ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

[Greystache]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I have said this all along, not only Thompson, but his assistants (yes Macca) must have known what was going on. You can't have 34 players being injected and the coaches know nothing about it, that is utter rubbish.

If Thompson was so concerned, why didn't he blow the whistle early on. Lots of questions in my mind about every one at that club. I don't blame just Hird, I blame everyone at that club at that time.

McCartney was appointed coach of the Bulldogs in September 2011, Dank wasn't even employed by Essendon at the time and Robinson had only been at the club a couple of weeks. Let's not miss a chance to bash McCartney however.

[Bornadog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

McCartney was appointed coach of the Bulldogs in September 2011, Dank wasn't even employed by Essendon at the time and Robinson had only been at the club a couple of weeks. Let's not miss a chance to bash McCartney however.

Wasn't a chance to bash Macca. I will admit my dates may be wrong.

After checking with Google, it was August 2011 when Hird decided to enquire about Peptides. My post is still relevant about Thompson and the assistant coaches during the program. (reference to Macca has been deleted.)

[Webby]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I'm sure I dislike Essendon more than 99.999% of the population. However I find myself almost hoping that they are found guilty, yet receive no more than a slap on the wrist.

Reason being, I truly believe that, from a list viewpoint, Essendon are in "no man's land." Mass suspensions will only cause them to plummet down the ladder and receive decent top-up draft picks. I'd actually prefer them to meander along with an ageing list in mid-table obscurity.

Also, if they're prceived to have gotten off lightly, we can all hate them even more. In addition, their nutter supporters can't make excuses for being shit. No finals win for a 12th, 13th, 14th season in a row will just be as a result of them simply being poorly run. No siege mentality, no "us against the world" guff. The perception can be that of just another bunch of dills who got off lightly.

However I still want them declared guilty. That's. Non-negotiable for me.

[westdog54]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Who gives a crap anymore, what will be will be. The only stake I have in this is whether Crammers can play for us this year or not but really he'll get the same as the rest of them. The investigation and the appeals will run its course over time but it will take 50 years for the Essendon Football Club to get over this. Every time they run out onto the ground they will be booed because the ugly poo stain they have left on the fabric of AFL stinks and will be long lasting. I'm fatigued of it all to be honest and have blocked it out of my conscious, just as I have blocked out most non-Bulldogs AFL garble over the last few years.

I am resigned to the fact that Crameri probably won't play for us this year. And I'm prepared to accept that I'd it means that Essendon cup their right whack. The integrity of the sport is paramount in my eyes.

[1eyedog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I'm sure I dislike Essendon more than 99.999% of the population. However I find myself almost hoping that they are found guilty, yet receive no more than a slap on the wrist.

Reason being, I truly believe that, from a list viewpoint, Essendon are in "no man's land." Mass suspensions will only cause them to plummet down the ladder and receive decent top-up draft picks. I'd actually prefer them to meander along with an ageing list in mid-table obscurity.

Also, if they're prceived to have gotten off lightly, we can all hate them even more. In addition, their nutter supporters can't make excuses for being shit. No finals win for a 12th, 13th, 14th season in a row will just be as a result of them simply being poorly run. No siege mentality, no "us against the world" guff. The perception can be that of just another bunch of dills who got off lightly.

However I still want them declared guilty. That's. Non-negotiable for me.

I think part of the punishment needs to be a loss of draft picks over x amount of years, similar to what Carlton faced with the salary cap breaches of the early 2000s. Those losses set Carlton back 10 years and the same needs to be applied to Essendon. Like you I do not want to see them load up on top 3 players over the next 2-3 years and be top 4 again by 2020.

[LostDoggy]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Back in Feb 2013 this would have been the plan laid out by Essendon. Drag it through the courts for years, and by the time it actually gets before a tribunal everybody will be sick to death of it and just wanting it done with, and more willing to accept a token punishment. I have absolutely ZERO faith in them getting their just desserts. There's just too much money involved, too many politics. My father-in-law is a champion marathon swimmer and heavily involved in swimming administration, and cannot believe that we're at this point, unless of course you look at the money equation. Banning Olympic athletes doesn't have the same flow-on financial effects of banning an entire team in a sport that is widely acknowledged to be more about the almighty dollar than serious competition. It's not just the blue-tie cronies at AFL House to contend with. Essendon would have in the region of half a million supporters nation-wide. The ANZAC Day game is one of the biggest events of the year. The entire competition revolves around these “powerhouse” clubs. It's about more than brand or integrity (unfortunately) the entire financial health of the league is at stake. Nobody wants to see AFL go the way of cycling but it's almost inevitable. In a way, they took first steps down this path in the nineties and early 2000s as the gulf between rich and poor was solidified with shonky stadium deals, free agency, blockbuster games and the introduction of four new teams in 20 years, all geared towards TV and cash cash cash, at the expense of the only other clubs in the competition outside of the Big Six who could even hope to carry the candle if one or more of these big clubs went down. Even Carlton, Collingwood or Richmond would struggle to fill Essendon's hole. Essendon knows this and have banked on this truth to get them through. I hate this too, but it is the reality, gentlemen. If Essendon are to receive a penalty actually befitting the crime, the entire comp will have to pay it.

What I believe we'll see is a penalty harsh enough to appease WADA, whilst being as lenient as possible within that context. 4–6 weeks of actual game time missed is my short money.

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Back in Feb 2013 this would have been the plan laid out by Essendon. Drag it through the courts for years, and by the time it actually gets before a tribunal everybody will be sick to death of it and just wanting it done with, and more willing to accept a token punishment. I have absolutely ZERO faith in them getting their just desserts.

I share this unease but there are two words that give me hope - Lance Armstrong. Taking him and his cheating team down was high stakes but it was done. It caused all sorts of complications and unrest outside of the sport and in the wider community but it was still done with interest.

WADA simply cannot (and ultimately I believe will not) let some pissant competition played in 1 country in the world set a precedent for all the other global sports. It simply has to be 18 months/2 years for the 34 players backdated from November 2014 for WADA not to challenge it. And if it ends up being that, it's a strong enough deterrent for other clubs/players to consider trying it ever again.

[Maddog37]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I want the Bombers buried totally. I don't care about the cost to the competition itself. These type of drug programs need to be eradicated and the penalties must be that strong that they deter people from even contemplating going down this road.

[Greystache]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I share this unease but there are two words that give me hope - Lance Armstrong. Taking him and his cheating team down was high stakes but it was done. It caused all sorts of complications and unrest outside of the sport and in the wider community but it was still done with interest.

WADA simply cannot (and ultimately I believe will not) let some pissant competition played in 1 country in the world set a precedent for all the other global sports. It simply has to be 18 months/2 years for the 34 players backdated from November 2014 for WADA not to challenge it. And if it ends up being that, it's a strong enough deterrent for other clubs/players to consider trying it ever again.

It took until Armstrong was well entrenched in retirement before they got him however. Had he still been competing, and been responsible for a massive amount of the revenue and marketing for the sport, I doubt there would have been the as much appetite or cooperation to get him. The majority in the Essendon case are still involved in the game, and as such it is a far more explosive situation than to simply punish in hindsight.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Closest to the pin.... Which 'journo' is going to come out first with the inside info on the decision prior to the announcement?

[Before I Die]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I share this unease but there are two words that give me hope - Lance Armstrong. Taking him and his cheating team down was high stakes but it was done. It caused all sorts of complications and unrest outside of the sport and in the wider community but it was still done with interest.

WADA simply cannot (and ultimately I believe will not) let some pissant competition played in 1 country in the world set a precedent for all the other global sports. It simply has to be 18 months/2 years for the 34 players backdated from November 2014 for WADA not to challenge it. And if it ends up being that, it's a strong enough deterrent for other clubs/players to consider trying it ever again.

This is my hope also. The AFL has been the biggest game in town forever in Victoria and the boys club at the top has begun to believe their own spin. WADA have dealt with much bigger sporting associations across the world and they will not bend over for the AFL or the Essendon Football Club. James Hird might be a Sporting God at Windy hill, but Lance Armstrong was a Sporting God all around the world.

Having said all that, I would be happy to see the players cop a light punishment if the club truly took full responsibility and removed everybody who knew what was going on at the time. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I'm with you maddog. I'm wishing doomsday scenario on their asses. I can't stomach the thought of Hird emerging out of the smoke a hero. The very thought of it sickens me.
He, and they, are cheats. Full stop.

[hujsh]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I think part of the punishment needs to be a loss of draft picks over x amount of years, similar to what Carlton faced with the salary cap breaches of the early 2000s. Those losses set Carlton back 10 years and the same needs to be applied to Essendon. Like you I do not want to see them load up on top 3 players over the next 2-3 years and be top 4 again by 2020.

And considering that what Essendon did was clearly worse than what Carlton did that's the minimum they deserve

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

It took until Armstrong was well entrenched in retirement before they got him however. Had he still been competing, and been responsible for a massive amount of the revenue and marketing for the sport, I doubt there would have been the as much appetite or cooperation to get him. The majority in the Essendon case are still involved in the game, and as such it is a far more explosive situation than to simply punish in hindsight.

Stripping Armstrong of all his tour victories and effectively putting an asterisk beside his entire career shouldn't be discounted because it happened after his career ended. Likewise Marion Jones. These were long investigations - far longer than Essendon - that ultimately discredited major careers of global athletes.

[Greystache]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Not guilty