On 11/02/2016 at 01:41, SaberFang said:

This does nothing to endeavour Melksham into our culture. No buy-in whatsoever.

Very disappointing.

My only guess is as all 34 are in on the act that it's more to do with future claims. They've been advised to exhaust all possibilities before taking action against the club and AFL.

Now, given the quality of advise received to date I'm not sure I would be going along for the ride on this one...

  On 11/02/2016 at 01:41, SaberFang said:

This does nothing to endeavour Melksham into our culture. No buy-in whatsoever.

Very disappointing.

I would  have been more impressed had he the gumption to stand aside from the rabble and go his own path. He hasnt.

Not overly happy that he's at Melbourne at all.

I would've thought they're only destroying any future lawsuits against Essendon by endlessly proclaiming they are innocent of all responsibility, not drug cheats, did nothing wrong, fighting to "clear their name", etc.

How can you then turn around and say, "actually, on second thoughts, we are guilty and are drug cheats and we all want millions of dollars because you gave us illegal drugs!"

Especially when Essenscum will turn around and say, "we appealed here, we funded this, we funded that, we did everything to help you and, by the way, here's all the evidence that shows you were all complicit and we have no case to answer!"

Their legal advice is absolutely shocking and that not one of them is smart enough to realise they're being taken for a ride.

  On 11/02/2016 at 01:51, beelzebub said:

I would  have been more impressed had he the gumption to stand aside from the rabble and go his own path. He hasnt.

Not overly happy that he's at Melbourne at all.

This. It's a shocking look for him and the rest of the drug cheats who changed clubs. I can only imagine what the rest of the squad think about his total inability to accept responsibility; a toxic mentality for a young team like ours, and I'd hate to think any of our kids look at him as a role model for personal responsibility.

Worse for Carlisle after his cocaine snorting video came to light. Downright laughable is his audacity to fight these charges so hard.

The players havent thought this through very well I dare say.  Not at the beginning, through the journey , or now.

The slimey EFC are still fending off using the players as the shield now.

What a despicable club

  On 11/02/2016 at 01:20, robbiefrom13 said:

The further it goes, the clearer the picture seems to emerge of the character of those involved.  Totally unashamed, untroubled by being seen to be arguing loopholes rather than innocence, brushing off or destroying evidence, defying the world.  At every development, I find it is further than I'd imagined possible.  

How did Melbourne interview Melksham and not see this matter of attitude/character?  Or did MFC in doing their due diligence on Melksham actually see no real problem with the EFC culture?  The AFL appear to have been comfortable with Essendon's values and conduct, the players' association likewise, MFC certainly have to have looked into part of it and apparently saw no issue of concern - where in the football world does it stop?  Are we all implicated, in that the key entities in the football world in fact all condone (maybe even are quietly embracing) the Essendon initiative?  Are all developing their plans for undetected compliance with this new regime?  

Where in the football world is the unambiguous condemnation of everything to do with what Essendon did?  Why is nobody who speaks with authority in the football world shouting "enough!"?

It is the whole football world and the fact they have been told for years they are leading the fight against drugs in sport while the entire time spruiking about the team culture that leads to things just like the EFC fiasco. That is why they were all so surprised, none of them truly understand the WADA code, and now they have been caught they are all on about how unfair and unjust it is and how it doesn't fit our culture.

I hate to tell you AFL people, it is you that doesn't fit the culture expected from the rest of the world, not the other way around. 

I know this has been stated a few times......but I just have to say it again.

Even in the HIGHLY unlikely event they win this appeal. How the hell does getting off on a " de novo" technicality "clear their names" !!?? . Obviously the  truth is it doesn't. It doesn't actually say ANYTHING at all about the performance enhancing drug use rife at that club. But wait for the headlines if they do win it . " players cleared" "innocent" "time this was all finished with" Im not sure I could bear it.

I wish Robbo was just like some kind of unwanted person on facebook I could block . But if I want to read the sports section of that stupid paper I have to look at that dudes headlines.

Nothing will clear their names now.

What they should be doing is admitting they f'd up, that they understand what went wrong and is wrong, that they want to put this behind them and get on with the year ( whatever that is for them ) and to come back fitter and wiser to the next preason....and oh yeah......Sue the shlt out of Essendon for whatever they can get ( and donate 50% to a charity )

Never happen I realise

  On 11/02/2016 at 03:24, beelzebub said:

Nothing will clear their names now.

What they should be doing is admitting they f'd up, that they understand what went wrong and is wrong, that they want to put this behind them and get on with the year ( whatever that is for them ) and to come back fitter and wiser to the next preason....and oh yeah......Sue the shlt out of Essendon for whatever they can get ( and donate 50% to a charity )

Never happen I realise

Because, as others have pointed out, the  EFC, plus the AFL, plus their lackeys in the media, plus the clubs insurance company has both advised and then pushed them this way. Id almost feel sorry for them if I wasn't so pis$ed off with the excuses, lying , arrogance and self righteousness.

titus and swiss law

The AFL, EFC and most of the Footy world just don't realize that WADA/CAS/Swiss Court see them as just a piece of sh!t on the shoe of world sport. They don't care what happens to EFC or the AFL, they are insignificant.

  On 11/02/2016 at 03:41, daisycutter said:

titus and swiss law

That last point is Putin them in their place  

  On 11/02/2016 at 00:15, sue said:

That's where I disagree with the learned opinion ascribed to WJ a few posts back.  The way I see it, if they 'get off' then it will be harder for the players to sue anyone. That seems to be the motivation of the insurance companies funding this (if that is the really the case?)  But once they have got a bit older and beyond their playing days and the effects of team spirit, they will regret that.

The team that jabs together stays together?

I think that they (the 34) are forced to exhaust all legal avenues, only then can they have a real go at the EFC and AFL.

So it's back to the popcorn and enjoy EFC supporters squirming for another year. The gift that keeps giving.

 

  On 11/02/2016 at 03:43, Devil is in the Detail said:

The AFL, EFC and most of the Footy world just don't realize that WADA/CAS/Swiss Court see them as just a piece of sh!t on the shoe of world sport. They don't care what happens to EFC or the AFL, they are insignificant.

Swiss Government doesn't owe Australia (AFL) any money do they?

  On 11/02/2016 at 04:41, ManDee said:

I think that they (the 34) are forced to exhaust all legal avenues, only then can they have a real go at the EFC and AFL.

So it's back to the popcorn and enjoy EFC supporters squirming for another year. The gift that keeps giving.

 

Disagree. By continuing to defend the EFC position (in effect) why should it help  the players in suing EFC later.  I'd assume the opposite - by claiming via endless appeals that they are innocent, they imply they believe the EFC program was kosher. So how could they then sue them without changing their story markedly. ("I was duped, but I believe I wasn't up until we lost that last appeal" does not sound like a winner.) 

As several posters have pointed out, the players are painting themselves into a corner and are getting bad advice which doesn't appear to be in their interests. Why? How can they be so dumb? Is there no one to make them see sense? 

My guess is that they are so keen to be able to say they are clean (no matter how laughably the circumstances that declare them so) that they are easily hoodwinked by suited men (I trust no woman is involved....) who have other agendas.

  On 11/02/2016 at 04:49, willmoy said:

Swiss Government doesn't owe Australia (AFL) any money do they?

Why?

  On 11/02/2016 at 04:49, willmoy said:

Swiss Government doesn't owe Australia (AFL) any money do they?

More likely the other way

  On 11/02/2016 at 04:49, willmoy said:

Swiss Government doesn't owe Australia (AFL) any money do they?

Given the moral scruples of those in charge here I would not be at all surprised were there are a few numbered anonymous bank accounts in Zurich that could benefit certain folk back here.

  On 11/02/2016 at 05:09, Devil is in the Detail said:

Why?

Here is a guess.

They are not beholding to the AFL like most others in this case.

  On 11/02/2016 at 04:59, sue said:

Disagree. By continuing to defend the EFC position (in effect) why should it help  the players in suing EFC later.  I'd assume the opposite - by claiming via endless appeals that they are innocent, they imply they believe the EFC program was kosher. So how could they then sue them without changing their story markedly. ("I was duped, but I believe I wasn't up until we lost that last appeal" does not sound like a winner.) 

As several posters have pointed out, the players are painting themselves into a corner and are getting bad advice which doesn't appear to be in their interests. Why? How can they be so dumb? Is there no one to make them see sense? 

My guess is that they are so keen to be able to say they are clean (no matter how laughably the circumstances that declare them so) that they are easily hoodwinked by suited men (I trust no woman is involved....) who have other agendas.

think tania might be of the female persuasion 

  On 11/02/2016 at 04:59, sue said:

Disagree. By continuing to defend the EFC position (in effect) why should it help  the players in suing EFC later.  I'd assume the opposite - by claiming via endless appeals that they are innocent, they imply they believe the EFC program was kosher. So how could they then sue them without changing their story markedly. ("I was duped, but I believe I wasn't up until we lost that last appeal" does not sound like a winner.) 

As several posters have pointed out, the players are painting themselves into a corner and are getting bad advice which doesn't appear to be in their interests. Why? How can they be so dumb? Is there no one to make them see sense? 

My guess is that they are so keen to be able to say they are clean (no matter how laughably the circumstances that declare them so) that they are easily hoodwinked by suited men (I trust no woman is involved....) who have other agendas.

think tania might be of the female persuasion 

I just dont get why the appeal.

I mean, why?

know its  a half million dollar "free hit" but it still makes no sense, especially when they all agreed to the case being de novo to start with.

So why? Whats the game here?

  On 11/02/2016 at 05:53, biggestred said:

I just dont get why the appeal.

I mean, why?

know its  a half million dollar "free hit" but it still makes no sense, especially when they all agreed to the case being de novo to start with.

So why? Whats the game here?

i think i saw somewhere that they did in fact raise an objection to the fact it was a de novo hearing

  On 11/02/2016 at 05:53, biggestred said:

I just dont get why the appeal.

I mean, why?

know its  a half million dollar "free hit" but it still makes no sense, especially when they all agreed to the case being de novo to start with.

So why? Whats the game here?

i think i saw somewhere that they did in fact raise an objection to the fact it was a de novo hearing