ManDee

Ron you disappoint me, the last thing I expect from you is to be the voice of reason, but I have to agree, get it done Dees.

It is fairest and best player. Neil Roberts winner in 1958 said he would hand back his medal if fairness was removed. You could have a separate award for the most drugged up player and give it to Jobe, Benny & Dane on alternate years.

Acknowledging the formidable brief before it, the Tribunal is deeply critical of Essendon’s deplorable lack of record keeping regarding the injecting program, noting that had the club fulfilled its obligations as a responsible employer it’s highly unlikely these proceedings would have been necessary. Those elements combined to ensure the prosecution couldn’t meet the threshold of comfortable satisfaction for a doping violation to be sustained. Jones describes ASADA’s investigation as extensive and comprehensive and identifies the task of the tribunal as an intellectual and dispassionate function made more difficult by the absence of key witnesses. “It follows from the conclusions the Tribunal reached, it is not comfortably satisfied that the first element or link in the chain of reasoning relied upon by the ASADA CEO to establish that a violation by each player has occurred has been made out. It follows that it cannot be comfortably satisfied that the second link has been established.” From:-http://www.foxsports.com.au/breaking-news/asada-failed-to-prosecute-bombers-due-to-mystery-over-prohibited-drug-thymosin-beta-4/news-story/e276a27935c28da589084a9ab2c58ce6 They were then not able to proceed with examining further evidence, a problem with comfortable satisfaction as seen by the tribunal.

They fell over on legal technicalities, they were unable to give all the evidence.

Thanks Topaz, only ten pages to go, interesting reading. As I have said, the players are guilty, Jobe should give back that medal.

I think (I have no knowledge on this) that the players may have lied by saying Dank was not at away matches, when perhaps he was.

ASADA chief executive Ben McDevitt slammed the players for failing to know better and for being “complicit in a culture of secrecy and concealment”. “This unfortunate episode has chronicled the most devastating self-inflicted injury by a sporting club in Australian history,” he said. “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.” The CAS decision outlined the failure of the Bombers involved to disclose key pieces of information to investigators, including what “supplements” they believed they had been administered and when and the presence of Stephen Dank at away matches. Edit:- attribution - http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/essendon/essendon-drugs-saga-players-only-have-themselves-to-blame-says-asada-chief/news-story/33ab716e80b0ab7de1f37572a68bfb46

Saty, they lied to ASADA on multiple occasions. All of them lied. How can anyone suggest that they were not complicit?

I agree completely with the sentiment OD but the AFL rules re the Brownlow (wikipedia not the real rules- they are missing?) and it appears the eligibility is referenced to AFL tribunal bans during the home & away season exclusively. Legally the AFL may have a problem, I would think a shame campaign against Jobe may be required. wikipedia - The fairest component of the medal is achieved by making ineligible any player who is suspended by the AFL Tribunal during the home-and-away season. An ineligible player cannot win, place or be classified in the final Brownlow Medal rankings, regardless of the number of votes he has received.

Iva, Jobe was the club captain, I have no doubt that younger players came to him and asked his opinion on what was going on. As a leader he has great responsibility and throughout he maintained the club line. Did he ask questions? Before he gave leadership did he make personal inquiries about the program, did he check with ASADA (it takes about 2 minutes online) Did he check with specialist medical practitioners? Both Watson and Armstrong are listed as drug cheats. I agree the club got off lightly, I too feel for the younger players in particular. But Jobe was their leader, and at best he has failed in that role, or has been complicit in our countries biggest sporting scandal. During that time he won the counties highest AFL sporting honour. He lied on multiple occasions to ASADA testers. If he had any sense of morality he would apologise and return his ill gotten gain.

It beggars belief that the AFL requested submissions. Did Chris Grant or Corey McKernan get to make a submission? Did James Hird, Michael Voss or Robert Harvey have to make one? This smacks of an inability to make a decision by the AFL, the very body created to make decisions on the game for the game. Jobe Watson found guilty of using performance enhancing drugs in the very year that he won the Brownlow & having exhausted all appeals is now officially labelled a drug cheat and currently a Brownlow medalist. What is the difficulty here? Jobe joins the ranks of Lance Armstrong. The AFL must make a decision, we do not need another month, that is rubbish, surely they realised that a possible outcome of the CAS appeall was that the players would lose. I'm sure that someone at AFL house understands contingency planning, it would appear they don't understand integrity, probity and honour.

Nice argument bioptic. I will keep you in mind next time I need representation.

Oh, whoops, all 34 of us forgot to mention that stuff 30 times. What a coincidence! But we were duped, no seriously.

Have your say on whether Jobe keeps the Brownlow. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-12/should-jobe-watson-keep-or-lose-his-brownlow-medal-have-your-say

I don't think it possible to be that negligent, I think your other alternative is the truth. Actively cheating.

You state who you think are the guilty parties and you do not mention the 34, WADA do. WADA disagree with you is fact not opinion. Your opinion of WADA is of no particular interest to me. Many governing bodies are less than perfect but we must abide but their decisions.

It would appear that WADA disagree with you. The lying cheats (the 34) got a light penalty, a paid holiday. No doubt others are guilty but not proven.

Just like the 2 year ban to the Essendon 34

But surely Robbo still does the colouring in. Edit:- Sorry Trigon, I hadn't read your post. Too quick for me!

Neither did they. Sorry, it was there.

The pink helicopter is being serviced, Bronnie may have a special offer on hers.

Good, send some to Stuie

Single malt?