rjay

I would have agreed but in the current climate questions are even being asked of Geelong and back in the day WC was questionable. I think AD has taken on more than he should (3 stikes, GWS, GC for example) but needs to see it through and you are right in his position he will always get potted.

Looks like more clubs will be caught up in this, if we are then I think we took the wrong stuff judging by performances. Questions will be asked about the off shore training regimes pre season and during the season, it's all open now. Who knows?

I think you might mean John Quinn, Bruce Reid is still the Essendon doctor.

Good to hear, I have been wondering about the club revenues and whether we have had to prop up the assets with cash flow. It appears we don't. Not a fan of the Dockland idea and now with Carlton trying to get in on the act it is even more crucial to me that we lock in the MCG precinct. We do need a club and full blown training facility. China is a long term strategy, it's good to keep it on the go.

Agree 'Rhino', the paragraph on us is pretty much word for word what she has written before. The only thing I have a problem with is the charges supposedly being laid, I hope this is just an educated or as many would say here an uneducated guess because according to the AFL the only people who would know are McLaughlin and Clothier so that would narrow the leak down to 2.

My understanding is they would only test for performance enhancing drugs out of competition and all drugs in competition but the AFL in conjunction with the players have an agreement to test for all drugs out of competition.

That's correct, and it is not a requirement that the competition test for these type of drugs except for match day. My point is the AFL should get their house in order on critical issues like performance enhancing drugs and forget these other side issues.

If they go by what AFL coaches want the answer is never.

Just like someone who has been caught out doing something he shouldn't, someone whose reputation is on the line, someone who wishes he had of stuck to business and wishes he wasn't lying when he said he didn't want to coach.

Meddling and doing your job would not be the same would they or is it just semantics? The CEO should know what's going on at his club but not be micro managing. It would be hard to believe the Schultz defence that Robson, Hird, Thompson and Corcoran knew nothing. As for the player managers????? great bunch of scavengers they are. I would think as I've said elsewhere that it would have been Craig or Misson that turned him down and for good reason.

It almost makes you think that all this 3 strikes biz is just a masking agent for something more sinister.

'The Buz' seems to think the move is still on. I hope so, it would be good to have Sandy back involved in the footy. A very good operator with a good sense of humour and not up himself like some others. BT, Darcy, Lynch, Lyon, Lloyd, Wilson, Healy.... not enough time for a complete list.

It's what happens when you hire a coach with no experience as a coach, someone who hasn't done the hard yards. Gary Lyon for coach anyone.

Fletch must have another 10 years left in him.

Unfortunately it's out of the AFL's hands. This is not a competition decision it is an international drugs in sport issue and the players have been caught up in it like it or not.

It is part of a membership push so how serious it is who knows.

...and you can't tell me the player managers didn't know anything about this. Where were they when documents needed to be signed, where were the players association, like many union officials they seem more interested in feathering their own nests, looking for the next big move, that right Benny, Andrew anyone....

In all seriousness though I do feel for the players. They have been stupid if they have signed something like has been reported, misplaced faith or trying to get an unfair advantage. This will ruin careers if it is correct.

Essendon first round team B: Fletcher C: Goddard F: Daniher (out, forgot he was at the club last year) rest....who cares.

So now Tim has changed his position, they may have known about the process but they didn't know what it was. Why don't they tell the truth, James looked shattered because he was caught out. Whether it was misplaced trust or incompetence who nows.

How can Tim & Andy believe that the club didn't know what was going on. A club with a history of lies.

Fletcher has been carrying them for years another couple won't matter...

Good point.

Damn, looks like I shouldn't believe all I read in the media. Fairfax seem happy with themselves to have one over News.

Amid all the talk of tanking and drugs it's good to hear that Sandy Roberts has left "7" for Fox where he will get back to hosting and calling football. IMO he has been sadly missed in football and it is yet another poor decision by "7" not to recognise this and use his talent when they are crying out for quality people. They are in danger of making the same mistakes made by "9" and we can see how it led them to the brink last year. Good to have you back Sandy.