Essendon

[Jim05]

Won't they all just stretch it out until September - take the 6 months and be back on the park ready for season 2015 in April next year.

I'm sure someone will organise ad hoc trainings to keep them semi-fit over the break.

They'll start slowly next year but by mid year they'll be up and about and fresher than the other teams in the comp.

My understanding is that the ban must be served in season. Not sure if that means from when the season starts training wise or if starts from round 1

[Red Rocket]

If the players took the 6 month ban is there anything stopping WADA from coming over to top and say that because they are admitting guilt now they must of been lying for the last 2 years and hit them with a 2 year ban?
I think if the players would need assurances that they cop a 6 month ban and that is the end of it.
Must say im surprised some of the ex players havnt come forward especially ones who left on bad terms

[Pag]

Kyle Riemers is the sort of knob who would bob up and take the six months so the rest get screwed over...

[Jim05]

Kyle Riemers is the sort of knob who would bob up and take the six months so the rest get screwed over...

Yep, surprised he hasnt. Kyle and Lonergen left on fairly bad terms so thought they may have had their say. Not sure if Riemers is still playing or not

[Frosty]

So what happens if enough players take the six month ban during the season and combined with injuries, suspensions, etc. Essendon can't field a team. Do they get fined by the AFL? Are there any special considerations like being able to upgrade the entire rookie list, draft a bunch of VFL kids on the spot or re-hire players that have been delisted from any year other than 2012?

[Jim05]

So what happens if enough players take the six month ban during the season and combined with injuries, suspensions, etc. Essendon can't field a team. Do they get fined by the AFL? Are there any special considerations like being able to upgrade the entire rookie list, draft a bunch of VFL kids on the spot or re-hire players that have been delisted from any year other than 2012?

Good question, im sure the AFL has a backup plan. Not sure of exact number off the top of my head but I think about 20 of those 34 are still playing, without injuries id estimate we could field close to a full side but would probably have to draw the remainder from our VFL side

[stan]

So what happens if enough players take the six month ban during the season and combined with injuries, suspensions, etc. Essendon can't field a team. Do they get fined by the AFL? Are there any special considerations like being able to upgrade the entire rookie list, draft a bunch of VFL kids on the spot or re-hire players that have been delisted from any year other than 2012?

Good question, im sure the AFL has a backup plan. Not sure of exact number off the top of my head but I think about 20 of those 34 are still playing, without injuries id estimate we could field close to a full side but would probably have to draw the remainder from our VFL side

I think the AFL would provide special permission for Essendon to play some VFL players to field a side. I guess if Fletcher thought about retiring this would be out of the question as Essendon would need him to keep playing.

[Fricky]

So what happens if enough players take the six month ban during the season and combined with injuries, suspensions, etc. Essendon can't field a team. Do they get fined by the AFL? Are there any special considerations like being able to upgrade the entire rookie list, draft a bunch of VFL kids on the spot or re-hire players that have been delisted from any year other than 2012?

Good question, im sure the AFL has a backup plan. Not sure of exact number off the top of my head but I think about 20 of those 34 are still playing, without injuries id estimate we could field close to a full side but would probably have to draw the remainder from our VFL side

I think the AFL would provide special permission for Essendon to play some VFL players to field a side. I guess if Fletcher thought about retiring this would be out of the question as Essendon would need him to keep playing.

I doubt all of the players will get suspended. They may be only looking at half of those with show cause letters getting done, which still isnt good but better than 20 players all getting suspensions. Also Monfires, Cameri and a few opthers are no longer at Essendon.

[Frosty]

I'm thinking if I'm Essendon you get every single player issued with a notice to take their 6 months penalty about 2 weeks into next season and cause as much disruption to the AFL as possible. Essendon state all their players are suspended so they can't fill a side and the whole fixture for the next 6 months is out the window, gate takings have a massive hit (Anzac Day in particular), all the travel pre-arranged is cancelled, a bye happens for all sides scheduled to play Essendon and the financial damage to the AFL as a whole is much more than the damage to the club and it's players.

[daysofourlives]

Heard a stat today that 96% of all show cause notices issued are followed with infraction notices and bans.
Doesn't look good for the players.

IMO the AFL should start getting a team ready to roll from Tassie. Essendon if they survive all this can play in the VFA.

[FlyingHigh]

I'm thinking if I'm Essendon you get every single player issued with a notice to take their 6 months penalty about 2 weeks into next season and cause as much disruption to the AFL as possible. Essendon state all their players are suspended so they can't fill a side and the whole fixture for the next 6 months is out the window, gate takings have a massive hit (Anzac Day in particular), all the travel pre-arranged is cancelled, a bye happens for all sides scheduled to play Essendon and the financial damage to the AFL as a whole is much more than the damage to the club and it's players.

I was wondering if the AFL would make the penalties to be taken in a staggered way to avoid the above, but then that would probably mean two years of slightly-more-competitive, but still nothing, games. If player penalties are imposed, you'd think they would also have to taken into account the subsequent drafts as well.

BTW, good sensible discussion here from both sides, been interesting and enjoyable. Unlike some of the Victorian media (eg Neil Mitchell on Sunrise the other morning) and supporter opinions they have been showing recently which seem to think they because they are a football team they should be exonerated and are above all of this.

[Jim05]

Heard a stat today that 96% of all show cause notices issued are followed with infraction notices and bans.
Doesn't look good for the players.

IMO the AFL should start getting a team ready to roll from Tassie. Essendon if they survive all this can play in the VFA.

Surprised that the % isnt higher.
I thought only 1 person has beaten a ban.
I think we will come out of it ok eventually, might stop us being competitive for many years, but we will get to know what it feels like to be a Richmond, Saints or Dogs fan lol

[Fricky]

I'm thinking if I'm Essendon you get every single player issued with a notice to take their 6 months penalty about 2 weeks into next season and cause as much disruption to the AFL as possible. Essendon state all their players are suspended so they can't fill a side and the whole fixture for the next 6 months is out the window, gate takings have a massive hit (Anzac Day in particular), all the travel pre-arranged is cancelled, a bye happens for all sides scheduled to play Essendon and the financial damage to the AFL as a whole is much more than the damage to the club and it's players.

So Essendon stuff up and then get back at the AFL for it. Makes heaps of sense

[Fricky]

Heard a stat today that 96% of all show cause notices issued are followed with infraction notices and bans.
Doesn't look good for the players.

IMO the AFL should start getting a team ready to roll from Tassie. Essendon if they survive all this can play in the VFA.

Surprised that the % isnt higher.
I thought only 1 person has beaten a ban.
I think we will come out of it ok eventually, might stop us being competitive for many years, but we will get to know what it feels like to be a Richmond, Saints or Dogs fan lol

I think that 96% that get done tested positive, the most of the 4% that got off didnt have any positive tests and were able to argue their way out of the bans. Maybe some of the bombers players can fall into that 4%.

[El Capitano del Sol]

In the best spirit of Kevin Sheedy's misdirection every time there was a crisis at Essendon, many here are looking in the wrong direction.
The AFL and ASADA seem intent on prosecuting the Thymosin case, which is difficult to prove, as the players may legitimately not know which variant of Thymosin they took (Thymosin 4 is the illegal one).
All the while we have Jobe Watson admitting to using AOD9604 which is, according to the patent application from the Melbourne-based firm that applied for the patent, a peptide derived from a portion of Human Growth Hormone. Yet there appears to be no appetite to prosecute this case despite the evidence that Watson and others from Essendon were involved in using this illegal substance. The patent application clearly states that research (involving up to 4 'Professional Footballers" from Victoria) showed that AOD9604 has an anabolic effect and assists in building and repairing bone and muscle and tendon.
So why is the ASADA not vigorously pursuing these footballers who participated in a clinical trial not sanctioned by the governing bodies???
One might suggest it's because that might involve actual serious provable offences, and that won't be in the interests of the AFL.

Over to you ASADA and AFL - why no pursuit of the participants in the clinical trials of AOD9604??????

[Fricky]

In the best spirit of Kevin Sheedy's misdirection every time there was a crisis at Essendon, many here are looking in the wrong direction.
The AFL and ASADA seem intent on prosecuting the Thymosin case, which is difficult to prove, as the players may legitimately not know which variant of Thymosin they took (Thymosin 4 is the illegal one).
All the while we have Jobe Watson admitting to using AOD9604 which is, according to the patent application from the Melbourne-based firm that applied for the patent, a peptide derived from a portion of Human Growth Hormone. Yet there appears to be no appetite to prosecute this case despite the evidence that Watson and others from Essendon were involved in using this illegal substance. The patent application clearly states that research (involving up to 4 'Professional Footballers" from Victoria) showed that AOD9604 has an anabolic effect and assists in building and repairing bone and muscle and tendon.
So why is the ASADA not vigorously pursuing these footballers who participated in a clinical trial not sanctioned by the governing bodies???
One might suggest it's because that might involve actual serious provable offences, and that won't be in the interests of the AFL.

Over to you ASADA and AFL - why no pursuit of the participants in the clinical trials of AOD9604??????

In this article it says, briefly, why they aren't pursuing any AOD cases. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/b ... zs83d.html

[mighty_tiger_79]

Dank allegedly involved in Medicare fraud

[woodublieve12]

How many players will file a lawsuit against the bombers if the get banned????

I would say all would surely.

[Fricky]

How many players will file a lawsuit against the bombers if the get banned????

I would say all would surely.

Of course they will. They could lose up to two years income, plus personal damages. The payouts will be massive if they get banned. Why do you think Little and Essendon are doing everything they can to stop the doping charges from being heard? Seems like they know they will struggle to win teh cases which will mean the players will turn on the club pretty quickly.

[Phantom Gossiper]

IMO the AFL should start getting a team ready to roll from Tassie. Essendon if they survive all this can play in the VFA.

Do you think perhaps this is already in the back of the minds of the powers that be? Can't force a side out of the AFL, but given the competitive market in for sides in the state, one less team from VIC might improve circumstances for other clubs.. ??