ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

[LostDoggy]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

The key words in the Cronulla case being "pleading guilty".

When you fight the legal process every step of the way you lose any hope of a discount if you're found guilty.

That's true. But the backdating would still be applied the same. My understanding is that, barring exceptional circumstances, a guilty plea cuts the standard sentence down from 2 yrs to 1 yr. Cronulla players copped the 1 yr and then got most of it backdated (and finished the end of the sentence in the off-season).

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I'm pretty sure that any suspensions given to players are backdated. Any time out of the game will be minimal, if anything at all. Cronulla players were all penalised and effectively missed 3 weeks. For mine, their systematic abuses were worse than Essendons.

I would say that Essendon's doping program was far more systematic and sophisticated (and went for far longer) than the Cronulla program. Cronulla's was an ad hoc program that only a few players used, and as soon as the club doctor found out about it he shut the whole thing down. And of course Cronulla players pleaded guilty and took their medicine.

Essendon are getting done slowly, to use Paul Keating's turn of phrase. Hal Hunter will be the first of many players and player agents to take civil action against the club and sue them for millions - his case is virtually made for him now that WorkSafe has charged the club.

[Greystache]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I would say that Essendon's doping program was far more systematic and sophisticated (and went for far longer) than the Cronulla program. Cronulla's was an ad hoc program that only a few players used, and as soon as the club doctor found out about it he shut the whole thing down. And of course Cronulla players pleaded guilty and took their medicine.

Exactly. I don't know how anyone but an Essendon cool aid drinker could compare their doping program with that of Cronulla, let alone call it worse. The Cronulla players were injected on the sidelines at training out of an esky, not all players took the injections. and it only went on for a few weeks. Essendon's was systematic, went for close to a year, was driven and imposed on the players by the senior coach, and even conducted in secret offsite premises to conceal some of the goings on from club medical staff. It was as bad as it gets, driven by someone who thinks he answers to no one but God.

[Bornadog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Exactly. I don't know how anyone but an Essendon cool aid drinker could compare their doping program with that of Cronulla, let alone call it worse. The Cronulla players were injected on the sidelines at training out of an esky, not all players took the injections. and it only went on for a few weeks. Essendon's was systematic, went for close to a year, was driven and imposed on the players by the senior coach, and even conducted in secret offsite to conceal some of the goings on from club medical staff. It was as bad as it gets.

I am still yet to be convinced the medical staff knew nothing about this. There are about 40 players on the list, surely one of them would have let it slip when seeing the Doc.

My personal opinion is the Doc knew but was too gutless to say anything and the AFL protected him because he has been around along time and well respected by the AFL.

[westdog54]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

That's true. But the backdating would still be applied the same. My understanding is that, barring exceptional circumstances, a guilty plea cuts the standard sentence down from 2 yrs to 1 yr. Cronulla players copped the 1 yr and then got most of it backdated (and finished the end of the sentence in the off-season).

Any "backdating without a guilty plea could only take into account the provisional suspension. They've continued to train and compete throughout the rest of that time.

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

I am still yet to be convinced the medical staff knew nothing about this. There are about 40 players on the list, surely one of them would have let it slip when seeing the Doc.

My personal opinion is the Doc knew but was too gutless to say anything and the AFL protected him because he has been around along time and well respected by the AFL.

Doc Reid is a Hird kool-aider. Fancy jeopardising your entire medical career to protect someone else. He is a fool of the highest order.

[LostDoggy]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Its true you could make a case either way re: Cronulla v Essendon abuses. Reasons why I think Cronulla could be seen as worse were that the range of drugs were more extreme (including equine drugs) and 1 NRL player linked to Dank and Trent Elkin, Sandor Earl, was found to be trafficking performance enhancing drugs. To me, the whole scene read as being more institutional. Cronulla did plead guilty but only because they were done cold, having been investigated by the ACC for 12 months prior to a whisteblower coming forward.

Not sure the length/extent of Cronulla was dramatically different to Essendon. 17 players were charged and found to have been part of a systematic programme designed in part by Robinson and Dank (NRL rosters are smaller than AFL) that had been in operation for the bulk of a season. In my opinion, not dramatically different scenario to Essendons.

From memory, the main difference between Ess and Cronulla is that one club had the resources to fight ASADA and the other didn't (Cronulla was already a struggling club). The NRL also wanted the whole matter swept aside quickly as Dank had been at 6 other clubs before Cronulla, all named in the Crime Commission report, so the less light shone on his NRL activities the better.

Ulimately, both clubs have shown themselves to be utterly hopeless during and subsequent to the investigations. Neither have properly accepted responsibility for their actions or held those responsible to account.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Essendon should have thought carefully about the window of an opportunity to come clean. That window is gone now, too much pride to back down. Will forever stain that club.

[westdog54]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Its true you could make a case either way re: Cronulla v Essendon abuses. Reasons why I think Cronulla could be seen as worse were that the range of drugs were more extreme (including equine drugs) and 1 NRL player linked to Dank and Trent Elkin, Sandor Earl, was found to be trafficking performance enhancing drugs. To me, the whole scene read as being more institutional. Cronulla did plead guilty but only because they were done cold, having been investigated by the ACC for 12 months prior to a whisteblower coming forward.

Not sure the length/extent of Cronulla was dramatically different to Essendon. 17 players were charged and found to have been part of a systematic programme designed in part by Robinson and Dank (NRL rosters are smaller than AFL) that had been in operation for the bulk of a season. In my opinion, not dramatically different scenario to Essendons.

From memory, the main difference between Ess and Cronulla is that one club had the resources to fight ASADA and the other didn't (Cronulla was already a struggling club). The NRL also wanted the whole matter swept aside quickly as Dank had been at 6 other clubs before Cronulla, all named in the Crime Commission report, so the less light shone on his NRL activities the better.

Ulimately, both clubs have shown themselves to be utterly hopeless during and subsequent to the investigations. Neither have properly accepted responsibility for their actions or held those responsible to account.

Sandor Earl never played for Cronulla. Linking him to the activities at Cronulla as a basis for a comparison to Essendon is flawed logic.

Ultimately the difference between Cronulla and Essendon is that Cronulla pleaded guilty early on in the piece and the penalties reflected that.

[Twodogs]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Sandor Earl never played for Cronulla. Linking him to the activities at Cronulla as a basis for a comparison to Essendon is flawed logic.

Ultimately the difference between Cronulla and Essendon is that Cronulla pleaded guilty early on in the piece and the penalties reflected that.

According to Chip Le Grandes book Essendon were prepared to plead too. They had a deal and all. Right back at the start of the saga. Until Cronulla arked up about it when they realised they had missed the boat. Without Cronulla's intervention this would have been over long ago.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Essendon, now that they've been officially charged by work cover, will be a cash cow for every single player that received an injection.
And the lawyers will be lining up to represent them.

Perfect

[jeemak]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Could you imagine the shit on liver quotient Bombres fans would pile up if Slater and Gordon lead a class action on behalf of the players?

That would make my day.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Could you imagine the shit on liver quotient Bombres fans would pile up if Slater and Gordon lead a class action on behalf of the players?

That would make my day.

Gordon Legal are moving harder into class action litigation too...

[Bornadog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Bombers back in the dock for appeal hearing

[jeemak]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Jobe is sending a personal letter out to the Bombres membership via hand delivery. That's sure to un-drugs them.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-handdelivering-captain-jobe-watsons-note-to-longsuffering-members-20151120-gl3y3s.html