On 12/01/2016 at 01:31, Ted Fidge said:

AFLPA press conference. AFLPA can't understand how CAS could get it so wrong. Didn't they read the AFL tribunal decision???

You see, it seems the players were duped and did everything in their power to find out what they were given and whether it was prohibited.

Oh, and the AFL should divorce themselves from WADA.

I found this interesting from McDevitt: 

“The players had received anti-doping education through the AFL and ASADA, and were well aware that they are personally responsible for all substances that entered their body.”

“Unfortunately, despite their education, they agreed to be injected with a number of substances they had little knowledge of, made no enquiries about the substance and kept the injections from their team doctor and ASADA.”

“Of 30 ASADA testing missions during the period in question, none of the 18 players tested declared the injections, despite being asked each time whether they had taken any supplements.”

“At best, the players did not ask the questions, or the people, they should have. At worst, they were complicit in a culture of secrecy and concealment.”

  On 12/01/2016 at 01:33, old dee said:

It is the players Union TF why are you expecting any different?

I get that, OD. I expect them to stick up for the players. Their lack of comprehension skills notwithstanding.

But they seem confused as to their role. Are they sticking up for the players or the AFL?

The AFLPA should be insisting on WADA compliance as that's their members' best protection from  drug cheating.

The AFLPA should be sticking up for, you know, the other 600odd players who didn't cheat in 2012

  On 12/01/2016 at 01:41, Ted Fidge said:

The AFLPA should be insisting on WADA compliance as that's their members' best protection from  drug cheating.

 

  On 12/01/2016 at 01:44, biggestred said:

The AFLPA should be sticking up for, you know, the other 600odd players who didn't cheat in 2012

Absolutely on both counts here^

  On 11/01/2016 at 21:45, Nasher said:

For three seasons of Melksham 2017 onwards, and then some hopefully. Practically speaking it's not that different to if he'd done his knee on day 1. He's a long term investment and losing a year isn't a huge deal in the scheme.

Look, I am disappointed and a bit annoyed, but for me it is far outweighed by the relief that justice has been served. They simply can't have been allowed to get away with this.

It's a but different to if he'd done his knee as I assume he is not allowed to have any contact with the club until November? So we lose that time on his training/conditioning, gameplan orientation etc

  On 12/01/2016 at 01:35, binman said:

I found this interesting from McDevitt: 

“The players had received anti-doping education through the AFL and ASADA, and were well aware that they are personally responsible for all substances that entered their body.”

“Unfortunately, despite their education, they agreed to be injected with a number of substances they had little knowledge of, made no enquiries about the substance and kept the injections from their team doctor and ASADA.”

“Of 30 ASADA testing missions during the period in question, none of the 18 players tested declared the injections, despite being asked each time whether they had taken any supplements.”

“At best, the players did not ask the questions, or the people, they should have. At worst, they were complicit in a culture of secrecy and concealment.”

That is a hugely damning paragraph.   So, they are asked whenever they are tested if they have taken and supplements and they said no!   Did the AFL joke tribunal know is when they brought down their "finding"?   If so, they, the tribunal (just joking calling them that) should all be taken out and shot, now...why wait till dawn?

  On 12/01/2016 at 01:44, biggestred said:

The AFLPA should be sticking up for, you know, the other 600odd players who didn't cheat in 2012

True, and in any case unions are meant to take on the employers on their members behalf. The AFLPA has no idea about what their role should be. They should be focussed on EFC and the AFL now, not WADA and CAS

  On 12/01/2016 at 01:41, Ted Fidge said:

I get that, OD. I expect them to stick up for the players. Their lack of comprehension skills notwithstanding.

But they seem confused as to their role. Are they sticking up for the players or the AFL?

The AFLPA should be insisting on WADA compliance as that's their members' best protection from  drug cheating.

I don't disagree with you and as I said they dropped the ball looking after the players when this was all going on.

I remember when this first surfaced that people like Gerard Healy were asking questions about there supplement usage months before the blackest day in sport. The media were asking questions and the EFC were threatening legal action if anyone went to press.

Where  were the players union when this was happening?

Like the AFL they are horribly conflicted. The let these players down.

I find it very disappointing that the AFLPA are far more concerned with taking pot shots at WADA then having a crack at the club within their competition who's just been found guilty of doping 34 of it's players, even the AFL tribunal with an incorrect evidence requirement couldn't find these players not guilty, so the result really isn't all that surprising,

I don't have any sympathy for any profession athlete who doesn't know and can't prove what they have put into their bodies, if they knew and could prove this, the investigation wouldn't have happened in the first place, if they weren't sure, they should have said no to Danks injections until they had written proof of what they were taking, they didn't and it's come back to bite them.

 

 

 

  On 11/01/2016 at 22:42, Bimbo said:

For the MFC this decision means both Michie and White are likely to be able to be upgraded (one can be upgraded at the start of the season automatically).  I note in his "list update" Roos made reference to Michie being in a position to make the round 1 team.  Making Michie a rookie seems to me to be part of whatever back-up plan the administration had.

If they don't have to pay Melksham this year but have him available for pre-season next year (and thereafter) and two ready made players to come up, the risk was worth the potential loss.

 

A sauce told me. Michie is getting full player payment.

He was told he was only on the Rookie list because they needed more space for players to be drafted. 

It makes him a certainty now to be upgraded

Surely Hird and Reid should bear the brunt of this and receive lifetime bans. Anything less would be unjust.

An interesting article from Masters.

I guess it tells us nothing we don't already know about Dill & co at the AFL...If AD & Evans were allowed to get away with their original plan everything would have been done and dusted a few years back. Dodgy yes but with the help of Hird and Little they ended up digging a bigger and bigger hole.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-cas-verdict-why-the-bombers-penalty-was-so-different-to-cronullas-20160111-gm3v7n.html

 

An expected response from the the AFLPA.  pr damage  control bluster at  it's best

 

 

  On 12/01/2016 at 01:31, Ted Fidge said:

AFLPA press conference. AFLPA can't understand how CAS could get it so wrong. Didn't they read the AFL tribunal decision???

You see, it seems the players were duped and did everything in their power to find out what they were given and whether it was prohibited.

Oh, and the AFL should divorce themselves from WADA.

AFLPA press conference a very poor response to this decision. Even suggesting the AFL should divorce itself from WADA and the players should have come to the them if concerned. Well they didn't.

Wonder how  pro active  the association was before this, in ensuring that their members understood their responsibilities in regards to the code.

My heart goes out to these Essendon players for they have been poorly lead on a number of levels.

I have not been this happy about a football story for a long time.

Essendon Football Club will forever after be known as Drug Cheats.

Forever.

I will be scouring the internet looking to rub as many arrogant EFC supporters noses in this as i possibly can.

AFL will be be hysterical in their attempts to save face and protect the Brand. Cant wait for the presser................

Hey Jab, hand it back pal, you know you cant keep it.

The AFLPA press conference was appalling.  I hope the broad mass of players will sack the current 'leaders' and replace them with people keen to look after players rather than the AFL.

  On 12/01/2016 at 00:40, olisik said:

Next season is [censored] now. The teams who play bombers twice have now got an unfair advantage. They should just sit the year out. 

Essendon will still win a handful of games (3 or 4)

They play Carlton twice, we'll lose to them as we can't handle being favourites, and they'll play a couple of injury riddles teams.

  On 12/01/2016 at 01:22, olisik said:

Hate to be the one to say it but we lost against their top up team last year...

Im

hoping our goal kicking improves dastically!! And we were drained that time last year!! 

With no Hurley Hogan will kick 10

 

 

 

 

  On 12/01/2016 at 01:51, sue said:

True, and in any case unions are meant to take on the employers on their members behalf. The AFLPA has no idea about what their role should be. They should be focussed on EFC and the AFL now, not WADA and CAS

the aflpa need to have a really good look at their current management and their mission in general

at the moment they are looking very silly and making even sillier public comments

they should share some responsibility for this drawn out comedy. they have let down all afl players in general through misguided tactics

condoning, supporting or excusing cheating by a minority of their members is not in the interests of the others they represent 
 

 

  On 12/01/2016 at 02:01, Optimus D said:

AFLPA press conference a very poor response to this decision. Even suggesting the AFL should divorce itself from WADA and the players should have come to the them if concerned. Well they didn't.

Wonder how  pro active  the association was before this, in ensuring that their members understood their responsibilities in regards to the code.

My heart goes out to these Essendon players for they have been poorly lead on a number of levels.

Mine does not, they deliberately hid what injections they had, no symppathy for the players

  On 12/01/2016 at 02:02, ding said:

I have not been this happy about a football story for a long time.

Essendon Football Club will forever after be known as Drug Cheats.

Forever.

I will be scouring the internet looking to rub as many arrogant EFC supporters noses in this as i possibly can.

AFL will be be hysterical in their attempts to save face and protect the Brand. Cant wait for the presser................

Hey Jab, hand it back pal, you know you cant keep it.

Seems a bit cowardly. Not game to do so in person? 

  On 12/01/2016 at 02:02, ding said:

I have not been this happy about a football story for a long time.

Essendon Football Club will forever after be known as Drug Cheats.

Forever.

I will be scouring the internet looking to rub as many arrogant EFC supporters noses in this as i possibly can.

AFL will be be hysterical in their attempts to save face and protect the Brand. Cant wait for the presser................

Hey Jab, hand it back pal, you know you cant keep it.

 

I'm with you on many fronts.

I've hated that putrid club since copping (unprovoked) the "ski club" like remarks and jibes 8 or so years back on the train following our loss.

For all I care that club and its supporters and rot and feel the full brunt of their now tarnished brand.

For the next 50+ years I will enjoy hearing them referred to as "drug cheats", "methadon" and whatever other colourful names people come up with.

As for their players and Jobe specifically, I do however have sympathy. I think Derm on SEN this morning summed it up brilliantly as to how much trust players must put into their teammates and club to function as a good player and club.

I hope the players can overcome this and do not encounter any form of mental illness as a result.

I also hope a large portion of these players take that putrid club to the cleaners!

 

 

the decision to sack evans and instal little has turned out to be a catastrophic strategy by the essendon board

i don't expect them to acknowledge this though

the AFLPA need to understand that they aren't on the same level as groups like WADA, they exist to support the players, not chuck a wobbley when the result goes their way and make ridiculous public comments, yes it's strong penalty, but the AFLPA are in no position to make any comment on if it was right or wrong, just go with what the powers at be say, and provide support where they can, all they have really done is fired up a few delisional EFC supporters and conspiracy theorists

  On 12/01/2016 at 02:02, ding said:

I have not been this happy about a football story for a long time.

Essendon Football Club will forever after be known as Drug Cheats.

Forever.

I will be scouring the internet looking to rub as many arrogant EFC supporters noses in this as i possibly can.

AFL will be be hysterical in their attempts to save face and protect the Brand. Cant wait for the presser................

Hey Jab, hand it back pal, you know you cant keep it.

 

  On 12/01/2016 at 02:17, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Seems a bit cowardly. Not game to do so in person? 

 

I've done both, but I generally pretend I'm one of theirs that will no longer be buying my membership and that can no longer support my once beloved club.