Mazer Rackham

Here we go. Laying the groundwork. "Well we CAN'T take it off Jobe, because Sam REFUSED to tell us why he should get the medal. You can't blame us! We're trying to go about this the right way, but Sam ... he REFUSED to front up!" "the AFL is fully committed to clean sport, for the sake of all players from all clubs" Yes, Gil. Pull the other one. It squirts AOD-9604 cream! A meeting in mid-Nov. A month to gauge public opinion and massage the non-decision accordingly.

Imagine what Dank might say if he was forced in court to talk. Might blow away the "innocent little lambs led into depravity" line they've pushed for 4 years.

Scene: AFL house, Tuesday night. CEO's office. Gil McLaughlin: Sh!t. Peter Gordon told me they'd get off! Mark Evans: You didn't believe him surely? GM: I know ... but he spoke so well. Pronounces his words so beautifully. There's something about a man in a horsehair wig that makes me go all shivery ... um, anyway, he swore they'd be fine. ME: Yeah, but it doesn't change anything. They're still cooked. But we'll have to get on to Jobe now. GM: There's a bit of a problem there actually. ME: The media? Oh, the players association. GM: No. Jobe. I already told him he could keep it. ME: What'd you do that for!?! GM: Oh, I met with him and some of his boys back when we were running the tribunal against them*. Told them to sit tight and everything would work out for them including the Brownlow. ME: Isn't that a bit ... out of order? GM: Hey. I'm Gil McLaughlin, pal. Brother of Hamish. (pause) There's only one way out of this. ME: Robbo? GM: Yes. Bring me the Fatphone. * = this part really happened!

How would we know? He always seems to find a pack less than 5 metres away and runs into it.

I always meant to go but never tried to be upfront I went to Sydney "just to see", 'twas quite a cheeky stunt I lied to big Jim easily because I've so much front I'm cool about my wealth but not with being such a ... Damn, now I've run out of rhymes too.

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/posts/42631559/

Can we get him to have a chat to Hogan?

These ones bat them into the crowd.

That might not be the only thing you don't understand

I love to have a beer with Melksham I love to have a beer with Jake We drink in moderation After three pots he can't stay awake We drink at the Leighoak pokies Where the atmosphere is great I love to have a beer with Melksham Coz he's my team mate I love to have a beer with Bernie I love to have a beer with Vince We drink in moderation We got drunk once but never since We drink at the Leighoak pokies Where the atmosphere is great I love to have a beer with Bernie Coz he's my team mate I love to have a beer with Wattsy I love to have a beer with Jack We drink in moderation Only beers though he prefers cognac We drink at the Leighoak pokies Where the atmosphere is great I love to have a beer with Wattsy Coz he's my team mate

If it achieved nothing else, the saga exposed our national hypocrisy when it comes to drugs in sport. The Russian athletes should have changed their nationalities to Aussie, that would have saved their bacon. The whole world knows Aussies don't cheat. (Don't they?????)

I reckon there was a very early impulse to "head em off at the pass", which largely succeeded in setting the agenda. A known EFC supporter in charge of the Herald Sun, a number of EFC supporting individuals in various media, certain red faced buffoons with a voice, all promoting that the sports scientist went rogue, the players were duped, etc, which mostly stuck. One prominent individual who is an EFC supporter and somehow counts as a journo, ended up on the payroll of the Essendon lawyers, advising them! I wonder if the "advice" was actually in the other direction. Not to mention media accreditations that can be renewed or annulled at the whim of the emperor.

I don't excuse them, they are guilty. As a group, they knew there was monkey business of some kind, and decided to cover it up. Just trying to explain the dilemma of a new player trying to reconcile his ASADA lectures with what Jobe & co were doing. (In this case Jobe & co won out, but it's easy to imagine the cognitive dissonance of trying to straighten it out in your head.)

Bear in mind that it is really their older, more worldly managers who are doing the saying. IMaybe you can recall old stories of awe-struck players being recruited literally for 10 pounds, 3 pelaco shirts and a slab for the old man. Players won't have changed. It's the system that's changed. Players no longer get diddled by clubs, and it's because of the player managers who have no fear of telling clubs to stick deals up their jacksies. Nonetheless the managers can't be with them 24/7. It's easy to see a wet behind the ears recruit, who doesn't know what's normal and what's not, going along with the other players and lining up for his stomach jabs. As elsewhere mentioned, the really culpable ones are the ones who had been in the system to know "something" was going on, who had the experience and the clout to make waves, and lined up for their jabs anyway.

Unfortunately yes, and this same discussion will be going on for Crameri and the others who changed clubs. The players, no matter what they do from here, and for which club, will always have an asterisk next to their names. The damage EFC have done is far reaching and will take years to fade away.

Why don't you take them some of your "powders over the counter that increases muscle growth" that are "not banned" then? Preferably before tonight's game.

Red herring

Explain your reasoning. ASADA charged players, AFL tribunal let them off, WADA appealed, CAS heard the case anew and suspended the players. I spot a travesty in there, but I don't see where WADA have erred.

How is this relevant? Anyway, all your pal is saying is that the AFL shouldn't have run the tribunal in the EFC/Dank thing. Conflict of interest. And from the finding they handed down, we can see why.

Why does there have to be? Does this really require an answer? There are too many substances out there. They cannot test them all. The funding for the cheats outstrips the funding for the ASDAs, USADAs, etc. There is no way they can test them all. Not time nor money. So they have "catch all" sections in the code. Not approved for human consumption? Banned. Too similar chemically to a known banned substance? Banned. You seem to be blaming the agencies. They are fighting an uphill battle. Underfunded, under-resourced, often deliberately by their controlling bodies.

Oh right. Maybe they were disadvantaged? So cheating should only be condemned if it works. Got it.

So you think it is possible that Dank/Charter/Hird said "here's some stuff we'd like the players to take. We don't know if it's performance enhancing. In fact it might DETRACT from their performance! But let's stick it in 'em and find out. What's the diff? What's one failed season of footy, it's not like it can affect anyone's career." Here's another possibility for you ... They knew full well it was performance enhancing the whole time.

Doh! Can't the bugger stay at home with his young family instead of going out with his mates all the time?

Bucks: It's the injuries. We can't get a consistent line up on the park. Eddie: Oh, I know, Nathanial. I know. B: We've got some youngsters coming through. Moore is progressing, Aish is starting to show some form. E: I know. You look so handsome tonight Nathaniel. B: It's the unforced errors that are killing us. And some senior players are well down in form just at a time when we need them. E: I know Nathaniel. I know all about ... needing someone ... B: We're going to have to think really hard about trading Cloke. E: Oh let him go! There's only one man I want in *my* team. B: Trouble is we don't have much trade bait apart from him ... E: Oh, Nathaniel! Let's not talk about boring old football! B: We need more skill around the packs but we can't wait for draft p---- what? E: Nathaniel .... kiss me you fool!

Bucks has mastered the art. Under him, the Pies have had fewer wins each year, lower percentage, lower ladder position than the year before. Showing all the sublime skill and super consistency that he did as a player.