Like many other boys, I had a large James Hird poster on my wall as a child. On the back of my door was an equally large Matthew Lloyd poster.
Come every weekend, regardless of our win loss record or form, I knew that we were a chance to win the game because Lloydy could kick a bag after Hirdy would feed him lace out after several spectacular acts of heroism.
So the news that James would be returning to Essendon to coach was understandably met with a great deal of joy and anticipation. As a man that idolised James as a child, to have him return to lead our beloved team to what would hopefully be a 17th flag was tremendously exciting.
So what is it like to be an Essendon supporter and watch the turmoil of the anti-doping saga every day on the tabloids?
To have your childhood hero accused of neglecting the players, who put their faith in him? We would have to go to the beginning of the saga. February 5, 2013 saw me glued to my screen watching a web stream of the press conference that has been replayed countless time – now etched into our memories.
The release of the Australian Crime Commission findings that followed was not my blackest day in sport. Watching my hero close to tears alongside CEO Ian Robson and President David Evans was my blackest day in sport. It was hard to tell how long the investigation that would ensue would take and the flow on effect.
The early days of the investigation were filled with speculation and conflicting reports. Despite this, the team came out firing, toppling Adelaide in the season opener, following up with an extremely one-sided affair against Melbourne.
It was at this point that it was suggested by then AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou that Hird should consider standing down while the investigation continues. In what could have been James’ first public act of defiance against the AFL, he assured the public that he will not stand down.
What followed was what Essendon fans like me consider a turning point in the season. After a hard-fought, close win over Fremantle away, James was greeted with enormous smiles and embracing hugs from the players.
He was then dragged into the circle for a rendition of the team song worthy to be sung at the end of the grand final and drenched in Gatorade – as tradition dictates.
Nothing could wipe the smile off my face that night. The win against the odds and celebration afterwards cemented what Essendon fans suspected. The players were behind James Hird until the very end. And so was I.
One of the biggest tests we faced as supporters of the Essendon Football Club came on June 24th when Captain Jobe Watson told national TV that he was given the contentious substance AOD-9604.
The status of AOD was at the time unknown and under the ASADA code, any banned substance, even if thought to be legal would result in bans and potentially force Jobe to return his Brownlow from 2012.
Memories of the joy and elation when Jobe became the first Essendon player since James Hird to win the Brownlow and the admiration for the whole Watson family who have become a role model family and a true Aussie success story came to mind.
The thought that all of Jobe’s efforts could be undone, his reputation tarnished and the embarrassment of being stripped of the coveted award was very distressing and you sympathised even more with Jobe as you knew it wasn’t in his character to cheat.
This led to the infamous West Coast game where the stadium was rocked with the loud jeers of the crowd, the final siren sounded out a close Essendon victory and the team and staff rushed to support Jobe who was overwhelmed with tears.
After the 2013 season was derailed, August brought what we thought might be the defining event in the already six month long saga.
In a stand-off between the club, James and Dr. Bruce Reid and the AFL the parties met at AFL House for a tense two-day negotiation. James and Dr. Reid had earlier filed court action against the AFL.
The result was what Essendon supporters had feared. On top of the financial penalties and lost draft picks, Essendon was booted from the finals and our coach banned for 12 months.
Despite the AFL and the club making it clear the penalties related only to lack of governance and there was no evidence of the use of banned substances, there was a pang of disappointment and impression of having lost or giving up.
This was very hard to comprehend as the club and supporters were proud of the clubs “never say die” approach. Our only victory came from an unlikely source in Dr. Reid who had his charges dropped in return for dropping his own legal action.
Despite the disappointment, at least it was over. Essendon was free to move on and so were the fans. Or so we thought.
After the show cause notices were issued to 34 past and current players the club was back into battle mode launching action to the Federal Court to dispute the legality of the ASADA and AFL investigation into the clubs 2012 supplements program.
Despite the ruling going against Essendon and its coach, his time in the witness box was probably James’ only chance to speak his mind about the saga. Following it closely, you gained an insight into why James was so determined to fight ASADA irrespective of the financial cost or damage to his reputation.
The very actions that had the wider public label James as selfish and egotistical were the actions that to the supporters made him a bigger hero. James believed the club had been wronged, the players had been wronged and the fans of the sport had been wronged. We saw James in a completely opposite light to the wider public.
At the crux of the saga late March 2015, the AFL appointed Anti-Doping Tribunal handed down its findings. Leading up, the cynical view suggests that the result is a predetermined outcome, but truth be told it felt like the tribunal was the only part of the process that wasn’t riddled with leaks.
Rumours ran rampant and even the most confident of supporters had a slight rise in heart rate at the mention of sanctions no matter how small it is rumoured to be.
As a fan, we obviously hoped for the verdict to vindicate the players and the wider club. However, irrespective of the outcome, difference of opinion and rumours, the sporting world could agree on one thing. We all wanted this saga to end.
2pm Tuesday the 31st of March was a moment of relief and reflection. The 34 players accused of taking Thymosin Beta-4 had been cleared and were free to play.
The supporters factions that had formed on social media breathed a large sigh of relief. Take a moment to consider the 34 players who would presumably feel like they had just won the grand final, not only told they could play Round 1.
The relief for these players would have no doubt brought some, and their loved ones to tears.
Now the club, players and fans can look forward to rebuilding their trust in the AFL and anti-doping system that was shaken for two years and remains in tatters. It is hoped that Round 1 against Sydney will be the first step towards recovery for the club, irrespective of the result.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Essendon captain Zach Merrett says he would have relished extra time to decide a winner on Anzac Day, while Collingwood coach Craig McRae felt…
Does he have a point?
For all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the now-traditional Anzac Day clash at the MCG, there has been one thing conspicuously lacking over…
Old mate summing it up better than anyone possibly could!
