Another step closer to WC losing draft picks?

[Yencks 8]

I know this is fairly old news but imagine if we got the third pick?

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,2...3-23211,00.html

[Whispering_Jack 30,036]

I know this is fairly old news but imagine if we got the third pick?

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,2...3-23211,00.html

Heaven help us if they take away draft picks for that sort of activity - there'll be no draft at all soon.

[QueenC 74]

Heaven help us if they take away draft picks for that sort of activity - there'll be no draft at all soon.

I agree with you Jack......

There would be more than one club a little concerned about the players off field idiocy.

Although where the Coast are concerned this kind of stuff does seem to be never ending.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Notwithstanding WCE's apathetic handling of the Cousins/drug scandal (and the complicit behaviour of the AFL), I am not confident that the AFL will impose draft penalties. From the two test cases so far at Carlton and Melbourne the impact of draft penalties (as opposed to fines) is prolonged and often severe damage to a team list that takes 5 years or more to rectify.

Both Carlton and Melbourne still bear the scars of such a harsh penalty. I am sure there are situations where such heavy handed actions are necessary. But IMO, its a last resort action (or near enough) by the AFL and prudence needs to be carried out when the penalties are laid. If the draft penalties are too harsh and too deep, such actions could hamper a wealthy club but absolutely gut a weak club.

While I believe a penalty is necessary, I am not sure its a draft penalty and if it is a draft penalty what precedents does it set for further incidents for arrangement for the "3 strike" unnamed club and Collingwood over the Didak fiasco.

I think Jack has a point. Draft penalties are a blunt and draconian measure that has long term pain for the inflicted club. Where does it stop?

[John Dee 445]

I really can't see the AFL taking away pick three as it was not WC's original pick, but one that they gained through trading. Should the AFL take it away it will open up the proverbial can of worms.

[Yencks 8]

why cant west coast players be better though...i dont understand what it is but there is always something going on there....is there a lack of leadership or is there nothing to do there but drugs and fight...i think some sort of punishment is suitable because they cant learn their lesson.

[grazman 7,432]

I don't buy the West Coast supporter arguments that they've been punished enough by losing Cousins and Judd. Surely both are a direct result of their own poor management of the situation. They've harmed the sport enormously here interstate I can tell you. I'm not confident that the AFL commission will punish them (though I think big Mike might want to). - If they impose draft sanctions at all it would be more appropriate that they lost their original first pick in the draft rather the pick (13) rather than the one they got for trading Judd.

[Pepe Dee Pew 0]

A footy club is TOTALLY responsible for the culture within the club. Wce HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME that there were problems but put immediate success above the welfare of the playing group itself. They deserve far worse punishments than MFC and CFC as all we did was mess with money and not the lives of kids and young men.

If the player in question has breached his agreement with the club concerning the recent allegations including refusing a test and in turn if the WCE has breached any agreement with the AFL then any penalty less than what we got would be a big slap in the face for the rest of the competition, anti drug campaigners and the public in general. I WONDER WHETHER THE CULTURE OF THE WCE was the real reason Judd wanted out?

We voluntarily came forward concerning our breach of the CAP and still got slaughtered by the AFL. I have a feeling the AFL will find a way to go easy on WCE.