Crowley will clamp the oppositions best mid and they would be hoping that means a few goals less a game against them. 

He can also shield some of the young kids.

One of the first to chime in was former Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority boss Richard Ings, who said on Twitter:
 

"Coming right out of a doping ban, Ryan Crowley signed by EFC as replacement for one of 12 banned for doping offenses. I do give up."

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/crowley-reax-20160119-gm9fp8.html#ixzz3xjYitcJq

 

We can only hope when Richard Ings says "I do give up", he means it. Oxygen thief of the highest order.

20 hours ago, Middymalt said:

Heppels brother had scathing words to say about the club the other day, I just can't see any player under 26 staying why would you there convicted drug cheats there names tarnished for life I wouldn't stay there I bet Parishs parents on draft night was hoping we scooped him up why would you want your kid involved in that mess the fallout going to be around for years, Heppels probably known 2 years of enjoyable AFL footy now he's lost another season he's gone same as Hurley you can see why Carlisle and Ryder left.

Interesting if true, but I couldn't find that anywhere on the internet. Or, did he tell you this personally?

The Dees,Crows,Port,Dogs and Saints should be given priority replacements in preference to Essendon. Imagine if the Dees were able to get Crowley,more bruises for the opposition,just what we need.Crowley has done his time and I don't have an issue with him taking drugs in the past.The AFL telling us we can promote a rookie due to some other team's fault is not good enough.The bombers won't always be an easy kill as some people may think.

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

We can only hope when Richard Ings says "I do give up", he means it. Oxygen thief of the highest order.

Indeed.

Another "dope".

I have zero problem them taking Crowley and if i was an EFC fan would be annoyed if they didn't. I'm surprised a club didn't rookie him. He did the crime (which was was pretty minor compared to the supplements regime and IIRC the drug he used was not designed to improve his performance, more manage pain) and has done the time.

They have lost 9 senior player and 5 of their best 6. It is critical they get hardened AFL players playing for them or else they'll be cannon fodder. How many of them are floating around, who critically have done somewhere near an AFL standard pre season (Crowley apparently kept very fit during his suspension and has been training with a WAFL side). 

 

 

Just heard Kelly has signed on.

17 minutes ago, old dee said:

Just heard Kelly has signed on.

Ned?

 

They need more crooks, gangsters and bushrangers (not cricketers)

2 minutes ago, ManDee said:

Ned?

 

They need more crooks, gangsters and bushrangers (not cricketers)

Just in case you don't know

JAMES

19 hours ago, old dee said:

Just heard Kelly has signed on.

That is a decent signing if true. First Crowley, now Kelly (possibly). Slowly but steadily the Dons are building a list.

11 minutes ago, KingDingAling said:

That is a decent signing if true. First Crowley, now Kelly (possibly). Slowly but steadily the Dons are building a list.

Of washed up pensioners.. Crowley will be 32 and not played for nearly 18 months while Kelly will be 33 and was on his last legs and struggling to keep up with the pace of the game. 

Building a laughing stock if you ask me.

11 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Of washed up pensioners.. Crowley will be 32 and not played for nearly 18 months while Kelly will be 33 and was on his last legs and struggling to keep up with the pace of the game. 

Building a laughing stock if you ask me.

no building required to be that, dazzle

14 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Of washed up pensioners.. Crowley will be 32 and not played for nearly 18 months while Kelly will be 33 and was on his last legs and struggling to keep up with the pace of the game. 

Building a laughing stock if you ask me.

But who else is there dd?

There are not a lot of reasonable players out there.

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Of washed up pensioners.. Crowley will be 32 and not played for nearly 18 months while Kelly will be 33 and was on his last legs and struggling to keep up with the pace of the game. 

Building a laughing stock if you ask me.

Moneyball 2: Pensioner time.

20 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Of washed up pensioners.. Crowley will be 32 and not played for nearly 18 months while Kelly will be 33 and was on his last legs and struggling to keep up with the pace of the game. 

Building a laughing stock if you ask me.

Crowley should be fresh and hungry. He is a very good trainer and shows good discipline. He isn't the greatest player, but Essendon don't have much to choose from IMO. Crowley is as good as they'll get. Kelly had an interrupted year, but looked reasonable when he was out there. I still think both guys have something to offer. IMO they are decent picks considering the selection pool. A lot of VFL players don't even look up to AFL, at least those 2 guys are still up to AFL (I think).

So the punishment is players are rubbed out for 12 mths but suddenly then can draft good players like Crowley and Kelly. Yes I know they were older but they are still good players. Kelly will be very handy for them and I know we delisted Jamar but I will be shattered to see him run around in a bombers jumper. 

The EFC and AFL are endearing themselves to no one.

WAFL Club Swan Districts have demanded compensation for the loss of Crowley.

He was their playing assistant coach and they are now left seriously short.

49 minutes ago, old dee said:

The EFC and AFL are endearing themselves to no one.

WAFL Club Swan Districts have demanded compensation for the loss of Crowley.

He was their playing assistant coach and they are now left seriously short.

Dominoes

50 minutes ago, old dee said:

The EFC and AFL are endearing themselves to no one.

WAFL Club Swan Districts have demanded compensation for the loss of Crowley.

He was their playing assistant coach and they are now left seriously short.

Exactly. Why should Swan Districts suffer because of Essendrug's needle regime

this is not right Dill & is why you along with Vlad Demitriou and the AFL Commission are killing the game. 

Do not assist Essendon by making others suffer. 

Let them sink or swim this year. 

Then they will learn or die. 

I thought that was how a penalty worked...

1 hour ago, dees189227 said:

Yes I know they were older but they are still good players. Kelly will be very handy for them 

Kelly looked like he needed to retire by the end of last year - he was a yard too slow to keep up with game and a couple of seconds too  slow in reacting. ( this is not meant to detract on how good he was for many years)

50 minutes ago, old dee said:

The EFC and AFL are endearing themselves to no one.

WAFL Club Swan Districts have demanded compensation for the loss of Crowley.

He was their playing assistant coach and they are now left seriously short.

That's a matter for Crowley and Swan Districts to negotiate, didn't they have a contract?

The AFL has to allow Essendon to sign top up players and create rules around that. You can't have a team enter in to a season with 34 players on the list and the majority of them being under developed kids.

If players break existing contracts with state or local clubs then they can seek compensation from those players or Essendon but it's not the AFL's fault. 

2 minutes ago, Georgiou R.R. Martin said:

That's a matter for Crowley and Swan Districts to negotiate, didn't they have a contract?

The AFL has to allow Essendon to sign top up players and create rules around that. You can't have a team enter in to a season with 34 players on the list and the majority of them being under developed kids.

If players break existing contracts with state or local clubs then they can seek compensation from those players or Essendon but it's not the AFL's fault. 

of course it's the afl's fault. it was their explicit idea and they sanctioned it

it may be the right thing to do (or not) but it is definitely the afl's fault

4 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Moneyball 2: Pensioner time.

Their stupidity will really come through when they announce that they've signed David Rodan, Shannon Byrnes and Tom Gillies. 

Geez not sure cats fans will enjoy seeing stevie j in a giants jumper next year and kelly in a bombers one. Crowley and Kelly are more skilled than some of those 34 players that have been suspended. But I wonder how fit they have been keeping themselves over the pre season. 

Kelly is obviously looking forward to it. 

James Kelly ‏@JamesPopsKelly  8m8 minutes ago

#donthesash @EssendonFC