Melbourne Watch 2023/24

[bornadog]

Remove the existing policy and otherwise continue as is. You can't have the '3 strikes' BS and also be testing players positive so they can avoid gameday positive tests.

No matter what policy, what stops a player getting tested privately and then declaring they feel ill and getting a doctors certificate for upset stomach or some ailment.

Reading all the replies in the thread, I still think a review is needed to make sure the right steps are in place, but otherwise as Jeemak says - what are you going to change.

[hujsh]

No matter what policy, what stops a player getting tested privately and then declaring they feel ill and getting a doctors certificate for upset stomach or some ailment.

Reading all the replies in the thread, I still think a review is needed to make sure the right steps are in place, but otherwise as Jeemak says - what are you going to change.

I have zero issue with that. I have zero issue with club doctors testing them. You just can't do that and have a 3 strikes policy because you want to present yourself as being hard on drugs or whatever. Don't be. Focus on player welfare.

[bornadog]

Anyone agree with this:

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell believes senior coaches should be privy to information about players within the league’s illicit drugs policy after bombshell revelations that players had been drug tested with the option of pulling out of matches.

[Grantysghost]

Anyone agree with this:

Not sure how you do that and maintain confidentiality.

[Hotdog60]

Does anyone think Cousins was ahead of his times.

[angelopetraglia]

Brent Harvey's view as a former player and a father with a child in the system https://x.com/RSN927/status/1773107380735070275?s=20

[Grantysghost]

Brent Harvey's view as a former player and a father with a child in the system https://x.com/RSN927/status/1773107380735070275?s=20

I could just see his pearls.

[mighty_west]

For me it's all or nothing, none of these half measures, oh it's ok to do this stuff but just make sure you're clean on game day, this game day testing crap, test them at training, at their homes, are the AFL trying to clean the game up. or not? All of a sudden Oliver is under an "injury cloud" for this weekend, test him today because he has form.

[GVGjr]

For what it's worth, I'm reluctantly okay with a player self reporting and being given a week off by the club Doctor but only once within a season and not more than twice within a career.
It also shouldn't be allowed to occur more than once without the coach knowing about it and he can make a decision if the player is worth maintaining on the list.
If you drive a car impaired you can lose your license for a period of time and we all accept that.
The same logic should apply to footballers and drug use and the rules also need to apply to the games best players with no exceptions.

[Axe Man]

If you drive a car impaired you can lose your license for a period of time and we all accept that.
The same logic should apply to footballers and drug use and the rules also need to apply to the games best players with no exceptions.

If you drive a car impaired you are more likely to kill or injure yourself and others, hardly the same logic. Especially when nobody is suggesting they should be able to play under the influence. If it was the same logic people would lose their license for drinking at home and not driving.

[Before I Die]

For me, it's all about evading a drug scandal.

Contrast the AFL (and its member clubs) attitude to Cocaine use or Alcohol use.

Can a player have a big night out on the piss, then self-report and get permission from the club doctor to fake an injury? Are they protected from a name and shame? Is it a medical situation?

They are both drugs of addiction. They can both ruin a player's health and wealth.

There is a difference though.

One is illegal and can lead to a lengthy disqualification.

The other is legal and its much harder to hide its use.

If the same rules applied to both, I would be able to accept the player welfare argument. Without that it is just a cover up.

The SIA and WADA stuff is irrelevant. They are not about player welfare, they are about sporting integrity. The AFL policy supports sporting integrity, it just also supports cocaine use, particularly as a party drug of choice over alcohol. That last line is possibly unfair, it wouldn't just be cocaine as they would also be giving fake injury permission for any other performance enhancing drug found in the blood sample, and ignoring any non-performance enhancing drug found, illegal or otherwise.

[GVGjr]

If you drive a car impaired you are more likely to kill or injure yourself and others, hardly the same logic. Especially when nobody is suggesting they should be able to play under the influence. If it was the same logic people would lose their license for drinking at home and not driving.

Drinking is not an illegal activity and taking drugs is, big difference in my opinion. Drinking and being over the limit is illegal if you are behind the wheel of a car and if you get caught then you pay a penalty.
With Drugs in the system anything over 0.00 and rocking up to play or train as a footballer is a problem.

[bornadog]

This to me is a concern: link

CAN COCAINE IMPROVE AN ATHLETE?S PERFORMANCE?

Cocaine does have a performance enhancing effect when used In-Competition and is a Prohibited Substance under the World Anti-Doping Code for In-Competition use. As a stimulant, cocaine can produce an intense ?rush? with users feeling a sense of alertness, arousal, and increased confidence.

WHY IS COCAINE A BANNED SUBSTANCE IN SPORT?

All prohibited substances are added to the Prohibited List because they meet two of the three following criteria:

• Use of the substance has the potential to enhance or enhances performance.
• Use of the substance represents an actual or potential health risk to the Athlete; and
• Use of the substance violates the spirit of sport.

[angelopetraglia]

Stimulants assist in keeping your "ripped". Case in point.

[Axe Man]

This to me is a concern: link

CAN COCAINE IMPROVE AN ATHLETE?S PERFORMANCE?

Cocaine does have a performance enhancing effect when used In-Competition and is a Prohibited Substance under the World Anti-Doping Code for In-Competition use. As a stimulant, cocaine can produce an intense ?rush? with users feeling a sense of alertness, arousal, and increased confidence.

WHY IS COCAINE A BANNED SUBSTANCE IN SPORT?

All prohibited substances are added to the Prohibited List because they meet two of the three following criteria:

• Use of the substance has the potential to enhance or enhances performance.
• Use of the substance represents an actual or potential health risk to the Athlete; and
• Use of the substance violates the spirit of sport.

Where has anyone said players should be able to use it in competition? That's not what this whole thing is about.