Melbourne Watch 2023/24

[bulldogtragic]

I guess they’ll have a MSD pick. So that’s a positive for Melbourne.

Actually, they might likely not. That’s a shame.

Now for the articles for years about how they couldn’t handle success.

[Testekill]

That escalated very quickly from cocaine in his system to trafficking.

[Testekill]

AFL are going to have to find a very large rug considering the allegations.

[bulldogtragic]

That escalated very quickly from cocaine in his system to trafficking.

It’s a very technical interpretation of trafficking. Like how if someone touches someone else can be assault. Just giving any drug to someone else is technically trafficking. Everyone sitting around passing the dutchie to the left hand side are all drug traffickers.

[angelopetraglia]

Melbourne. What a cluster f*^&

[jazzadogs]

“The club should be taking responsibility for what is happening to Joel instead of blaming him in order to cover up a much wider problem. Joel is not a bad apple in a barrel of clean ones – the whole joint is rotten.”


*Chef's kiss*

[Dry Rot]

It seems that they found some very interesting outgoing texts from Smith to other players. I'm more interested in the replies they found.

[Dry Rot]

On field, the Demons have quite a few tall forward problems for the opening rounds of the season.

Tall order facing Dees' attack ahead of Opening Round

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1077497/...-opening-round

[josie]

It seems that they found some very interesting outgoing texts from Smith to other players. I'm more interested in the replies they found.

Exactly my thoughts.

[Twodogs]

It’s a very technical interpretation of trafficking. Like how if someone touches someone else can be assault. Just giving any drug to someone else is technically trafficking. Everyone sitting around passing the dutchie to the left hand side are all drug traffickers.

Sports Integrity Australia have a different interpretation of trafficking than the police don't they?

[Bulldog4life]

This is getting serious now

AFL 2024: Melbourne footballer Joel Smith accused of cocaine trafficking

The failed drugs test probe into Melbourne?s Joel Smith has taken a dramatic turn, with anti-doping investigators accusing the Demon of cocaine trafficking.

Anti-doping investigators have accused Melbourne footballer Joel Smith of cocaine trafficking in a dramatic escalation of his failed drugs test probe.

Sport Integrity Australia officials have uncovered multiple text messages sent by Smith referencing cocaine, after reviewing his phone.

In one message sent to Demons teammates last year, he offered them a quantity of the drug, it is alleged.

This masthead has not confirmed how many Melbourne players the SMS was sent to, or the amount of cocaine offered.

Any attempt to supply a prohibited substance, even in small quantities, can be considered trafficking under national anti-doping regulations.

SIA has asserted to Smith that he has violated several anti-doping rules and asked him to respond by mid-March, before it delivers a finding.

The AFL is understood to be awaiting the outcome of the SIA probe before deciding whether to launch its own integrity unit investigation.

Allegations and evidence could also be referred to police.

Smith, 27, was already facing a suspension of two years after testing positive to cocaine on game day late last season.

He was initially hoping for a ban of three months after his positive urine sample was collected after the Demons defeated Hawthorn by 27 points at the MCG in round 23.

But the ramifications for Smith could now be much more serious, with a potential four-year ban mooted, while Melbourne also faces questions.

The AFL has been approached for comment, but had not responded by the time of publication. Smith?s management and legal teams declined to comment.

A SIA spokesman said the agency did not comment on ?operational matters?.

One source close to the probe said Smith should not be ?scapegoated? over what they asserted was a wider club issue.

?It looks like they are planning to hang Joel out to dry for behaviour that is commonplace at Melbourne,? the source said.

?It is not unusual for a group of young men who party together to share drugs. Joel might be foolish but he?s hardly Tony Mokbel.

?The club should be taking responsibility for what is happening to Joel instead of blaming him in order to cover up a much wider problem. Joel is not a bad apple in a barrel of clean ones ? the whole joint is rotten.?

More if you click the link above and are a member of Code Sports

Fast Mokbel is a speed king but can go missing at the drop of a hat. Best is behind him.

[GVGjr]

You have to wonder if it all stops with Smith or if other players are identified and implicated?
Then there is the issue with how hard will the AFL will pursue Smith or any other players
What is becoming clearer is that the strikes system the AFL has in place is flawed.

[bulldogtragic]

Sports Integrity Australia have a different interpretation of trafficking than the police don't they?

To me it reads basically the same.

At least Talia had the sense to say his phone was lost.

[Grantysghost]

Can we restest the 21 blood samples? They really had too much energy for normal people.

[chef]

Can we restest the 21 blood samples? They really had too much energy for normal people.

They all had a bit of a bump at 3 quarter time?