The Roar
The Roar

AFL
Advertisement

Justice prevails for Essendon players

Roar Guru
31st March, 2015
30

Regardless of whether or not the AFL made the correct decision, I am glad that the 34 current and former Essendon players were found not guilty.

People say professional athletes should be 100 per cent liable for what goes into their body. While there is an element of truth in that, surely you have to feel a sense of sympathy and understanding for the Bombers players caught up in this scandal.

AFL chief medical officer Dr Peter Harcourt said he was shocked that the players let this happen.

“Athletes passively accepted the use (of the supplements) – this shocked us. Players did not jack up and say ‘what the hell is going on’.”

Football clubs, let alone professional AFL clubs, can be intimidating places and the old notion of staying quiet and working hard certainly rings true.

There was also an element of ‘fan syndrome’ at the Bombers. The leadership within the club were respected ex-players who achieved plenty in the game, making the task of raising concerns even more daunting.

AFL players are there simply to play football, they are not going to risk their reputation at the club by speaking out against high figures and questioning the supplements regime. Their performances, both on and off the field, dictate how long they will be able to make a career out of football. It is their main priority and they should be able to have the full trust in authority figures at the club.

Former Melbourne footballer Aaron Davey weighed in on the conversation, emphasising the trust players have in staff members at clubs.

Advertisement

“We as players past and present put that much trust in our sports medicos and staff and would never try and question them on their professions,” said the former Demon.

Players from other AFL clubs have confessed to taking substances or being involved in practices unknown to them, such is their faith to those distributing them at the club.

Former Hawthorn star Brent Guerra admitted in late 2012 that he was unsure of what was being injected into his injured hamstring.

“I’m not too sure to be honest. I just lay on the table and I say, ‘you do what you’ve got to do and I’ll be quite happy to just lay there’.”

There was nothing improper about Guerra’s treatment but it is in indication into the mindset of players when under the care of professionals.

Perhaps the Essendon players were naïve and certainly very trusting, but they were not drug cheats. Justice has prevailed.

close