AFL targets Essendon Royalty

[GVGjr]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

Under what rule can they declare an entire list as free agents? Silly.

Under the common sense rule of providing players the option to leave a club that has mismanaged their health. It would come down to a players choice but if he feels he doesn't trust the club anymore I see why he could potentially be given the option to depart.

[LostDoggy]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

Under the common sense rule of providing players the option to leave a club that has mismanaged their health. It would come down to a players choice but if he feels he doesn't trust the club anymore I see why he could potentially be given the option to depart.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'rule'?

Under the same rule rhey breached which resulted in a $2M fine, coach bans, draft 'bans' etc. they're the ruling body and can issue whatever sanction they deem fitting.

What's more, I'm referring to potential legal ramifications the AFL leaves itself open to. Imagine if your employer effectively 'accidentally' injected you with God knows what, was clearly in breach of OH&S legislation, yet you were not allowed freedom
Of movement to get the hell out of there and join another company/franchise in your professional field.

I expect more to come on that issue!

I agree with both of you. What I'm saying, is that this is likely an avenue not readily available to the AFL. It opens a can of worms. What happens next year when Jake Stringer claims we somehow mistreated him and he walks to Collingwood? You can't just take an entire playing list and open the doors to the wolf pack.

Perhaps a middle ground would've been a special tribunal that a player can elect to handle a trade if they wanted to leave and Essendon played hard ball, but free agency? Would kill the club, and that's not the objective here, though I'm sure some posters would be delighted.

Lets play out your scenario. The 17 other clubs, half of which will have the cap space, target the best ten players on the list, they can throw money because it won't cost them picks. Ten or eleven players walk. A few retire. No decent draft picks for two years. You've just created Fitzroy. Ten years on, the AFL s handing them priority picks.

[GVGjr]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

Time to look at the main penalties imposed

- Loss of Premiership points.
Very tough on the players who have worked their backsides off. No other option though.

- Hird gone for 12 months without pay but could coach the team in the finals in 2014.
Better than was being touted but I feel 12 months is on the light side

- Loss of 1st and 2nd round draft picks in 2013 and 2014 however, they will receive one pick at the end of the 1st round in 2014.
Seems about right. Tough but fair that limits them but doesn't break them.

- The club can trade anywhere into the draft in 2013 and 2014.
Seems fair to me because the players should be able to move.

- $2 Million fine
This will hurt the club with their football spend and their redevelopment work. Coterie groups might chip in but it's a significant fine.

The AFL have been harder on Essendon than I expected. I think this is a decent result for all concerned.

[Bornadog]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I agree with both of you. What I'm saying, is that this is likely an avenue not readily available to the AFL. It opens a can of worms. What happens next year when Jake Stringer claims we somehow mistreated him and he walks to Collingwood? You can't just take an entire playing list and open the doors to the wolf pack.

Perhaps a middle ground would've been a special tribunal that a player can elect to handle a trade if they wanted to leave and Essendon played hard ball, but free agency? Would kill the club, and that's not the objective here, though I'm sure some posters would be delighted.

I believe work place lawyers have been consulted and their opinions are players are able to leave the club if they want to due to a number of reasons.
Read below

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-players-can-walk-out-experts-20130822-2sekq.html

[GVGjr]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I agree with both of you. What I'm saying, is that this is likely an avenue not readily available to the AFL. It opens a can of worms. What happens next year when Jake Stringer claims we somehow mistreated him and he walks to Collingwood? You can't just take an entire playing list and open the doors to the wolf pack.

Perhaps a middle ground would've been a special tribunal that a player can elect to handle a trade if they wanted to leave and Essendon played hard ball, but free agency? Would kill the club, and that's not the objective here, though I'm sure some posters would be delighted.

Clearly the penalties imposed on Essendon tonight do not set a precedent for the individuals at other clubs.

What I think Webby and I are suggesting in this unprecedented saga is that the club has failed to provide a level of governance with their duty of care and as a result and given the pressures the players have been put through it's reasonable to suggest that if they want to leave then there should be an avenue for them.

[LostDoggy]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

Outstanding, honest interview by Bomber Thompson on Footy Classified just now. Huge respect for his strength in facing that panel (including Caro and Garry Lyon) and answering what he did given the last two days. Bombers could do far worse than appoint him as their immediate coach. Rattled, exhausted, really frustrated but said stuff that made a lot of sense.

[Scraggers]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I am happy that Essendon cannot play finals this year ... this seems fair. I don't think this should allow a club that was not as good to now play finals. Why should Carlton, North, Brisbane, West Coast, Adelaide have the opportunity to play finals when they havent been good enough all year??

Re-jig the finals so that the best team gets a bye and the other 6 fight out for the other places ... of those, one team drops out of the first round of finals.

I don't think that a team who will win a possible 10 games only, should play finals.

[Bornadog]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

Outstanding, honest interview by Bomber Thompson on Footy Classified just now. Huge respect for his strength in facing that panel (including Caro and Garry Lyon) and answering what he did given the last two days. Bombers could do far worse than appoint him as their immediate coach. Rattled, exhausted, really frustrated but said stuff that made a lot of sense.

Did he still think they didn't do anything wrong?

I wonder if they ask Sheedy to step in for a year?

[AndrewP6]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

Outstanding, honest interview by Bomber Thompson on Footy Classified just now. Huge respect for his strength in facing that panel (including Caro and Garry Lyon) and answering what he did given the last two days. Bombers could do far worse than appoint him as their immediate coach. Rattled, exhausted, really frustrated but said stuff that made a lot of sense.

I thought he tried and failed to play the victim card. Tired, rattled yes, but I don't think it helped him or them.

[Bornadog]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I am happy that Essendon cannot play finals this year ... this seems fair. I don't think this should allow a club that was not as good to now play finals. Why should Carlton, North, Brisbane, West Coast, Adelaide have the opportunity to play finals when they havent been good enough all year??

Re-jig the finals so that the best team gets a bye and the other 6 fight out for the other places ... of those, one team drops out of the first round of finals.

I don't think that a team who will win a possible 10 games only, should play finals.

Whilst you are right, the TV rights won't allow one or two less finals

[jeemak]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

Whilst you are right, the TV rights won't allow one or two less finals

And there you have it, a summary of what is and always will be wrong with the competition.

Commercial imperatives take precedence over moral and ethical imperatives. This whole farce has, as far as the AFL's case against EFC's poor governance is concerned, been about what each side can reasonably expect to receive from a commercial perspective first, tied in with minimising loss of reputation to limit damage to future commercial opportunities.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

Hird gets a 2 year contract extension the same day he gets a 12 month ban from the game...

That about sums just how badly the AFL have cocked this up.

If Hird/Essendon were truly apologetic there is no way in hell he would be re-appointed. Its effectively a 2 findered salute to the AFL.

[LostDoggy]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I thought he tried and failed to play the victim card. Tired, rattled yes, but I don't think it helped him or them.

I get that take on it but its the first time I'be seen anything other than pure PR scripted bull hockey out of anybody at the club. I did think his response that "same team" re The AFL- Essendon relationship was somewhat fair however he (and this is my opinion out if it) seems to have been jammed into Hirds ego trip as has the club. They all love Hird but geeze that mans ego has tripled the damage out of this whole debacle. I really felt for Bomber. Acknowledged they simply don't know what the players received and that the club was a mess in terms of governance. Dumped Hird right in it admitting Hird did meet with the AFL and was warned off peptides in 2011. His key argument seemed to be:

AFL warned Hird not to in 2011
Hird did it anyway
AFL to blame for knowing Hird was interested in peptides and was told not to use them but then didn't follow up Hird to ensure he didn't then do what they had told him not to do...

You could see Caro writing page after page of notes in her head...

[Webby]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

So for arguments sake lets say Daniher wants to leave and go to, hmmm, Port Adeliade, their first round pick will get him there. Why should Port be punished? I hear what your saying Webby but you are restricting every other club with banishing them from trading in.

I'm more upset about them having a 1st Round pick in 2014.

No I'm not. Quite the opposite. I'm saying their whole list should be offered free agency. No need for other clubs to be punished by having to trade for them. By definition, if other clubs have to trade with Essendon, it gives the opportunity for Essendon to actually benefit... Then there are the opportunities for any employment lawyer to represent any one of their 38 odd listed players and pick them all apart for fun!

Surely they cannot restrict and Essendon player's right to freedom of movement in this situation?!

[Remi Moses]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I can't get over the silly 12 month sanction on Hird, and how silly it is not to suspend him for the WHOLE season!!