ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

So what is the likely penalty? Losing games in the NAB cup isn't going to cover it.

Since the Melbourne tanking compromise I'm not sure how hard the AFL wants to push this

My guess is that it will be something lightweight enough not to compromise their TV rights deal for 18 teams but significant enough not to be challenged by WADA for being too light. if Essendon didn't think they were in deep trouble, they would allow their players to play NAB Cup - knowing that the players risk losing back-dated suspensions they are in effect conceding that the players will be found guilty of taking PED's.

In a perfect world every player who hasn't plea-bargained should be given 2 years out of the game. PED's in sport should have a zero tolerance level if any shred of integrity is to be maintained. Cricket has come down very hard on spot-fixers to preserve the integrity of their results. From my perspective, any player that has obtained an artificial advantage through systematic the use of PEDs should have any personal awards immediately stripped from them and a lengthy ban to deter anyone else from trying to break the rules - that would require leadership and strength from the AFL so it won't be happening.

[westdog54]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

My guess is that it will be something lightweight enough not to compromise their TV rights deal for 18 teams but significant enough not to be challenged by WADA for being too light. if Essendon didn't think they were in deep trouble, they would allow their players to play NAB Cup - knowing that the players risk losing back-dated suspensions they are in effect conceding that the players will be found guilty of taking PED's.

In a perfect world every player who hasn't plea-bargained should be given 2 years out of the game. PED's in sport should have a zero tolerance level if any shred of integrity is to be maintained. Cricket has come down very hard on spot-fixers to preserve the integrity of their results. From my perspective, any player that has obtained an artificial advantage through systematic the use of PEDs should have any personal awards immediately stripped from them and a lengthy ban to deter anyone else from trying to break the rules - that would require leadership and strength from the AFL so it won't be happening.

In a way the AFL is caught between a rock and a hard place here.

These are serious allegations and must be dealt with thoroughly if proven. WADA will almost certainly see to that. BUT... if almost half of the Essendon playing list is suspended it will cripple the competition. There is now ay that Essendon will be able to play out the season and the other 17 teams will suffer as a result, no ifs, buts or maybes.

If this saga has demonstrated anything its how chronically under-resourced ASADA actually is. In the absence of positive tests or a clear-cut paper trail they have had to undertake a MAMMOTH investigation, one they simply didn't have the numbers to undertake in a quick timeframe.

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

These are serious allegations and must be dealt with thoroughly if proven. WADA will almost certainly see to that. BUT... if almost half of the Essendon playing list is suspended it will cripple the competition. There is now ay that Essendon will be able to play out the season and the other 17 teams will suffer as a result, no ifs, buts or maybes.

The entire competition will suffer in the short term but one club should not dictate the rest of the competition. We need an 18 team competition to maintain TV rights revenues, so Essendon folding/having their license revoked would present an opportunity for a new license to be granted to Tasmania. What took place at Essendon in 2012-2013 has disgraced the game, the code and the competition - it is on par with East Germany in the 70's and China in the 90's in its systematic cheating and brazen attitude to player welfare. If the AFL do not make a strong enough stance on this, the game will suffer far more in the long-term - as soon as integrity of the game is compromised and forsaken, you have nothing.

[Greystache]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

My guess is that it will be something lightweight enough not to compromise their TV rights deal for 18 teams but significant enough not to be challenged by WADA for being too light. if Essendon didn't think they were in deep trouble, they would allow their players to play NAB Cup - knowing that the players risk losing back-dated suspensions they are in effect conceding that the players will be found guilty of taking PED's.

In a perfect world every player who hasn't plea-bargained should be given 2 years out of the game. PED's in sport should have a zero tolerance level if any shred of integrity is to be maintained. Cricket has come down very hard on spot-fixers to preserve the integrity of their results. From my perspective, any player that has obtained an artificial advantage through systematic the use of PEDs should have any personal awards immediately stripped from them and a lengthy ban to deter anyone else from trying to break the rules - that would require leadership and strength from the AFL so it won't be happening.

If Wade Lees can get 18 months (still one the most disgraceful decisions in sport IMO) then you can't possibly make a case for anything less for the Essendon players. The paper trail and circumstantial evidence is almost identical, plus the fact that the Essendon players did in fact inject the substances.

[westdog54]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

The entire competition will suffer in the short term but one club should not dictate the rest of the competition. We need an 18 team competition to maintain TV rights revenues, so Essendon folding/having their license revoked would present an opportunity for a new license to be granted to Tasmania. What took place at Essendon in 2012-2013 has disgraced the game, the code and the competition - it is on par with East Germany in the 70's and China in the 90's in its systematic cheating and brazen attitude to player welfare. If the AFL do not make a strong enough stance on this, the game will suffer far more in the long-term - as soon as integrity of the game is compromised and forsaken, you have nothing.

To get a team up and running in Tasmania will take time. Time the AFL won't have if Essendon can't field a team for a year and a half. The broadcasters won't care WHY the AFL can't provide 9 games a week, only that they can't.

Essendon has screwed the AFL and the other 17 teams, with no effective method I can see for recourse, given Essendon themselves will already be screwed financially.

Whichever way this turns out, the league and the other teams are undoubtedly, and possibly irreparably, worse off.

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

To get a team up and running in Tasmania will take time. Time the AFL won't have if Essendon can't field a team for a year and a half. The broadcasters won't care WHY the AFL can't provide 9 games a week, only that they can't.

Essendon has screwed the AFL and the other 17 teams, with no effective method I can see for recourse, given Essendon themselves will already be screwed financially.

Whichever way this turns out, the league and the other teams are undoubtedly, and possibly irreparably, worse off.

The AFL can move pretty quickly when they have to. Essendon could have been deregistered and then forced to relocate to Tassie (or anywhere else for that matter) under a new license. There are always solutions and options.

Anyway the smoke and mirrors act from Essendon has failed - they are now going to play NAB Cup games with top-up players, as is their basic requirement in this competition. Will be very interesting to see what happens when the players are actually forced to face the music, something that they have hidden away from doing for over 2 years.

[westdog54]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

The AFL can move pretty quickly when they have to. Essendon could have been deregistered and then forced to relocate to Tassie (or anywhere else for that matter) under a new license. There are always solutions and options.

Anyway the smoke and mirrors act from Essendon has failed - they are now going to play NAB Cup games with top-up players, as is their basic requirement in this competition.

They can relocate the club easily enough but they'd still have to:

- Find a board and management
- Recruit coaches/football department staff.
- Secure adequate facilities
- (re)build a playing list
- Attract sponsors/coteries etc.
the list goes on. It is absolutely not a short term option.

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

They can relocate the club easily enough but they'd still have to:

- Find a board and management
- Recruit coaches/football department staff.
- Secure adequate facilities
- (re)build a playing list
- Attract sponsors/coteries etc.
the list goes on. It is absolutely not a short term option.

All that could be facilitated and ready to go for the 2016 season, and it is a legitimate option that the AFL will have to consider (if they haven't already done so). If 20 Essendon players are suspended for any length of time, there will be a litany of lawsuits filed against the club by players, former players and managers. And Work Safe are waiting patiently in the wings to hit Essendon with everything they've got once the drug saga has reached its on-field conclusion.

Heaven help Essendon if Joe Daniher was found to be one of the players on the program, as a minor and a player not yet even formally drafted to the club - none of the douches in the media have bothered to ask why Anthony and his wife were part of the group of parents summoned by EFC for crisis talks when their son wasn't even on the list at the time.

[Remi Moses]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

All that could be facilitated and ready to go for the 2016 season, and it is a legitimate option that the AFL will have to consider (if they haven't already done so). If 20 Essendon players are suspended for any length of time, there will be a litany of lawsuits filed against the club by players, former players and managers. And Work Safe are waiting patiently in the wings to hit Essendon with everything they've got once the drug saga has reached its on-field conclusion.

Heaven help Essendon if Joe Daniher was found to be one of the players on the program, as a minor and a player not yet even formally drafted to the club - none of the douches in the media have bothered to ask why Neale and his wife were part of the group of parents summoned by EFC for crisis talks when their son wasn't even on the list at the time.

I think Young Daniher is Anthony's son . I find it amusing that Essendon are concerned for their players welfare in playing VFL players.
To quote a moody Canadian songstress " Isn't it ironic, don't you think"?

[Twodogs]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I think you're right Remi. Pretty sure Joe is Anthinys boy.

[Topdog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I see no reason they they can't use top up players for the season proper.

As for uncompetitive just look at GC, GWS and Melbourne for the past 4 seasons

[GVGjr]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I was listening to the AFL players representative say that the anonymity of the Essendon players was paramount of the deal struck today but no mention of Crameri, Ryder and Monfries not being given the same considerations.

It's a real mess and there is no way out of it.

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I think you're right Remi. Pretty sure Joe is Anthinys boy.

Sorry boys, had a meeting with Neil not long before typing this

The question remains, why were the Danihers at the parents-only meeting when his son wasn't a listed player during the drug program?

[westdog54]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

If my son was involved at the club I would want to know what the hell was going on, look the coaches in the eye and make sure the program wasn't continuing. Do we know for certain that it wasn't happening during the preseason in 2014?

[Twodogs]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

If my son was involved at the club I would want to know what the hell was going on, look the coaches in the eye and make sure the program wasn't continuing. Do we know for certain that it wasn't happening during the preseason in 2014?

Good question. Very good question.