Let’s get one thing straight right off the top – Ryan Crowley is a goose.
Yes, he has played 188 AFL games for Fremantle, four International Rules games, won a club best fairest, and is one of the pre-eminent taggers in the game.
He is 31 years of age and been in the AFL system since he was recruited by the Dockers in November 2002.
All well and good, but he is still a goose.
When attending the AFL draft camp 13 years ago, he would have sat through a presentation from ASADA with respect to the anti-doping code.
And guess what? He would have sat through similar presentations each year for the next 12 seasons prior to returning a positive test, as a result of taking a painkiller which contained a substance that is banned on match day, last July.
On Thursday, the AFL tribunal’s decision was handed down – a one-year ban, backdated to the day his provisional suspension commenced on September 25 last year.
One can only shake their head in amazement at the fact that he went behind the back of the club medicos and decided to source a painkiller without their knowledge, and more crucially, without them being asked whether the substance was safe to consume with respect to the anti-doping code.
After his infamous positive test for a banned diuretic on the eve of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Shane Warne came out with a stunning analogy with respect to how he viewed ASADA’s lectures, saying that he pretty much zoned out as if it was a stewardess explaining the safety procedures on an aircraft.
Warne’s lack of interest also cost him a year in the wilderness.
Crowley’s brain fade may cost him his career.
Fremantle is currently flying high atop the premiership table, doing nicely without the man who won the George Doig Medal for club champion just three seasons ago, a year in which he narrowly missed All-Australian selection.
He may well miss out on a historic maiden Fremantle premiership.
He will be available for selection for preliminary final week however the chances of him playing, having not done so for 12 months, are on a par with a brunette being crowned Miss Sweden.
And, as he turns 32 in March next year, it is highly likely that the Dockers will not be renewing his contract.
My son who is a mad, passionate Freo supporter. When I told him about Crowley’s suspension, he said that he should have known not to do what he did.
My son is nine. Did I mention that Crowley is 31?
At a media conference Crowley said that he “genuinely never intentionally meant to do anything wrong”.
That is likely the case, and given that he was delivered half the maximum two-year suspension for such an offence the tribunal may have agreed.
However, the bottom line is, he was stupid to try his luck. It was a case of playing Russian roulette and when the time came the chamber was loaded.
You wonder just how long it will take, how many careers will be destroyed and reputations sullied, before the bleeding obvious truly sinks in with some sportspeople.
bob downe
Guest
Can anyone tell me how an Allied Health worker got the methadone tab it's an S8 drug which requires a script from a Doctor. Crowley is a right flog,the Essendon players are no better as they were receiving injections from a Chiropractor of all professions. Ahmed Saad for the Saints got an 18mth ban at least he owned up to an energy drink-don't need a doctors script for that.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Yes, and i was just saying it is a silly comparison, unrealistic analogy.
conchie
Roar Rookie
You are exactly right, Gene is very very cheap as far as posts go.
Don Freo
Guest
I love your assessment of Harvey. Perhaps the player with the least personal class in AFL history. Values scraped from the gutter. So interesting to compare Judd and Harvey in the same weekend. Lots of blessings, Juddy.
jax
Guest
I agree that Crowls has been a competent stand alone runner and mid fielder. I don't agree with your point about Glenn. You might want to post your own article if you feel so strongly about it.
Don Freo
Guest
Mattie Priddis might be worried. Crowls could be back for the Derby GF.
jax
Guest
obvious to you maybe but not to others. He was banned so of course it will be discussed. I didn't know this was a 'Crowley Free Zone'?
jax
Guest
well said
Gordon Smith
Guest
Why ?
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
I do not think so Dino.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Mark
Guest
What a terribly stupid comment
Mark
Guest
He was just saying that a 9 year old has more sense than Crowley. Was it really that hard to comprehend?
jax
Guest
Even if Crowls was determined not to inform his club about his injury why didn't he ensure that the new doctor prescribed him a painkiller that wasn't banned? and after getting the all-clear why didn't Ryan double check it for himself before taking it? It's not difficult.
jax
Guest
Boom
jax
Guest
"On the other hand, this is hardly the first time a West Australian player has been involved in “that sort of thing” What has WA got to do with this? A few days ago you were trying to tell everyone that there is no divide between Victoria and the rest of Australia in relation to bias and then you come out with biased and irrelevant rubbish like this. You need your head examined.
spruce moose
Guest
They are important distinctions. You can't accuse someone of a silly accident but at the same time think Crowley was trying to subvert the system. The latter would attract a bigger penalty. We know Crowley made a dumb decision and stuffed up...why it warranted an entire article to tease out the bleeding obvious is beyond quite a few of us
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Yeah, he took a masking agent and they thought "Nah that's ok, we'll give him a shorter ban". I think the good Professor's understanding came from what's sprayed inside the toilet stall, perhaps what he himself sprayed after a nasty curry, or his brains, which might equate to similar things by the sound of things.
Gordon Smith
Guest
You might be a professor but you are no pharmacologist :)