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.
Doug Deep
Roar Pro
From memory it was one club and a few (ie. 2 or 3) players at other clubs wasn't it?
johnb747b
Guest
Any club that can be shown to be playing Russian roulette with players' health & wellbeing should be by penalised heavily. I remain perplexed why Dons' players didn't do the simple Internet search that I did, instead of relying on a backstop equivalent to 'the dog ate my homework'. Which world are we in, for god's sake?
johnb747b
Guest
Any club that can be shown to be playing Russian roulette with players' health & wellbeing should be by penalised heavily. I remain perplexed why Dons' players didn't do the simple Internet search that I did, instead of relying on a backstop equivalent to 'the dog ate my homework'. Which world are we in, for god's sake?
johnb747b
Guest
ASADA, WADA... The rule should be simple: no substances! Let all players rely on their personal fitness. What's hard about that?
olo
Guest
The afl play a far more hard line then people think, remember Carlton? they went over there salary cap and were penalised severely by the afl, as a result Carlton stayed at the bottom of the ladder for years and that was nothing compared to this, Essendon will be totally wiped out, they will be on the bottom for many years to come especially with more teams in the afl these days taking all the good players, once asada are finished penalising Essendon the afl will make an example of Essendon and hand down there own penalty as to uphold the integrity of the game, we are talking about the reputation of afl football as a brand, do you honestly think that the afl in anyway will look in the face of the media to go lightly on the Essendon football club over this drug scandal and risk destroying the image of afl? you just have to look at sports teams around the world that have been involved in drug cheating, they get put to the sword and in some cases for less then what Essendon are accused of, but come on, asada don't investigate you if your not guilty of something, its a shame for james hird he has been a great role model for afl and was always a fair player, but the amount of players that will have there lives stuffed up because of this is pretty shocking, because the asada don't have compassion, if your guilty of taking a drug that is banned your guilty, if it wasn't the case then it would be exploited, its unfortunate that this has happened in our sport and its going to hit hard for all at Essendon but hay at the end of the day I still think james hird is a good guy, he just hired some seedy doctors thinking they were legit because they were at other clubs before Essendon and has payed an awful price and being the guy he is, im shore it will hit him hard knowing his players will suffer, but I hope james and the players can get on with there lives after this
Jake
Guest
Great result today. Now ASADA won't need to take any action!
Scuba
Guest
No need to worry Dan!
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
I agree. No decision will be announced till after Essendon are out of any finals or the season has finished
Mitcher
Guest
I agreed with the premise of your statement - and this is what I get!! Some people... Judging by the paranoia you display and fanatical defence of a morally questionable regime at Windy Hill, methinks you've proven your point all alone.
Steve M
Guest
Thats right, micka, Richmond and Port traded for the players in good faith and are victims of the Essendon conspiracy.
Steve M
Guest
Phil, Give me a break, talk about grabbing at straws, you just need RedB and DeanP to countersign that post.
Adam W
Guest
How do we know that they were not using drugs earlier this year? How do we know they still are not benefitting from the effects of the drugs they injected last year? They bulked up last year, yes they had their injuries, but they still kept the mass and possibly strength this year. My opinion is they are still benefitting from their "program".
Horatio
Guest
Roy masters was claiming that Essendon took peptides because they needed to recover quickly after Anzac Day clashes (short turnaround) and Perth trips and it wasn't about power like in the heavy contact sport like NRL. He didn't think that in his own game where top line RL players are required to lineup in some cases 2 days after the toughest game of all (State of Origin) that recovery supplements might be a temptation too...
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Dan, depending on findings, at this stage it appears Essendon as a club are likely to be found culpable. Points deductions, if any, could conceivably be made against the club - not individual players - on the basis of systemic issues. Certainly any decision to say that the club could not play for points, as occurred with the Storm's salary cap cheating, in the future would only be against a club with systemic problems. Players, whether still at Essendon or not, may well be liable for penalties as well. This does mean that other clubs may be without 2012 Essendon players for period of 6 months, 2 years, or more, dpending on culpability and admissions of guilt. Could Essendon be liable to compensate those clubs if it was systemic club problems within Essendon that are partly or primarily responsible for player unavailability? If so, how? By having draft picks transferred from Essendon to those clubs? By Essendon paying any such player salaries (maybe included in Essendon's cap) in the period of suspension? Its all very much up in the air, as at this point in time, nothing has been officially determined. Various things look likely, but if ASADA gave a mistaken all-clear to AOD as has been rumoured and reported in some places that would throw a very different light on things.
Macca
Guest
When the Storm played for no points the other teams still had to win theirs - I would assume it would eb the same in this instance.
micka
Guest
I can see your point on Monfries and Lonergan, they should be punished but if you think Richmond and Port are culpable you have rocks in your head. Richmond and port didn't load up their players with cheat juice (allegedly). They happened to buy players who may turn out to be cheats. If they are proven to have taken part I believe Richmond and Port should take legal action against Essendon for not disclosing the players full medical history etc. If a car retailer knowingly sold a lemon car would you punish the retailer or the customer who unknowingly got shafted? You are effectively saying that Essendon aren't cheating but anyone who has players from windy hill should cop equivalent punishment for something that "there is no proof of".... Work it out.
Lamby
Roar Rookie
6 months has to be served 'in competition' - so actual games will be most of the season.
Lroy
Guest
Mate.. the Melbourne tanking scadal.. the Tippet situation... all swept under the carpet. When the Melbourne Storm got busted for rorting the system, they were stripped of all their premierships, and had to play for no points for a full 12 months. But the AFL is not made of such stern stuff. You can bet whatever you like that the worse punishment anyone gets is a suspended fine.
Lamby
Roar Rookie
There is no dispute about the advice ASADA or ACC gave about AOD-9064. They gave the correct advice. The Bombers just thought they could get around that advice on a technicality. ASADA/ACC stated AOD-9064 was not banned specifically under the S2 rule (which it now is, but was not then) They also stated that it MAY be banned via the S0 rule - the catch-all 'not been released for use by humans'. The Bombers/Dank were saying that it does not fall under the S0 rule as they were getting the drug prescribed by a doctor (not the club doctor) and then made up by a registered compound chemist. ASADA have come out and stated that they cannot get around the S0 rule this way. So the club has been: - using doctors other than the club doctor to prescribe drugs to it's players - Purposefully trying to 'bend' the S0 rule, knowing the drug fits under that rule and is banned. What will happen: -The club is going to lose points. They will be lucky if it is only for this year. -Players will be banned for AT LEAST 6 months under strict liability laws - I think ASADA will appeal anything less than 12 months. -Hird will get a significant ban. I think it will be a life ban if he has knowingly let this happen. - Watson will lose his Brownlowe medal.
calum
Guest
vicbomber "This article just highlights what I’ve been saying all along, it’s not so much the crime which Essendon may or may not have committed, it’s the fact that they are having a pretty good season and peoples football bias clouds their judgement" Maybe you should reflect on that statement in terms of how bombers fans view things? When the story broke, it was early days of the season, so it wasn't clear whether Essendon were going to have the succesful season that they are having. To state that the 'crime' Essendon are committing is having a succesful season is just bizarre, not to mention insulting to fair minded sports fans. Yes, there are a few idiots (empty vessels make the loudest noise) who seem to be rejoicing in this but nobody sensible wants Essendon players to be victims of a witchhunt. People want a fair, safe, game - which means drug free. To suggest that I am jealous or something because Essendon are having a good season is just as bad as the empty vessels trying to find them guilty without the required evidence. FWIW I don't agree with Jacques that the Bombers are on anything illegal this season, Just high on a sense of injustice, which amongst the players is understandable I guess. However, I certainly feel uneasy in that I feel that so much of this story is being 'spun' (to a complicit media it must be said). I obviously don't know exactly who is spinning what (media, the bombers, the AFL) but I do know that any squirming/ mininimising/ avoiding of probles is exactly how you store big problems for yourself further down the line - its how Le Tour got itself into such a mess.