Rik E Boy wrote:INJUNCTION!
regards,
REB
I just knew someone would bring that word into this. I'll try and explain to people what the injunction was all about, and I'm typing slowly so people will understand.
The injunction came about as a result of the files from players from one club being released in the media. This happened because every player from that club had used the same clinic, and those files were stolen. An injunction was handed down in a court of law to prevent the further naming of players from all 16 clubs in the media.
The moment the name Hawthorn comes up, people throw in "injunction", which is ignorance to the first degree. The injunction didn't protect Hawthorn, it protected the other 15 clubs. What this sutuation DID do for the Hawks was at least we now knew the identity of players with 1 or 2 strikes and were able to work with and monitor those players. Other clubs are still blissfully unaware of which players on their list are teetering on the edge. I still can't believe clubs aren't given this information.
As for the individual player, I've said it many times, I'll say it again. I have no sympathy whatsoever for players who think they can cheat the system. In his documentary, Ben Cousins himself said the beauty of the system is you are allowed to continue playing AFL football whilst still using drugs. To me, this is the issue, and that comment went over most peoples' heads at 1,000 kph.
I'm tired of clubs being blamed for players being unable to accept responsibility for their actions. I always remember when Elvis Presley died, there were a lot of attacks on his henchmen, those who were supposedly employed to protect him and look after his welfare. One of those men was asked how he allowed it to happen. He just looked the camera in the eye and said, "You can't protect someone from themselves".
Anyone who believes there are no players at their club using drugs are living in fantasyland. The drug being used by Tuck was something called GBH, or Grievous Bodily Harm. Now I ask you, what is someone thinking when they willingly allow themselves to digest a substance called "Grievous Bodily Harm"? A professional sportsman using something that, by it's own admission, can harm the body.
From what I understand about this drug is a lot of AFL players use if because it is out of the system within 24 hours, making it virtually impossible to trace, but if mixed with alcohol can have devastating effect, as seen with Travis Tuck. Some people want this to be a club issue, but it's not. It's a society issue, and it was obvious from the Ben Cousins documentary that the AFL have no real idea what they're up against when dealing with the drug issue.
Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 12:26 am
