By Roger Vaughan
December 29th 2008 @ 6:30am
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Redb said | December 29th 2008 @ 6:48am | Report comment
Too many sleeps until the footy begins again, can’t wait.
I think Essendon will do well to hold it’s own in 2009, but look out for 2010. As for a new Hird, Lloyd, etc, write this name down – Neagle.
I have a feeling the Swans will get their crowds back in 2009.
Redb
Michael C said | December 29th 2008 @ 8:41am | Report comment
Dear sir,
You said But the issue of illicit drugs is like a slippery eel that the AFL cannot quite master
the issue of illicit drugs was a political football put in play by the Howard Government.
The AFL did lose the PR ‘war’, no thanx to crap media.
This included high profile sports ‘commentators’ on national breakfast TV programs who suggested that Wendall Sailor if caught in the AFL would still be playing. THese folk had no idea that the AFL was WADA compliant and that anyone caught under the WADA program would be done in the same manner as Sailor. (so, SHOULD be no issue there for the AFL).
Many folk chose to believe that the AFL was NOT WADA compliant. Or, when comparing testing – swimmers etc spoke of their testing not realising that their ‘WADA’ program was the same as the AFL base WADA program. And that the Illicit out of competition testing was additional and not instead of.
Thankfully now, there is a fed govt working WITH rather than against the AFL on this issue.
Ben Cousins is an exception that should become more exceptional.
Should HE be an indictment on the AFL?
No.
He should be an indictment upon the WADA program. In that, as a club B&F (and Brownlow) winner in 2005, WADA testing TARGETS the top 3 from each club in the prevous year. And yet – - nothing.
WADA failed to pick up Andrew Johns.
There are still, and we clubs back during the Howard/Kemp inspired debate on the issue – who quoted “Oh, we’re WADA compliant, we don’t have a problem”.
well……..gee………….no problem at all…………because, they wouldn’t have a clue.
One day, soon………..comments like But the issue of illicit drugs is like a slippery eel that the AFL cannot quite master. will change to The AFL led the way, despite populist political and media agenda driven criticism and sloganeering – to treat illicit drug use by sportsmen as a health issue, as, often it was more a symptom, of deeper issues such as mental health problems or alcoholism. That the AFL stood firm with the support and urging of numerous experts in the field of drugs health was a credit to the AFL, where others might have wilted.
(I hope the AFL won’t wilt).
Forgetmenot said | December 29th 2008 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
Geelong will hopefully come back stronger than ever. They were, as were their supporters, very saddened by the dreadful last day of September 2008.
The first game of the season will tell who has recovered best from the Grand Final. Geelong with its motivation, or Hawthorn getting over a hangover.
Michael C,
I too support the AFLs decision to rehabilitate players rather than punishing them harshly for a mistake. It is perhaps easier to cut people adrift, rather than helping them. But the Australian way is to support people.
The Bear said | January 9th 2009 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
Michael, aint the Rudd Government grand…