The AFL Players’ Association denies giving any assurances that former Bomber Angus Monfries, now with Port Adelaide, will escape penalty from Essendon’s supplements scandal.
PA chief executive Matt Finnis says he can’t guarantee that Monfries, or any Essendon player, will be able to play in the AFL finals.
However he said he had been “encouraged” by the interim ASADA report that players would be absolved of culpability.
“We’re not in a position to make any guarantees to anybody,” Finnis said of a newspaper report Monfries had been cleared.
“We represent the players but it will be other authorities who make decisions about it.”
Finnis said he hadn’t read ASADA’s report but had been briefed by the Association’s lawyers and would be meeting with the Essendon players later on Wednesday.
While he emphasised that the report was only interim, he hadn’t heard anything to suggest players would be sanctioned.
“There’s been a recognition amongst the people involved in the investigation that the players through their own testimony have indicated how they were caught up in something where they placed enormous trust and faith in those around them.
“Players come out of high school into footy clubs and it’s their job to put enormous trust and faith into those who have got a responsibility and an expertise to get these things right.
“There’s a recognition that culpability must lie with those that are most responsible.”
He rebuffed rumours that the AFL had already devised its penalties for the Essendon club in the form of draft picks, fines and premiership points.
“I don’t see how that could possibly be construed,” Finnis said.
“I think the AFL Commission takes this matter pretty seriously and I don’t think they’re going to put any risk that this is going to be pre-judged before everyone gets a chance to put their case.
“We haven’t even heard whether charges are going to be laid.”
Peter Ramsey
Guest
ASADA has always been very clear.. any product not passed for human consumption is illegal.. that is quite apart from banned drugs list. The reason for this is every day somebody has a new drug not yet discovered by WADA or ASADA. It is looking more & more like the AFL is involved in the drug industry to me.. All clubs with players at fault should lose all premiership points
Franko
Guest
I’m sure in the late 90’s Wang Luna, Yi Zhang, Huijue Cai and Wei Wang all thought that the caterpillar fungus soup they were eating was above board. It didn’t stop them getting two year bans from the sport.
Thank Goddard
Guest
yep if they knowingly did something wrong they probably would, but if the national body (ASADA) was not clear on the validity or otherwise of the supplements used then maybe not...as in the Essendon case
Peter Ramsey
Guest
If they were 15yr old swimmers they would cop an automatic 2yr ban.. such rot to say 18 - 30 yr old footballers are just out of school.. they get paid more than most swimmers too
Franko
Guest
Winner of the contradiction challenge goes to PA chief executive Matt Finnis: “There’s a recognition that culpability must lie with those that are most responsible.” - i.e it's not the players fault, they won't be punished "I don’t think they’re going to put any risk that this is going to be pre-judged" - i.e The AFL haven't made a decision. So, despite having not decided what they will do, they won't punish the players. Huh???? '