ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

[LostDoggy]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

We can take comfort in the fact that it's not up to the game's officials alone to put that asterisk beside somebody's career. Hird will never be mentioned again without this saga.

[always right]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Appalling article by Mark Robinson who thinks that the not guilty finding makes everything fine and dandy with Essendon.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/essendon-james-hird-have-right-to-feel-angry-after-being-found-not-guilty-by-anti-doping-tribunal/story-fnp04d70-1227286254704

All the finding has established is that there was insufficient evidence for the tribunal to be 'comfortably satisfied' that the players took banned substances. Robinson disregards the undisputed fact that the club to this day does not know what the players were injected with. The finding in no way diminishes the culpability of the club and Hird who ran a shoddy, disgraceful program where the interests of their players were neglected.

[always right]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Just so relieved we aren't playing the bombers until round 18. The reaction from the bomber faithful when Hird enters the stadium will be nauseating over the next few weeks.

[Greystache]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

If he isn't an embarrassment to the HS he should be. Nothing more than an Essendon cheerleader and not even capable of disguising it a fraction. The difference between him and his predecessor Mike Sheehan probably just shows how far journalism has sunk.

OJ Simpson was found not guilty too, I wonder what Slobbo has to say about him.

[Before I Die]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

We can take comfort in the fact that it's not up to the game's officials alone to put that asterisk beside somebody's career. Hird will never be mentioned again without this saga.

What a wonderful idea. From this point on I will forever refer to him as James Hirsada. Though I admit it is highly unlikely I will ever refer to him again.

[Bornadog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Well said Sedat. Dropping my AFL membership.

Just buy a Bulldog membership.

[Bornadog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I think this statement sums it up pretty well from AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh

The AFL Players' Association welcomes today's tribunal decision, in which all 34 current and former Essendon players have been cleared of an anti-doping rule violation.

We have always been of the view that these players have done nothing wrong and this has been confirmed by the tribunal today.


This decision does not absolve the Essendon Football Club of blame. Players were placed in an unacceptable position that put their health and careers at risk.


For over two years these players' lives have been hijacked by this issue through no fault of their own, and today's decision brings a sense of overwhelming relief and vindication of the players' consistent position of innocence throughout this saga.

The players have withstood enormous uncertainty, public scrutiny and speculation over their health, their careers, and their reputations. This decision finally brings that uncertainty and speculation to an end.

I would like to commend the players for the way in which they have conducted themselves over the past two years. Players have honestly, candidly and transparently cooperated with the process and can hold their heads high that this decision has cleared them of any wrong doing.

We are relieved this matter is now closed and we, as an industry, can get on with the footy. We believe this matter provides an opportunity for genuine industry reflection to ensure this type of situation never happens again.

The PA will continue to work with the AFL and Clubs to do everything we can to make sure no player's health is ever put at risk again in the pursuit of on-field success.

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

If he isn't an embarrassment to the HS he should be. Nothing more than an Essendon cheerleader and not even capable of disguising it a fraction. The difference between him and his predecessor Mike Sheehan probably just shows how far journalism has sunk.

OJ Simpson was found not guilty too, I wonder Slobbo has to say about him.

Why would he be an embarrassment to the HS - he is exactly the quality of fanboi/journo that their readers want and expect

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

And already, the blind Essendon/Hird cheer squad support is painful.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Listening to SEN (via internet radio). God I thought Talksport in the UK had some morons and one eyed pundits, but gee I had forgotten just how bad some of the Australian guys are. Look at the end of the day the problem is the knee jerk reaction to try to sanction the Essendon football club so quickly in 2012/13 is the real injustice. The sanctions against Essendon did not go far enough. Without positive tests getting a conviction is difficult. My one reservation is the distinct lack of disgust the players showed to their employers, Essendon. Though nothing can be proved without records of what was injected to whom, I think that the fact only a handful have demanded to know what/taken action to leave the club does not sit well.

In the end Essendon may have cheated - we will never know. What we do know is that the club showed a lack of governance, failed to keep proper records and recklessly and carelessly administered unknown substances to their employees.

[Eastdog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Just buy a Bulldog membership.

Yep. The money goes to our club.

[SonofScray]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Disgusting, but expected.

Media are already changing their tune to herald Hird's strength of character and the EFC's persistence. The only light for mine is that the stain on this Club in the mind of all intelligent members of the public can never be be erased. They are cheats, they represent all that is wrong with the AFL and the top end of town in this state.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

So if this verdict was always what Essendon expected because "they have done nothing wrong", what was all the court challenge, that dragged it out for sooo long, all about ?

[Twodogs]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Wow. What a piece of work James Hird is. He talks about how long it took for the infraction notices to be issued and how it impacted on the players but doesn't mention it was him holding the process up with court challenges.

There is a huge difference between Not Guilty and Innocent. The truth will out eventually despite all the bluff and bluster and crap spun today at the news conference.

[soupman]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Social media is horrendous. Record levels of smugness.

Can't believe how many people are now on infer this proves the club completely and irrefutably innocent of all charges.