 34 players."

James Hird:

... "2 and a half year investigation, emphatic not guilty, innocent" says the man who appealed against the ruling of a Federal Court Judge during the course of this saga but has a problem with WADA exercising its right to appeal what it considers to be a bad decision by the AFL Tribunal.

WJ - you are so sharp. So enjoy your posts. Beelzebub another fave.

Haven't read whole thread yet, but just been listening to Finey and Connolly. Their take on it: but, but...the boys have been found not guilty. This is refusing to accept the umpires decision. This is unAustralian!

Don't seem to understand that the appeals system is part of the umpiring process, a process to which the AFL has signed onto.

Anyone know what these cases were? Quick search didn't turn anything up.

.

Yes, look under the list of cases in the CAS website. They were minor and dismissed on technicalities, neither of which apply here

He was respected as a player, though does anyone maybe have some doubts now?? What was around then? What was tested then?

And until this saga broke, none of us would probably have had any suspicions about his playing career

I know I do now but I'm also suspicious of the goings on at other clubs.

With respect to cancer sufferers I can only imagine it must feel like they were given the O.k from the Doctors, have spent a few weeks in remission and were just starting to feel good about themselves when wham its come back. They must be gutted. Throughout the whole saga the players and even Hird (as much as I dislike him and want him away from the game forever) have shown such strength and solidarity. When the ASADA case was dismissed and they beat Hawthorn I felt as if the whole game was in an awful place, the bad guys had won and there was no justice.

I think Bomber fans wanted the Hird/ Little combo mainly because they thought it would bring success. But now they are already losing and with this back over their heads its going to be a terrible place to be, and the Bomber fans will desert Hird and Little in droves. Its easier to ditch a losing combination, this is a disaster for Hird. He is GAWN!

Jara, the more you listen and read of some of these supposed industry giants of the airwaves/print , the more you come to understand it's all powered by self interest and bullshlt

The sideshows are almost as entertaining as the main event, especially until court 1 comes into frame.

Ladies and gentlemen take your partners (sides) for Thymosin Waltz !