My love of this game is dying. The depth of corruption this saga has revealed should be eye-opening to any supporters of Aussie Rules.

Make no mistake, the game you once loved no longer exists. Corporatisation fully realised, profits now take precedence over ethics. 

 

Corporatisation fully realised, profits now take precedence over ethics. 

This is the way it works in every single other aspect of life. At the base of it is individual selfishness and greed. Why should footy be any different?

Does anyone know if the Drug Lords have lost any sponsors over CAS judgement?

The Essendon players can only blame themselves,surely someone would have got advice in writing from the AFL or examined the AFL code of conduct rules relating to injection of substances.James Hird and co. should have known better, however they did not force a gun to anyone's head. The same thing applies to the AFL thou they were sloppy in dealing with the situation. The club was held responsible for the injection program thus they were exiled from the 8 in 2014 ,given a 2 million dollar fine.Later were given a chance to take a guilt plea thus reducing their suspension ( probably a weak one) but refused. The players who decide to take Essendon or the AFL to court may end up losing and therefore are up for court costs. The other clubs who obtained ex Essendon players,the drug cheats should be compensated because the players were deemed innocent at the time,promoting a rookie is not sufficient compensation.Those so called other clubs may sue Essendon and the AFL for insufficient compensation. James Hird should be suspended from coaching any team for the next 10 years for his ignorance in the matter.The AFL needs to prevent these sorts of things happening again.

 

I sort of agree, what not giving Essendon top up players means they can't cover injuries and they put undue stress on their remaining players, who did nothing wrong and don't deserve to suffer as a result. 

Plus it's a health and safety issue that the AFLPA would never agree to. 

 

True that the AFL and AFLPA need to ensure the health and safety of the current Essendon playing list (something which both appear to have been remiss about along with the EFC over the whole issue) but they are clearly playing favourite with the Bombers over almost everything else.

Back in 2013 when the AFL sanctioned Essendon over governance following the partially completed joint investigation, it was made painfully clear that the issue of the actual possible use of banned substances was still unresolved. Now that this long running saga has ended and it is plain and obvious that they are culpable in conducting a programme involving the ingesting of banned substances by their players, the AFL is letting them off the hook with salary cap concessions, generous rights to recruit top up players and draft pick hand outs as a side benefit to having a weakened team due to the sanctions. Banned players can be paid their full remuneration. This was all announced on the day the sanctions were announced and with no consultation with the clubs although one of the offenders gets consulted and time to put forward a case (should he wish to) as to whether he can keep his Brownlow. 

Business as usual for the AFL. It hasn't learned a thing from the various scandals that have rocked the organisation in recent years. 

And the money keeps rolling in.

 

True that the AFL and AFLPA need to ensure the health and safety of the current Essendon playing list (something which both appear to have been remiss about along with the EFC over the whole issue) but they are clearly playing favourite with the Bombers over almost everything else.

Back in 2013 when the AFL sanctioned Essendon over governance following the partially completed joint investigation, it was made painfully clear that the issue of the actual possible use of banned substances was still unresolved. Now that this long running saga has ended and it is plain and obvious that they are culpable in conducting a programme involving the ingesting of banned substances by their players, the AFL is letting them off the hook with salary cap concessions, generous rights to recruit top up players and draft pick hand outs as a side benefit to having a weakened team due to the sanctions. Banned players can be paid their full remuneration. This was all announced on the day the sanctions were announced and with no consultation with the clubs although one of the offenders gets consulted and time to put forward a case (should he wish to) as to whether he can keep his Brownlow. 

Business as usual for the AFL. It hasn't learned a thing from the various scandals that have rocked the organisation in recent years. 

And the money keeps rolling in.

Amen to all that WJ..

Ess mate sent me this, at least he has a sense of humour.

 

http://insidesauce.com/top-up-candidate-james-hird-open-to-playing-for-essendon/

Leon Zwier advised the MFC on the "tanking" wash up - James Hird and Essendon board to blame for sorry saga

 

Leon Zwier advised the MFC on the "tanking" wash up - James Hird and Essendon board to blame for sorry saga

I think this from that article is a wise move which I think we have now made:

The sorry saga showed sports boards needed to conscript independent directors, rather than high-profile and powerful fans unlikely to topple a hero such as Hird.

 

Ess mate sent me this, at least he has a sense of humour.

 

http://insidesauce.com/top-up-candidate-james-hird-open-to-playing-for-essendon/

Hahahahaha Gold

from the sun bed!

 

True that the AFL and AFLPA need to ensure the health and safety of the current Essendon playing list (something which both appear to have been remiss about along with the EFC over the whole issue) but they are clearly playing favourite with the Bombers over almost everything else.

Back in 2013 when the AFL sanctioned Essendon over governance following the partially completed joint investigation, it was made painfully clear that the issue of the actual possible use of banned substances was still unresolved. Now that this long running saga has ended and it is plain and obvious that they are culpable in conducting a programme involving the ingesting of banned substances by their players, the AFL is letting them off the hook with salary cap concessions, generous rights to recruit top up players and draft pick hand outs as a side benefit to having a weakened team due to the sanctions. Banned players can be paid their full remuneration. This was all announced on the day the sanctions were announced and with no consultation with the clubs although one of the offenders gets consulted and time to put forward a case (should he wish to) as to whether he can keep his Brownlow. 

Business as usual for the AFL. It hasn't learned a thing from the various scandals that have rocked the organisation in recent years. 

And the money keeps rolling in.

Who draws the line between financial support for a drug based program Team and their (the Team's) rightful ethical position on the ladder for the next 5 to ten years.

In the USA with Lance Armstrong it was The US Postal Service. They moved on him very hard. I am now of the opinion that the Essendon Football Club Sponsors should move on Essendon very hard. Who are they and why should they not be exposed as being supporters of a convicted drug Team

 

Who draws the line between financial support for a drug based program Team and their (the Team's) rightful ethical position on the ladder for the next 5 to ten years.

In the USA with Lance Armstrong it was The US Postal Service. They moved on him very hard. I am now of the opinion that the Essendon Football Club Sponsors should move on Essendon very hard. Who are they and why should they not be exposed as being supporters of a convicted drug Team

here they are ... note the herald-sun

 

Leon Zwier advised the MFC on the "tanking" wash up - James Hird and Essendon board to blame for sorry saga

This stood out more than anything to me... If i were one of those wealthy backers I would ask for all who had been a part of the program who are still at the club to resign before they received any cash and want to understand what the players really may have known.

"HIGH-PROFILE SUPPORTERS

The Australian Financial Review reported on Wednesday that Essendon is preparing a war chest from wealthy business backers as it faces financial crisis. The Bombers are stacked with high-profile and powerful supporters, including former chairman and stockbroker David Evans, who suffered a physical breakdown after a falling-out with Hird when he tried to negotiate with the AFL on a deal. Subsequent chairman and former managing director of Toll Holdings Paul Little was appointed to fight the charges. Little stood down at the end of last year after Hird resigned in August (after controversially being brought back on a two-year contract following his 12-month ban from coaching in 2014). Newly appointed chairman Lindsay Tanner, Dr Ziggy Switkowski – who conducted the 2013 review into the drugs scandal – former federal Treasurer Peter Costello and Hird mentor, News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson are among other high-profile supporters."

Read more: http://www.afr.com/business/sport/james-hird-and-essendon-board-to-blame-for-sorry-saga-20160115-gm6ldr#ixzz3xNikQjc1 

 

here they are ... note the herald-sun

Can't see the HUN pulling out as a sponsor over the scandal. They've done very nicely out of it over the past three years.

 

True that the AFL and AFLPA need to ensure the health and safety of the current Essendon playing list (something which both appear to have been remiss about along with the EFC over the whole issue) but they are clearly playing favourite with the Bombers over almost everything else.

Back in 2013 when the AFL sanctioned Essendon over governance following the partially completed joint investigation, it was made painfully clear that the issue of the actual possible use of banned substances was still unresolved. Now that this long running saga has ended and it is plain and obvious that they are culpable in conducting a programme involving the ingesting of banned substances by their players, the AFL is letting them off the hook with salary cap concessions, generous rights to recruit top up players and draft pick hand outs as a side benefit to having a weakened team due to the sanctions. Banned players can be paid their full remuneration. This was all announced on the day the sanctions were announced and with no consultation with the clubs although one of the offenders gets consulted and time to put forward a case (should he wish to) as to whether he can keep his Brownlow. 

Business as usual for the AFL. It hasn't learned a thing from the various scandals that have rocked the organisation in recent years. 

And the money keeps rolling in.

Are you sure the players are getting paid. Wouldn't think the code would allow it!

 

I think this from that article is a wise move which I think we have now made:

The sorry saga showed sports boards needed to conscript independent directors, rather than high-profile and powerful fans unlikely to topple a hero such as Hird.

It most certainly cost us in the past...lessons learned, lets hope not forgotten.

 

This stood out more than anything to me... If i were one of those wealthy backers I would ask for all who had been a part of the program who are still at the club to resign before they received any cash and want to understand what the players really may have known.

"HIGH-PROFILE SUPPORTERS

The Australian Financial Review reported on Wednesday that Essendon is preparing a war chest from wealthy business backers as it faces financial crisis. The Bombers are stacked with high-profile and powerful supporters, including former chairman and stockbroker David Evans, who suffered a physical breakdown after a falling-out with Hird when he tried to negotiate with the AFL on a deal. Subsequent chairman and former managing director of Toll Holdings Paul Little was appointed to fight the charges. Little stood down at the end of last year after Hird resigned in August (after controversially being brought back on a two-year contract following his 12-month ban from coaching in 2014). Newly appointed chairman Lindsay Tanner, Dr Ziggy Switkowski – who conducted the 2013 review into the drugs scandal – former federal Treasurer Peter Costello and Hird mentor, News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson are among other high-profile supporters."

Read more: http://www.afr.com/business/sport/james-hird-and-essendon-board-to-blame-for-sorry-saga-20160115-gm6ldr#ixzz3xNikQjc1 

Robert Thomson's support of Hird adds one more string to the understanding of the absolute bias in the Hun. 

 

Are you sure the players are getting paid. Wouldn't think the code would allow it!

i understand it is still being discussed. there were recent reports that they would get 50% of their pay whilst on suspension, but don't take that as any gospel

 

i understand it is still being discussed. there were recent reports that they would get 50% of their pay whilst on suspension, but don't take that as any gospel

That the AFL are even discussing it is appalling. They are cheats, they are suspended from the entire sport, they should not be paid. Wouldn't the payment itself actually constitute contact between the club and players anyway. 

What's bet the AFL are on the players side again and trying to negotiate with WADA to allow them to be paid? 

 

Leon Zwier advised the MFC on the "tanking" wash up - James Hird and Essendon board to blame for sorry saga

Good article

 

i understand it is still being discussed. there were recent reports that they would get 50% of their pay whilst on suspension, but don't take that as any gospel

Me thinks they'd get another call from WADA

 

Good article

It actually points to why I think PJ has been great for the club. Yes he is a Dee now but he is not a died in the wool life long Dee who makes the decisions based on emotion. He is a business man making the best decisions for the club he is in charge of. Much the same goes for Roos. 

 

Me thinks they'd get another call from WADA

assuming suspended players do get some pay, would mfc have a case for the scum to pay melksham under victorian fair trading laws for trading goods not fit for purpose?

 

It actually points to why I think PJ has been great for the club. Yes he is a Dee now but he is not a died in the wool life long Dee who makes the decisions based on emotion. He is a business man making the best decisions for the club he is in charge of. Much the same goes for Roos. 

PJ was the man who was in charge when Knights was coach and then gave him the 3 year extension. Only for Turd to shuffle in the back door on him.

 

That the AFL are even discussing it is appalling. They are cheats, they are suspended from the entire sport, they should not be paid. Wouldn't the payment itself actually constitute contact between the club and players anyway. 

What's bet the AFL are on the players side again and trying to negotiate with WADA to allow them to be paid? 

If the players are being paid, it's harder for them to demonstrate "loss" and thus harder to launch court action against the EFC.