Exactly when will Essendon be able to play by the rules again? When will the penalties end?
The latest round of debates about whether or not Essendon should be able to receive the first selection at this year’s draft is another example of some fans, commentators and officials actually encouraging the AFL to make the rules up on the run.
There is no current rule stating that Essendon is disqualified from receiving the first pick in the draft.
Yes, Essendon were found to have brought the game into disrepute with their cavalier supplements program and lack of due governance. For that, their penalties have been served.
Remember?
They were kicked out of the finals in 2013, fined $2 million, were banned from participating in the first two rounds of the 2013 AFL National Draft and also lost picks in the first two rounds of the 2014 Draft.
At the beginning of this year 34 past and present Essendon players were found guilty by the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) who were comfortably satisfied that they were injected with an illegal substance during the supplements program of 2011 and 2012.
Twelve of those players were still at Essendon as listed players when the CAS verdict was handed down in January and as such, they are sitting on the sidelines until November.
And, of course, without twelve of their best players, Essendon are likely to finish last and be rewarded with the precious number one pick.
Some people appear outraged by this, claiming that granting Essendon the first pick will simply be rewarding them for their past crimes. Port Adelaide President, David Koch, stated on Sunrise that he doesn’t think it’s a good look. But then again, neither is potting your own team on Twitter.
The AFL will ultimately do what the AFL wants to do – they have a rich history of doing that. But when will it end? When will people start to acknowledge that Essendon has served all penalties handed down by the AFL and are currently serving the further penalties imposed by CAS?
The AFL has known since January that Essendon would probably finish last. They did not impose a rule stating Essendon is disqualified from receiving the first pick. Why would they introduce a rule now?
To those who are outraged at the thought of Essendon being rewarded with the first pick, will you also be outraged if they receive the second, or the third? There’s not a hell of a lot of difference between them. Would you like them to be banned from the whole first round, or are you satisfied that’s already happened in 2013?
And if you truly do want the AFL to come out and ban Essendon from receiving the first pick, that’s fine, just don’t carry on the next time the AFL creates a new rule on the run, because ultimately that’s what you’re asking them to do here.
The Essendon players were banned in January. It’s now June. There is no rule saying they are disqualified from receiving the first draft pick.
A rule should not be introduced now.
true blue
Guest
I barrack for Carlton, but I feel Essendon have been to hell and back with their punishment. The AFL cannot keep punishing them. As others have said enough is enough. Give them the first pick, if they finish bottom, and let's get on with it. The irony is I think Brisbane will finish bottom any way. I think Essendon can beet Brisbane.
big four sticks
Guest
K.B said this is a fabricated last place finish and next year they will have all their guns back, therefore they should not get the number one pick.
big four sticks
Guest
Essendon cheated and should not get the number one pick. Richmond do everything by the book are the epitome of a champion team. We don't need to inject illicit substances in order to beat clubs like Sydney and Hawthorn. We don't need to inject illicit substances in order to play finals three years in a row. We did it the hard way. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes we came from the cellar to make the finals three years in a row.
hal
Guest
Enough is enough. I am not an Essendon fan but this team has been punished enough. They were thrown out of the finals in 2013. They were suspended from the draft. Most of the team was banned from playing for a year. Adelaide cheated on the salary cap and got a wet slap on the wrists. Melbourne continuously tanked in order to get high draft picks and barely got penalized. If they finish last they should get the number one pick. At least they won't be tanking to get it, unlike Melbourne.
hal
Guest
Enough is enough. I am not an Essendon fan but this team has been punished enough. They were thrown out of the finals in 2013. They copped huge fines. They were suspended from the draft. They had most of their players banned from competing for a year. When is this going to end? Adelaide cheated on the salary cap and got a wet slap on the wrists. Melbourne continuously tanked in order to get high draft picks and got little punishment, but when it comes to Essendon they continue to get penalized. Let's move on now. If they finish last they should get the number one pick. At least they won't be tanking to get it, unlike Melbourne.
Jason K
Guest
I understand your sentiment, but there is a team that will finish last (not as a consequence of a penalty) that would otherwise have received that first pick. In other words, more of a genuine loser. Essendon has 12 good players cooling their heels right now, but who will be back next season. What would end up happening is that Essendon gets Heppell back plus the number one pick.
mdso
Guest
I agree enough is enough. May we rise again to great heights and become successful, May we grow from what has happened and become better on all levels because of it.
andyl12
Guest
What about with Hal Hunter?
JamesH
Roar Guru
Yes (although 'nothing wrong' isn't 100% accurate). The club is in the process of negotiating legal settlements with each of the 34 past and present players for breaching its duty of care to them.
JamesH
Roar Guru
It's not a reward, it's a consolation prize. How many teams (excluding those who would have been cellar dwellers anyway) would see it as a fair tradeoff to have their entire season gutted via the suspension of a dozen players, in order to get the no. 1 pick? Not many. I mean, look at the Blues - would their fans trade those excellent wins this year for a higher pick? A wipeout of a season, with a handful of quality players sitting out of football, clearly does more damage than simply moving 'up' several spots in the draft order can rectify.
mdso
Guest
You forgot the WorkCover Victoria fine of some $300,000 to the Essendon Football Club for providing an unsafe workplace. Secondly, there has never been any proof whatever that TB4 was at the EFC. If it was supposed to have come in from China as ASADA suggested, one would think it could easily have been traced back to the Chinese Company that Shane Charters was supposed to have purchased it from. The documents were forged. ASADA still tried to use them as evidence at the AFL Tribunal, until it was discovered they were fraudulent. What about offering Shane Charters, a previously convicted drug trafficker, a job with ASADA in exchange for his testimony? Interesting!!! Yes there are still quite a few things which simply do not add up. Dean Robinson's $1 million payout, a MBA at someone's expense and a cushy position with the AFL's accountant. How about Ian Robson cushy job with Melbourne Victory, Paul Hamilton, a cushy position with the AFL. Not to mention the invisible David Evans. What the WADA's conviction of the Essendon 34 has done, it has created a dangerous precedent of "comfortable satisfaction" where the bar is now lower than a black snake's backside. Try, proving yourself innocent when you are already thought of as guilty almost an impossible task. No amount of paperwork or medical conditions now matter to WADA. WADA make the rules and change them at will, like changing the 2012 WADA code into 2015 WADA code and so did the AFL to follow suit. So, the players were no long be judged under the 2012 WADA code which of course was when the incident was supposed to have happened. Even thought the secret test sent to Germany came back with NOT ONE positive test. The players were now judged under the 2015 code, retrospectively. The players were not uncooperative they were working under the 2012 WADA code which reads quite different to the 2015 WADA code. So before you continue to judge the Essendon 34, read the two codes 2012 and 2015 and you'll discover the treachery of ASADA.
Enough is Enough
Guest
Essendon are my team, and they HAVE been through enough. The lost draft picks have passed. The fines have passed. The player suspensions are being served. Coming last is NOT NICE. I get no joy seeing my team being easybeats every week. Not a club with a history like this. Coming last and being easybeats is as big a punishment as there can be. If anything, I want to see them get a draft pick, get their players back next year and regroup, rebuild and become great again. To all Essendon haters, if you are hoping to see Essendon in this weakened state every year, cop this; it will only last one year!!!!
Paul D
Roar Guru
Sure, but now we’re getting into the realms of opinion – and how much punishment is enough. Your kid still has to carry the can of being suspended, a temporary bit of goodwill re: movies isn’t going to wipe that clean. The Dons will be carrying the stain of this for decades. I think they’ve copped their fair whack and given the floggings they’re enduring this season they have to have some light at the end of the tunnel – there’s no guarantee all of those 12 players are coming back anyway. So if they get the #1 draft pick good luck to them.
Dad of footy-playing kids
Guest
I understand your point. My concern is that a Club will (likely) receive the significant benefit of getting first pick of each round, and then get up to 12 Senior players back. This benefit was a direct result of deliberate actions resulting in allowing banned drugs to be administered. Kind of like taking your kid to the movies during a day they have been suspended from school.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Governance, game in disrepute – AFL responsibility. Punishes Essendon FC as a corporate entity. Banned drugs – WADA responsibility. Punishes individual players.
Dad of footy-playing kids
Guest
Did you read my comment? The article is misleading, citing the punishments and making them appear they were for taking banned drugs. The AFL punishment was for poor governance and bringing game into disrepute only.... Something the Club banged on about, not having been penalised for use of banned drugs. There has been no AFL punishment for taking banned drugs.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Sam, I think many would agree - punishment metered out and served, move on. If they are eligible for pick one, they should get it, whatever they actually do with it is their decision. For me, this current EFC issue (that will generate a mountain of frustration again) is symptomatic of THE major structural problem with the AFL comp - Ten teams Melbourne. I'm speaking of it as a root cause of unnatural things like EFC/drugs to occur. The AFL backed off years ago trying to force a reduction to say six teams. So they started the expansion process to try to get market forces to work the magic, which still might happen, but take unnecessarily too long. Meanwhile, IMO, we're over the tipping point of competitive antipathy and the risk of more EFC type saga's is greater for it.
D Fitz
Roar Rookie
Hear, hear !!
Ken Oath
Guest
Let them have pick 1, that's fine. They will be suffering for a while to come, players sanctioned current or otherwise will be suing this club for health reasons. Question - if the players did nothing wrong and its poor governance and record keeping by the club that will brand them cheats for the rest of their lives - can they sue the club for this???
Paul D
Roar Guru
No punishment for the club...did you even read the article? Or you know, even engage your brain? "They were kicked out of the finals in 2013, fined $2 million, were banned from participating in the first two rounds of the 2013 AFL National Draft and also lost picks in the first two rounds of the 2014 Draft." Yeah Essendon have had it so easy, I'm surprised other clubs haven't followed in their footsteps. What a fun time they've had the last 5 years.