iv'a worn smith

He denies any links to the Ruskies.

Notwithstanding that the man is a recidivist bankrupt; American banks won't lend him any money and from the date of his inauguration, his national security adviser falls on his sword, his Deputy Attorney-General Sessions has been recused and his media adviser, Kellyanne Conway speaks of 'alternative facts' - maybe channeling Donny Rumsfeld. Yep, the good ole boys just love him. Good luck to them ........... they're gonna need it.

As I said, 'fake news'

It's all just "fake news"

Don't worry. We shall overcomb.

And perhaps that is a more appropriate analogy. Clearly, there a many more on here, that have far greater and informed insight to this issue, than anyone else who is involved in the football world professionally or has more than a passing interest, like me. We should bring back stoning I reckon.

Citing Goebbels is somewhat of a quantum leap. He was after all the person in charge of propaganda in a Nazi regime.

He did play an integral role in a couple of flags

It was previously locked

Oh yeah, he's a serial publicity seeker, isn't he. He is just doing what most Fathers would do, who are fed up with their son being put through the wringer, whether you think it is his fault or not. As for your hypothesis as to what may be causing James Hird's mental health problems, neither you, nor anybody on DL or in the media can know. Let's hope you never know personally. Just leave the guy alone. Think of him what you will, but it is poor form to continually speculate.

The "family". Alan Hird is interstate. Has Alan Hird been quoted as saying that? All I am saying is, it is certainly not fair game. Leave the guy alone.

So that's James' fault is it?

I thought this was locked. Leave the guy alone. To me it is the height of arrogance for anyone to suggest what is the current state of mind of James Hird or what may have caused it. Just let it be for now. Keyboard warriors should think about just how squeaky clean they may be in their anonymous world - or perhaps their closets are also bursting with skeletons.

Perhaps I am naive, but until now, I did not realise that the medal had not been physically handed back. I agree with the above and more so, that the AFL has basically neutered itself through years of inaction on integrity matters. In other words, grow some gonads AFL.

Yep and give the players' employer dibs at a number 1 draft pick in 2016. As for the players, let them eat cake (hash)

Fair enough.

My point is, what is a commensurate penalty? I am not talking about guilt or otherwise But clearly some on here believe that the 34 players should never set foot on an AFL football field again. Yet, their employer gets comparatively very light treatment. Doesn't seem to add up to me, but then what would I know.

Very dangerous to assume any "implication". My entire premise is that much of what has been said is entirely anecdotal. Of more concern to me is the AFL's - the "peak' sporting body in this case - deafening silence on this issue and their continuing obfuscation

On that you're correct. Accept, I think the "custodians" did find out, but had rather not known for the sake of expediency. On that, I am in 100% agreement. The AFL have a record of getting splinters in their collective posteriors from sitting on so many fences. But SWYL, ya just gotta go to the footy. The club is bigger than the 2 individuals concerned. As for Cousins, I consider that to be an entirely different scenario.

For those who want to stand on principle, with regards to this issue, I am assuming you will not be attending games in which the 2 recruits we got from the EFC are named in our 22?

I don't know. Do you?

Precisely, and other than conjecture, no-one in the public domain ever will. So regardless of their guilt, naivety or otherwise, there is an ample school of thought on here that these young men should be totally deprived of their careers, despite the obvious culpability of their 'employer'? I just hope I will never have to appear before the 'Star Chamber' that is Demonland.

Maybe we should have axed them well before, so we could have got more draft picks?

Essendon's legal advice was clear at a very early stage. Get your insurer to settle as soon as practicable, to avoid possible and further litigation. We have learned over the last week that Essendon is well an truly in the red, owing, in the main, to burgeoning legal costs This is all about a workplace safety issue. It is akin to some numb skull not following procedure in the workplace and getting hurt. That person may still be protected under the Work Safety Act. Those Lawyers practising in this area can make quite a nice living out of it

These are civil payments made as a result of a 'settlement' between two parties. This will be outside the ambit of the AFL imposed salary cap, as the settlements fall under an entirely different jurisdiction, sanctioned by common Law