AFL targets Essendon Royalty

[SonofScray]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

Surprised the AFL have been as fair and reasonable as they have. I was certain the penalties would be less harsh. Essendon have been well looked after though, it must be said.

I will forever consider them drug cheats and a Club which represents the worst of us when it comes to professional sport and winning at all costs. No achievement of theirs can ever again be accepted n face value.

[LostDoggy]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I wonder if the fixture next season will also reflect the charge against Essendon of 'bringing the game into disrepute'? Our Club works so hard to do all the right things and are staring to play good footy - will we be rewarded accordingly? I'm pretty unimpressed with how this has all gone down but not surprised. As jeemak pointed out, everything boils down to economics.

[Hotdog60]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I wonder how Goddard is feeling, he went to the club to play in finals and now he will miss out and it could be a monumental effort for the club to get back to a grand final in his remaining years.

[soupman]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I think the punishments are sufficient for this stage. Remember this merely addresses the governance issue and the whole actual drugs issue is effectively untouched atm. I still think that ASADA/WADA are going to come in and absolutely destroy them.

Did anybody think it was odd though that last night Paul Little was allowed to get away with the statement "there's no point trying to uncover the truth."??? Very bizarre comment and I can't believe not one journalist questioned it.

[A Ford]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

If this had been a club not in the 'big four' it would have been a different story.
This should have been dealt with in February.
One wonders if Carlton or Melbourne had threatened legal action, would there penalties have been reduced as well?

[G-Mo77]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

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?!

I was discussing that with a few people and completely agree. If any player wants to leave they should be able to through free agency.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I can't believe that 12 months is sufficient band for Hird though. He's now saying he is not guilty for 99% of the charges the AFL presented. At least Bomber had the figure of about 90%.

This was a genuine test of the AFL's resolve and if we are to believe what Stevo and others in the media are preparing us for then the AFL have come up a long way short.

The way they have handled this will do the game more harm than what the supplements saga has.

So this is what we are being few at the moment.
- Hird receives a 12 months suspension but will come straight back to the position he has disgraced.
- The club lose a first round pick for two years in 2013 and 2014.
- The club receives a fine.

Is this really what we have waited for 6 months to hear?

Always Always knew this would be the case. It's a boys club.

[ledge]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I wonder if the ladders have been changed yet and what goes on with the betting results , do people who backed the bombers in the eight get paid out now ?

[whythelongface]

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.

Good summation GVGjr. Overall I believe the AFL have come down harder than expected on the club as a whole, however I am staggered that Hird can coach the team in the 2014 Finals series. That to me is outrageous. He should be banned for the whole of the 2014 season and not be able to coach, at the earliest in 2015.

I also find it staggering that EFC after all that has happened can actually extend his contract by 2 years (if reprots are true). Are they kidding? Surely he is damaged goods. How can the playing group trust him? There must be serious doubts on his ability and his judgement. He has put the club and players through hell through his actions. Whilst he was not the architect of the scheme he certainly the main factor in it proceeding.

[1eyedog]

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.

Did Essendon have an unfair advantage due to their supplements program? They have developed this over two years and may or may not be still benefiting from it. If they are then they are not one of the best and fairest teams in the 8 and I see no reason whatsoever why 9th place shouldn't come into 8th.

[Ghost Dog]

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.

I agree with some of these points, but disagree it's a decent result.

In my view, they have been left off lightly. Perhaps I consider the whole saga a little more seriously, being a teacher. Melbourne Storm played an entire season without points. What Essendon have done is far more serious. A salary cap breach leaves no effect on health, but these EFC players may have serious side effects for years to come. Birth Defects ? Cancer? It's far more serious. I only hope that WADA / ASADA and other regulators have other things to add, because the circumstancial evidence of chemical breaches, regardless of paper trail breaches is overwhelming.

I do agree that the coach suspension is too light. In the private or commercial world of business, James Hird would be sacked from any company in the country, never to return. He encouraged the program, fostered it, allowed it to breathe. He said he would take full responsibility, but is being allowed back in the door after a holiday. The claim by Julian Burnside, of a heroic coach is a complete lie. He may have indeed given strict protocols for his supplements program, but the sms evidence paints an image of a cavalier attitude.

[Bornadog]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I wonder if the ladders have been changed yet and what goes on with the betting results , do people who backed the bombers in the eight get paid out now ?

I believe a few agencies are paying back money bet on Essendon.

The other interesting thing is Brownlow votes, rising star and AA votes will not be effected.

[westdog54]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

I believe a few agencies are paying back money bet on Essendon.

The other interesting thing is Brownlow votes, rising star and AA votes will not be effected.

The only reason I can see that Essendon were not stripped of premiership points and dropped to last was because of the can of worms it would open up with betting markets.

I can see no other reason to simply drop them from the finals, to be perfectly honest.

[Ghost Dog]

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.

I somewhat disagree with one point but agree with the rest. o

In my view, they have been left off lightly. Perhaps I consider the whole saga a little more seriously, being a teacher. Melbourne Storm played an entire season without points. What Essendon have done is far more serious. A salary cap breach leaves no effect on health, but these EFC players may have serious side effects for years to come. Birth Defects ? Cancer? It's far more serious.

But I agree that the coach suspension is too light. In the private or commercial world of business, James Hird would be sacked from any company in the country, never to return. He encouraged the program, fostered it, allowed it to breathe. He said he would take full responsibility, but is being allowed back in the door after a holiday.

[Mofra]

Re: AFL targets Essendon Royalty

This is only the first round of the issue.

If any players suffer bans when ASADA releases the final report, there is the possibility of legal action against the club.
The players may also be free from their contract if they wish, hurting their list
They are unlikely to be able to attract existing talent to the club, hampering their trade activities
Some sponsers may leave, hurting their bottom line even more
They will also be open to legal action if any long term health implications of the program are detected.

This is a stink that will hover over Essendon for years to come.