Dustin Fletcher and Jobe Watson have been welcomed with open arms by their Australian International Rules teammates despite the spectre of an anti-doping hearing hanging over the heads of the Essendon pair.
Fletcher and Watson have been granted permission to play in Saturday’s International Rules match against Ireland in Perth despite being provisionally suspended after being served with infraction notices for their part in the Bombers’ 2012 supplements program.
The pair are believed to be two of 34 players who have been served with infraction notices as part of the joint AFL-ASADA investigation into the club.
Under the AFL anti-doping code, players served with infraction notices must be provisionally suspended and cannot take part in league matches.
But the AFL Commission has provided Fletcher and Watson with an exemption to play in the international match, freeing them up to join the Australian team camp in Sydney on Monday.
AFL football operations manager Mark Evans said he was not entitled to know the identity of the Essendon players who had been served with notices because of privacy rules.
However, the AFL had received advice from its legal department that no changes needed to be made to the 24-man Australian squad.
“We’ve come a long way through the process (of the Essendon investigation) but the incredibly important bits are still to come,” Evans said.
“We should not pre-judge the outcomes of that and any player that is charged has a right to defend that charge in a manner they see fit.
“It’s very important, in the middle of that, the AFL just upholds the process and allows that to occur.
“All I can say is that our general counsel Andrew Dillon has informed me that there is no need to change the structural make-up of that squad.”
Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak said the Essendon duo were a welcome part of the squad and the game would help them take their minds off the anti-doping saga.
“I think it’ll be great for them to come out and play and I’m sure they’ll enjoy the game as well,” he said.
BigAl
Guest
Two days, two comments ! Pretty good indication of the level of interest in this game ! Also the "Essendon saga" may be getting a little old ?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Being in Ireland a few years back, there is not a lot of interest in the game. Many Gaelic Football clubs and supporters see the game as nothing more than a trial for the AFL to look over their top players.
TW
Guest
A lot of AFL fans think the International Rules format at the top level is a good idea. However just as many think it is a waste of time at that level. The format does have its place at lower levels and there are a heap of matches where this does occur in Australia and Internationally. International Footy to me is the proper 18 a side with an oval ball. This leads me to our game in NZ which is ticking over at the grassroots quietly but still growing from very low bases. AFL NZ is currently running several annual junior comps over there. The article below talks about one comp and the eventual winner who commenced our game in their school 5 years ago and driven by the PE teacher at that school. Sure it is one school and in the scheme of things is encouraging because so far it appears that they and other schools involved have not dropped the game from their activities. Read on -- http://aflnz.co.nz/southern-cross-take-north-islands/