bornadog
06-02-2015, 10:02 PM
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Former Bomber Stewart Crameri. Photo: Getty Images
The Western Bulldogs are seriously considering removing Stewart Crameri from the NAB Challenge to avoid losing the opportunity of an undisputed backdated penalty.
The Bulldogs seem unlikely to apply to have Crameri's provisional suspension lifted for pre-season games. This follows Port Adelaide's decision to let Paddy Ryder and Angus Monfries sit out the first two games of the NAB Challenge while the ASADA tribunal case is running.
Under the rules, players are provisionally suspended but can apply to have the suspensions lifted. This step however could compromise any penalty if the players are found guilty, or a potential deal.
Essendon's situation is far more complicated because of the number of players with provisional suspensions. They may need top-up players to field a team in the pre-season if the club opted not to apply to have the bans lifted.
There are 17 or 18 listed Essendon players who are under provisional suspensions as a result of infraction notices issued in November.
If the players are given suspensions of six months, which would include discounts for co-operation, much of this could be backdated from the time when infractions were issued.
The AFL set a precedent by allowing Jobe Watson and Dustin Fletcher to play in the international rules series against the Irish, only days after the 34 current and former Essendon received infraction notices.
The players' legal team has been increasingly optimistic the players will beat the charges but the case still has some weeks to go and will not conclude until shortly before the home-and-away season.
Port Adelaide is hoping the case will be settled before their final NAB Challenge on March 21 against Adelaide.
The Bulldogs do not have the same concerns about confidentiality as Essendon.
Cramer and ex-VFL player Brent Prismall were happy to have the ASADA tribunal case open to the public, but the 32 other Essendon players and their legal representatives wanted the hearing closed.
Former Bomber Stewart Crameri. Photo: Getty Images
The Western Bulldogs are seriously considering removing Stewart Crameri from the NAB Challenge to avoid losing the opportunity of an undisputed backdated penalty.
The Bulldogs seem unlikely to apply to have Crameri's provisional suspension lifted for pre-season games. This follows Port Adelaide's decision to let Paddy Ryder and Angus Monfries sit out the first two games of the NAB Challenge while the ASADA tribunal case is running.
Under the rules, players are provisionally suspended but can apply to have the suspensions lifted. This step however could compromise any penalty if the players are found guilty, or a potential deal.
Essendon's situation is far more complicated because of the number of players with provisional suspensions. They may need top-up players to field a team in the pre-season if the club opted not to apply to have the bans lifted.
There are 17 or 18 listed Essendon players who are under provisional suspensions as a result of infraction notices issued in November.
If the players are given suspensions of six months, which would include discounts for co-operation, much of this could be backdated from the time when infractions were issued.
The AFL set a precedent by allowing Jobe Watson and Dustin Fletcher to play in the international rules series against the Irish, only days after the 34 current and former Essendon received infraction notices.
The players' legal team has been increasingly optimistic the players will beat the charges but the case still has some weeks to go and will not conclude until shortly before the home-and-away season.
Port Adelaide is hoping the case will be settled before their final NAB Challenge on March 21 against Adelaide.
The Bulldogs do not have the same concerns about confidentiality as Essendon.
Cramer and ex-VFL player Brent Prismall were happy to have the ASADA tribunal case open to the public, but the 32 other Essendon players and their legal representatives wanted the hearing closed.