Slartibartfast

You take a third hand quote from someone said in private questioning a players courage and choose to insult that player in a public forum where there is a good chance his parents and friends will see it while all the time hiding behind an internet name. The hypocrisy is astounding particularly from someone calling themselves "Ben-Hur" and having as little sex kitten as his avatar! I think I know who is the girl is in this affair.

I don't get this salary thing. If Hird is contracted for 2015/16 then why not just add the 2014 amount to that contract? Essendon are playing a very dangerous game with the AFL and will have no support from the other clubs because this is about player welfare and drugs. Essendon don't seem to understand that.

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Taking on City Hall is dangerous. I thing the AFL has just hit the "fed up" button. Isn't it nice to be out of this sort of limelight!

Thanks for the clarification Jack, I was distracted for a moment!

Yes, it's a valid position. I think there is a great deal of difference between a player taking a supplement provided by a friend and a player taking a supplement provided by their employers and being told it's legal. That's why I believe the players should not be punished. I can't believe that a group of professional sportsmen would put their futures at risk in the situation that existed at Essendon. What is even more astounding is that the player managers and parents didn't raise this issue well before it became public. Really astounding.

You seem to be very confused about the relationship between the AFL, its Board and the individual clubs.

Anyone having any doubt about Hird only has to see where his interest is. It's him. The only time I've heard him mention the players welfare is when the penalties were handed down but that was clearly a PR strategy. He's worried about himself, not the players and the fact that Essendon is continuing to support him is a slight on the players. It surprises me that they have stuck around. I too hope the players get off. I don't believe that as a group or as individuals they knowingly took banned substances and in fact it seems to me very likely they were told it was all ok. They are professionals relying on professions and were duped. What are they supposed to do, send a sample of each drug away for testing. When I take a prescription medicine I trust my doctor and pharmacist to provide the right thing. The Essendon players deserve the same protection. Those wanting the players punished aren't seeing things clearly IMO. But Hird and the Essendon Board should never see the inside of a football club again.

You'd say the same about Don and Jim would you Freddy?

It wasn't AD who instigated the tanking investigation, in fact he did all he could to squash it to the point of being seen to be incompetent. He didn't want it because of what it would do to the AFL brand and MFC. Adrian Anderson instigated it when AD was overseas and if he'd been given total control of it we'd be in a far worse position than we are now. AD minimised the damage and then instigated a rescue package for us. When you're a CEO of a complex business like the AFL for 10+ years you will muck up at times and AD is not without his mistakes. But when measured against his KPI he's done a fantastic job and done very well by our club given the situations we've presented him with.

What has been glossed over is the appalling arrogance of Essendon in all of this. Hird is banned for a year but on the day of the ban they extend his contract. Now it appears they are paying him. Hird and Essendon deserve each other. Essendon is doing everything it can to hurt the AFL and are hurting its brand. Shocking stuff.

Oh yeh, I'm sure Jimmy has told Tanya the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Those wanting to see AD gone should be careful what they wish for.

I think I'll wait until I see Trengove in some preseason matches before I get overly excited by training reviews.

The expectations around Hogan are similar to those that existed around Watts. That's not for me. My focus is on the trashed talent of the past two years. If that talent flourishes we will be a significantly better team at no cost. Trengove, Watts and Strauss for me.

Then Bailey must have been a genius to get 8.5 wins per season in his last two years out of a less experienced and talented list. I think you're setting your sights a little low.

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So which Essendon players have been found guilty of illegal drug use?That's the problem.

I agree that taking picks from us would not have been in the AFL's or our best interest but I think most independent people would think it would have been the most appropriate penalty. A bit like taking the profits of crime from those that benefit from crimes. Adelaide's crime was in my view much less severe than ours but their penalty much more. Any sanctions have to have some consistency and in these three examples we are the odd man out.

I agree about the welfare of the players. It's just astounding that Essendon can't even tell you what players received what and when. It's why the penalties for the Club and those involved are so inadequate. I still believe the players were the victims. Hence we've just got to wear any result of the program. I don't wonder about Watson's Brownlow, he was a very good player and from 2009 onward had more than 500 disposals a season.bar 2011 where he only played 17 games. These players have had their health put at risk. If they get a benefit from it they probably deserve it, who knows what medical problems they'll face in later life as a result.

Couldn't agree more. It was a negotiated settlement and not one set to reflect the crime. Ours was the same. We tanked (a word I know you dispute), got draft picks as a result and our penalty didn't involve the removal of draft picks. Go figure. The answer is "What is in the best interest of the AFL". That is the outcome the AFL want and frankly so do I. If you want justice don't look to the legal system.

Yep, I agree that is the perception and he was a terrible kick when he came to us. I was very aware of this when he started to play good footy towards the end of last year and was surprised at the effectiveness of his kicking. I don't want him in the back line and he wouldn't be there for his play making ability but the discussion was around who could go there if we were struck by injury. He could do it.

In which case the AFL will be bound by what ASADA and WADA find. The AFL sanctions against Essendon were for breach of AFL rules. The drug situation is yet to be dealt with.

My understanding is that the whole thing was negotiated. Weren't there days of negotiations before the announcement with media outside AFL house waiting for breaking news? I know many here want to see Essendon hung drawn and quartered but I want to see this issue dispensed with and forgotten never to occur again. In the MFC situation the AFL negotiated a settlement over months, got rid of the appropriate people, found a charge that protected the game and moved on. Most recognize the expediency of the outcome and supported it. I can't see why Essendon should expect anything other than the same process. Those wanting "justice" should be careful not to look in the mirror.

Fitzy can probably play a key defensive role if necessary. He's very quick, good endurance and reads the ball well in the air.