Essendon players guilty! Bans til November 2016!

[HAL]

Your purpose is the sake of this sport this decision had to be delivered.

[Dave The Man]

For the sake of this sport, this decision had to inevitably be delivered.

What we saw at Essendon in 2011-2012 can never be repeated and must serve as a warning to other clubs that they risk the consequences if they choose this path. It's a good day for those who care about the integrity and dignity of this sport.

Seeing Essendon suffer is a bonus but I'm more pleased that the sport still has some credibility left, albeit I have lost faith in the AFL to handle difficult matters such as this.

Agree, That the AFL looks like a Total Joke now

[RudeBoy]

The players are the innocent victims in this sad and sorry episode. However, banning them is the correct outcome, otherwise future players will always be able to use the out clause of "we were told to take this stuff".

Hird, 'Bomber' Thomson, their club doctor and the board members at that time, should ALL be banned from ever working at a sports club.

If the AFL-Players Association had any guts, they'd be initiating damages claims against the Essendon Football Club, who, as an employer, breached their duty of care to the players, and their actions have ruined the careers of the players. I'd estimate the total damages claim could run to over 100 million dollars.

[piedys]

Don't really see how this is a result to celebrate. These players were led astray by the powerful people in their club, and any advantage derived from their injections has surely long since passed. They were not the culprits here and it is unjust that they should be the ones punished.

Ultimately David, the club and those in charge then will be. I think perhaps if they'd put their hand up 3 years ago, things may have worked out differently. The arrogance and poor management of both the AFL and Essendon has come home to roost. The player will sue, and rightly so. I hope they clean up. What Hird & co did is a disgrace, as was their ham fisted attempts/denials...

A victory for players rights at the end of the day.

LD, why would the players sue? Surely if they are PAID their 2016 contracts at the same intervals as they would be when actually playing, then they are financially no worse off?
Or do you mean they sue another party for lack of evidence?

Regardless, i side with David on this: the players are under contract to play football, and not to second-guess the president, coach or medical staff on such matters. They were on a hiding to nothing; damned if they do, and damned if they don't. It was a literal no-win scenario for them.

And this should have been sorted two years ago, and i still cannot see a shred of evidence to convict/suspend any player involved.

The club was previously fined, lost premiership points, and thus banned from the 2013 finals by the AFL. As a consequence, the president and coach ultimately fell on their swords, and that's where it should have ended, not this drawn-out witch-hunt.

Don't get me wrong, I "adore" Essendon as much as anybody else on this forum, but this player persecution is just wrong.

These utter FLOGS at WADA should be more obsessed with drug-testing ALL Olympic gold/silver/bronze medallists after their podium presentation.

And yes i'm referring to Grant Hackett's fraudulent 2nd place at the 2008 Olympic 1500m freestyle, awarded to a KNOWN DRUG CHEAT WHO WAS NOT TESTED AFTER THE EVENT, DESPITE THE MIRACLE TIME HE SWAM!!

Okay, Summer rant over [for now]; peace-out hippies!

Dyso

[Woods]

[think positive]

For the sake of this sport, this decision had to inevitably be delivered.

What we saw at Essendon in 2011-2012 can never be repeated and must serve as a warning to other clubs that they risk the consequences if they choose this path. It's a good day for those who care about the integrity and dignity of this sport.

Seeing Essendon suffer is a bonus but I'm more pleased that the sport still has some credibility left, albeit I have lost faith in the AFL to handle difficult matters such as this.

Nailed it Jezza

[think positive]

One player said no, he is not suspended.

[Dave The Man]

Could not even beat us when they where Cheating:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmSrdXUOrrU

[Mossi]

For the sake of this sport, this decision had to inevitably be delivered.

What we saw at Essendon in 2011-2012 can never be repeated and must serve as a warning to other clubs that they risk the consequences if they choose this path. It's a good day for those who care about the integrity and dignity of this sport.

Seeing Essendon suffer is a bonus but I'm more pleased that the sport still has some credibility left, albeit I have lost faith in the AFL to handle difficult matters such as this.

Nailed it Jezza

Spot on! Only problem with the way law suites are handled these days I can see why the AFL were literally powerless to do better than they did.

[duggieboy]

Yep Jezza you nailed it for me too. Exactly my thoughts.

Personally, I believe it's nothing but good & right, for that "law unto itself", the AFL, to have been exposed as inept & arrogant in how it has dishonestly handled this whole mess.

What was for me a travesty of justice, now feels a whole lot better.

[qldmagpie67]

There has been questions raised about the following

Can they appeal this verdict ?
Yes they can to the Supreme Court in Switzerland. They must however show that they have evidence not currently seen that would alter the verdict

Can the players sue the club ?
Paul Marsh today said it was a discussion he would be having with the playing group. As there employer Essendon have a duty of care which has been breached. Also Hird and others involved may be other parties the players look to to redeem any lost income.

Will the suspended players be paid ?
Yes they will in full with the exception of any milestone or match payments. Gill said today the club would be granted exemption from breaching the cap paying top up players

Will Watson have to had back his Brownlow ?
Gill said that would be discussed at the commissions next meeting in February he never went any further. But other commentators have said it must be returned and no Brownlow awarded for that year

What happens to the players no longer in the AFL can they play minor league or be involved in coaching ?
No they can't in any competition sanctioned by the AFL or any sport that is a signature to asada or wada codes

[Woods]

[duggieboy]

Yes & I notice the BBC has a headline on their home page also, not even hiding away under the sport section.......

[Dave The Man]

Peptide Bummers want Tony Armstrong

[jackcass]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/essendon/james-hird-labels-cas-guilty-verdict-on-essendon-34-a-miscarriage-of-justice/news-story/7f2edc45bf7233b966a24d5e6902b7af

So Robbo has to come back and Defend his Best Mate who destroyed the Club he Barracks for.

How is he such a Senior Jurno?

Guess he then Rooted James After the Interview

Who ever said he was a journo?