The landmark players’ victory at the AFL anti-doping tribunal has prompted a renewed storm of criticism about the controversial 2012 Essendon supplements regime.
As ASADA gnashes its teeth over Tuesday’s humiliating defeat and considers an appeal that no-one in the game wants, its boss Ben McDevitt blasted the Bombers over the supplements program.
ASADA will announce on Wednesday morning whether they will challenge the findings, while the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) could also come over the top with an appeal.
In the midst of his profound relief – 784 days after Essendon announced a joint ASADA-AFL investigation – Essendon captain Jobe Watson admitted to unease that the players still do not know exactly what they were given.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan called the program reckless and players association boss Paul Marsh said the verdicts did not absolve the club of blame.
But sports scientist Stephen Dank remains belligerent as he awaits his fate, with the tribunal delaying its verdict on him until after Easter.
Dank savaged ASADA and the AFL after the players’ acquittals and forecast legal action.
Essendon coach James Hird was emotional after the verdicts, admitting for the first time that he went close to losing his job last September and saying he never would have done anything intentionally to harm the club.
The verdicts are as big a blow to ASADA’s credibility as they are a comprehensive win for the players.
And McDevitt came out swinging.
“What happened at Essendon in 2012 was, in my opinion, absolutely and utterly disgraceful,” he said.
“It was not a supplements program but an injection regime and the players and the fans were so poorly let down by the club.
“While I am obviously disappointed that the charges in this instance have not been proven to the comfortable satisfaction of the tribunal, I am pleased that the tribunal was able to finally hear these matters.”
Watson, flanked by his teammates, was asked if it sat comfortably with him that he did not know what was administered.
“I don’t think it sits comfortably at all,” he said.
“I think the players and anyone involved feels if when you go to your employer and they can’t tell you exactly what went on, that’s concerning.
“I think the players are well within their right to have had anger over a period of time.”
Marsh said the 34 players’ lives had been hijacked for two years through no fault of their own.
“This decision does not absolve the Essendon Football Club of blame,” Marsh said.
McLachlan was also quick to remind everyone why the AFL hit the club with severe penalties in August, 2013 over governance issues.
“It has been the AFL’s view and the view of Essendon’s own internal report that the players were victims of a reckless program,” McLachlan said.
Once the end of the tribunal process is confirmed, it appears inevitable there will be court action arising from the supplements scandal.
Dank has always been adamant he will seek legal redress.
“They’ve been very, very poor in their conduct, execution and understanding of this whole investigation,” he said of ASADA.
“The players never took anything that was illegal or anything that was against the WADA-prohibited list.
“The players were not guilty of anything. I’m very happy for the players.”
Hird issued an unreserved apology for any damage that had been caused to the club’s reputation after the “mistakes around governance” that were made in 2012.
“I am so sorry for anything that’s happened, for anything that’s been done wrong to our players or been done wrong to our football club,” Hird said.
The verdicts mean 18 current Essendon players, plus Port Adelaide pair Angus Monfries and Paddy Ryder and Western Bulldogs forward Stewart Crameri, are free to play in this weekend’s opening round.
The Essendon players, who have shown remarkable on-field resilience through the saga, start their season on Saturday night against Sydney.
“I think a lot of clubs perhaps would have fallen down but with the support that we’ve had from the loyal fans that we have and the strength of this playing group we’ve held together,” Watson said.
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