jnrmac

In fact the AFL said exactly that when refusing to give Melbourne a PP. They said the Melbourne list was in good shape and their ladder position didn't reflect their list.

It's pretty obvious that they were colluding or were coached into the responses they would give. I know that from speaking to one of the lawyers on the case. Everything they did was in lock-step except for a few like Hal Hunter that had been discarded by the club. Hard to see how you could defend (by implication) the players actions in not telling the truth to ASADA on the injections.

So the Bombers appear to have settled all their legal claims with their players in relation to the doping programme with cash payments. I assume this will them be included in the salary cap. Because if it isn't included it will open up a Pandora's Box. Players will sue clubs left, right and centre and then 'settle' the claim with an out of court payment in order to subvert the salary cap. Much like a certain prime minister that repeatedly sued Murdoch and Packer and settled the claims. The Murdoch tennis court and the Packer swimming pool were paid for by settled defamation claims against newspapers. Just like Joh Bjelke settling his claim against Alan Bond for $800k.......

Another baffling outcome: How could any of the EFC 34 look at Dank and seriously think this guy was an expert in cutting edge pharmaceuticals? Or anything for that matter. If he came near me with a BS explanation about calves blood and high performance and a needle I would run a mile. They deserve everything they have received in penalties on that alone.

Your first sentence doesn't make sense and unfairly tarninshes Watson. He was asked whether he had an opinion about whether the runners up should get the medal and he said "no I don't". Nothing untoward at all in that. He clearly doesn't want to enter the argument. And fair enough.

"Jobe Watson has decided to hand back hs brownlow medal". Like he is some kind of hero. Yet again the spineless administrators of our great game squib on a decision. Its not Jobes to give back and it has gone on way too long. Not too often I feel sorry for Mitchell and Cotchin but they rightfully deserve their moment in the sun for winning the medal. As well as the financial rewards that go with it. Would like to see them sue for lost earnings over the period.

Part of the reason was to stop a flood of players leaving.

Jobe has already held it illegally for 4 years. The rightful winners, Cotchin and Mitchell have been deprived of their glory and potential earnings. I hope they sue the pants off the AFL

2 1/2 weeks of dozens of injections of illegal substances and a high intensity workout programme (because of increased recovery capacity) would beg to differ. Proof. Pudding.

agreed. Geelong was doing it it must be OK....

puffery? I treat it as straight from the horse's mouth

Still not convinced. Then read this article with the benefit of hindsight. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/bigger-bombers-for-bruising-battles-20111108-1n5it.html Changed body shape in 2 1/2 weeks? Really? Nothing wrong here....

Jobe Watson early 2012 Jobe Watson Early 2010

Well they were found guilty of salary cap breaches from 92-96 and they won a flag in 93. That wasn't taken off them. Cheating is in their DNA and the AFL does nothing about it. The bigger you are and the bigger the transgression the less the AFL will do.

And then watch the sycophantic media after that! Pope Francis will put him up for Sainthood...

This is so blindingly obvious that the AFL is sure to stuff it up.

And we paid pick 23 for melksham and pick 29 for Hibberd. Its just the way it is sometime. You have to break an egg to make an omelete....

I just did. I was responding to a comment that pick 29 has a 50/50 strike rate. I say its worse than that. If you want to have a discussion about whether you would prefer Michael Hibberd OR have pick 29 and be able to choose from a pool of 500 to find someone better good luck. I'll leave you to it. It was about whether Hibberd is worth pick 29 which I happen to think he is. He is exactly of the age, hardness, experience etc that we need.

I think its more like 20/30 chance of being a poor pick............ 29 Eric MacKenzie West Coast Claremont 2006 29 Tom Clurey Port Adelaide Murray U18 2012 29 Byron Donnellan Geelong Donald 1990 29 Touk Miller Gold Coast Calder U18 2014 29 Matthew Connell West Coast Subiaco 1991 29 Ben McKinley West Coast Northern U18 2005 29 Todd Curley Western Bulldogs West Perth 1995 29 Lewis Roberts-Thomson Sydney Swans NSW-ACT U18 2001 29 Adam Hunter West Coast Swan Districts 1999 29 Luke Shackleton Collingwood Tasmania U18 2002 29 Scott Lycett West Coast Port Adelaide (SANFL) 2010 29 Jack Gunston Adelaide Sandringham U18 2009 29 Tim Schmidt Sydney Swans West Adelaide 2003 29 Jason Torney Richmond South Adelaide 1994 29 Brendan Whitecross Hawthorn Zillmere 2007 29 Craig Walker Melbourne North Hobart 1986 29 Sam Phillipou Western Bulldogs Woodville-West Torrens 1992 29 Nathan Turvey Hawthorn South Fremantle 1996 29 Andrew Pascoe Collingwood Norwood 1987 29 Dayne Beams Collingwood Southport 2008 29 Marc Woolnough Geelong Southport 1997 29 Alex Forster Fremantle Norwood 2011 29 Rory Lobb Greater Western Sydney Swan Districts 2013 29 Scott Mollard Essendon Central U18 1993 29 Alex Morgan Essendon Oakleigh U18 2015 29 Wayne Campbell Richmond Golden Square 1989 29 Matt Rosa West Coast North Ballarat U18 2004 29 Tyson Stenglein Adelaide Subiaco 1998 29 Jamie Charman Brisbane Lions Northern Eagles 2000 29 Tim Allen St Kilda Mornington 1988

Agree. I think the club was planning to secure another rd 2 pick that they might be able to use but the Lewis scenario came out of the blue. Loathe to use this year's pick now. Will be interesting...

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-victoria-hire-former-essendon-football-manager-paul-hamilton-as-state-talent-manager-20161015-gs335g.html Now the VFL has hired the Bommers football manager from 2012 Paul Hamilton. The saga gets worse. What a shocking signal and a joke. Should be banned for life.

Its been said before but it was 2 weeks before Gillard called the election, Jason Clare and Kate Lundy were new ministers looking for a big statement and Eddie Obeid was on the front page of the papers every day wth his corruption trial. They were trying to clear the decks of Labor scandal so they could call an election. I am not into conspiracy theories except when it involves Labor politicians.

The AFL went with the 'one link on the chain' theory, that is, if we can't prove one link then the whole case fails. CAS went the other way and said there were strands in a cable and if one cannot be proved the whole case doesn't fall apart.

Yes but by then the outrage will have died down......a little

True. But they would have considered it and thought it a low probability. They wouldnt have given it a zero chance.