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As the Essendon drugs fiasco approaches it’s sixth month, the finals are coming quickly and the Bombers appear certain participants, probably getting the double chance.
Up until now, they haven’t really been a realistic premiership contender, but that could all change if they kick off Round 18 by beating Hawthorn tonight.
They are second at the moment, but will join the Hawks on 14 wins. However, they will stay below them due to an inferior percentage.
A victory over their fierce rivals will no doubt give them confidence they could match it with the premiership favourites in September.
ASADA and the AFL have claimed for months now that findings into their investigations about Essendon undertaking an intensive supplement program last year, of which some of the substances were banned under the ASADA and WADA code, would be released in August.
That month is now just days away and the longer the process goes on without the findings being handed down the closer we will be to the finals and, unless they fall apart dramatically in the last six weeks of the home-and-away season, Essendon are set to be significant players in September.
It again needs to be mentioned that Essendon remains innocent until proven guilty, but what if the finals start and the findings are still not released and the Bombers have a good finals series?
It would be farcical if the Dons got through to the grand final and this issue is still hanging over their’s and the AFL’S heads. The league and ASADA couldn’t possibly let that happen, could they?
Obviously they would play in the competition decider, but what if findings come out later and they have a case to answer?
There’s been speculation that if Essendon is found guilty of injecting banned substances one of the penalties would be the loss of premiership points, along with a severe fine, but time is starting to run out.
There has also been revelations released by Melbourne newspaper the Herald Sun during the week of a phone call made by AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou to Essendon President David Evans the day before the Bombers shocked the football world with the news they were going to be investigated regarding allegations of taking banned substances.
The report says Demetriou spoke to Evans about the club’s alleged use of performance enhancing drugs last season.
Demetriou admits he spoke to Evans that night but has strongly denied he tipped the club off.
If an investigation needs to be conducted into this, it could put back when those much awaited findings are released, so the waiting game continues.
Meanwhile, Essendon deals with another issue each week from this controversy and generally comes out on top on the field.
They will need to be close to their best against the Hawks, but they have been through so much already in 2013 and no doubt have excellent coping mechanisms in place in what is their biggest footy challenge so far.
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