Essendon and opponents

[meow meow]

If the Bombers are found to have breached the rules and WADA/the AFL come down on them as they have to, and suspend the people in the wrong (even unknowingly) they may not be able to field a side, and will be forced to forfeit matches. This is a very real possibility of happening and it could happen anytime, whenever the investigation is finished. They might be able to play in rounds 1-5 but then get suspended. It means there could be a chance of teams having an extra bye. Possibly 2 for the teams that have 2 games against the Bombers.

Something to consider is that all the Bombers in your side will have to be traded out.

The teams that they were supposed to play will also have players not playing in your SC team since they will no longer be playing.

Carlton are the dangerous team in this scenario. They are scheduled to play Essendon in round 11 (bye week), and again in round 22 (prelim week). It's effectively 3 byes for Carlton. West Coast play them in rounds 14 and 20.

[Ringo]

Well done meow- ever the analyst.

Fair point with the analysis Goddard, Stanton, Ryder, Watson and maybe Bellchambers will be the ones in teams that will suffer if players are suspended and unable to field teams. If they are allowed to supplement team with rookies and VFL players then Goddard will be a big lock.

My personal opinion is that they will be allowed to play but will receive no points similar to the Melbourne Storm a few years back. Only issue if this is the case will Essendon still play with the same intensity - Storm did so will they follow suit.

[Mykonos FC]

If findings come out half way through the season wouldn't the AFL allow Essendon to complete the 2013 season and then suspend them entirely in 2014?

[Mykonos FC]

I don't think anybody knows what could occur in the next few months  :o

[jimmytigs]

if done wrong they should be suspended no acceptions,lets hope for fantasy sake though that they can scrape up 22 players a week from the list & hope the afl would allow players from their 2s not listed to make up numbers,basically i dont want fantasy affected & i wanna see them smashed every week,stanton/winderlich/goddard/heppell/ryder/van unen all figure heavily in my plans this year

[gossiboy]

There's 9 AFL clubs, including 6 Victorian clubs implicated in the government investigation into sport in Australia so...

[Grazz]

If found in breach of the drug code WADA/ASADA will implememt the bans the AFL have no control, this is what people are not realising at this early stage of events. The AFL will have no say in this. WADA has already made a statement that there will be no amnesty. The best result we can hope for is the EFC are found not to have breached the drug code, this is what im praying for, not guilty. Below is the WADA official line, there will be no amnesty.

THE boss of the World Anti-Doping Agency has ruled out an amnesty for footballers caught up in the drugs in sports scandal.

Instead, John Fahey has told AFL.com.au any player who's taken banned substances or is worried they may have should come forward.

"The penalty might be significantly less than waiting for them to come to you," Fahey said.

"Six months doesn't destroy a footballer's career, two years might."

"They've now got the incentive to take it into their own hands, if they know they were doing something wrong, even if they are not sure, talk to ASADA."

Mr Fahey said an amnesty was not the solution because Australian authorities have all the investigative powers they need. 

"There's no reason why you'd even consider it," Fahey said. 

"There is no provision now, we'd have to change the code."

Fahey has previously discussed an amnesty in drug-plagued cycling, but said he didn't believe such a "cone of silence" existed in Australian sport.

Former Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority chief executive Richard Ings backed up Fahey's message.

"An amnesty is out of the question, but every player who may be caught up in this, he's now got an opportunity if he's quick to get to ASADA," Ings told AFL.com.au.

There is no timeframe for ASADA investigation currently being conducted into Essendon's activities.

The tough WADA code insists individual athletes take personal responsibility for substances they take.

It means any AFL player proven to have taken banned substances faces the prospect of a lengthy suspension.

There are fears mass suspensions would cripple a football club.

[S_Coach99]

I removed Heppell from my team, turned him into Birchall... too much uncertainty around Essendon...

Still got Goddard and Daniher in my team, but they were not involved only just arriving at the club... Still not sure about them.

What other clubs are being targeted, will Geelong/Gold Coast be involved in any bannings? is it bigger than that, I've been hearing rumours of "over a handful" of clubs...Is Fremantle involved with their dodgy supplier importing illegal stuff.

[ronl]

At this stage,this is the way I see it.  If the Essendon players were assured or led to believe by senior management that the drugs(peptides) were legal, how is it possible to prove that the players are guilty of wilfull criminal deceit or willful negligence?  Everyone knows, especially the AFL, that players simply do what they are told to do and say what they are told to say or they quickly find themselves in the seconds or playing for another club.  So far, no-one has proved that the drugs supplied to Essendon were illegal. Even if the they were illegal, how were the players to know that?  Let's face it, what are the players supposed to say, "Uh, listen, can I have some of that stuff so that I can go and get it analysed by my private chemist?"  They have no choice but to believe what they are told by the club, and then follow the club line. 

The AFL will, if course, want justice to at least be seen to be done.  So my guess is that Robsen, Hird and Thompson will be sacrificial lambs.  Robsen will be told to resign, Thompson and Hird will be suspended for 6-8 weeks for being dumb, and the club will be docked premiership points, maybe 8-12.

[Grazz]

At this stage,this is the way I see it.  If the Essendon players were assured or led to believe by senior management that the drugs(peptides) were legal, how is it possible to prove that the players are guilty of wilfull criminal deceit or willful negligence?  Everyone knows, especially the AFL, that players simply do what they are told to do and say what they are told to say or they quickly find themselves in the seconds or playing for another club.  So far, no-one has proved that the drugs supplied to Essendon were illegal. Even if the they were illegal, how were the players to know that?  Let's face it, what are the players supposed to say, "Uh, listen, can I have some of that stuff so that I can go and get it analysed by my private chemist?"  They have no choice but to believe what they are told by the club, and then follow the club line. 

The AFL will, if course, want justice to at least be seen to be done.  So my guess is that Robsen, Hird and Thompson will be sacrificial lambs.  Robsen will be told to resign, Thompson and Hird will be suspended for 6-8 weeks for being dumb, and the club will be docked premiership points, maybe 8-12.

As far as WADA/ASADA are concerned mate ignorence, naivety, did as i was told, trusted the doctors  all holds no weight the individual is entirely responsible for what they put in their body, no excuse is accepted. The onus is entirely on the player rightly or wrongly thats how it is. The AFL will penalise the club WADA/ASADA dont penalise clubs only the individuals involved.

[ronl]

Surely each and every player accused has a legal right of response, as it is their livelihood we're talking about here.  Are we to believe that WADA/ASADA get it right 100% of the time, that their findings cannot be challenged? If so, we all may as well move to North Korea.  Don't get me wrong, I think the criminal scumbags behind all this should be dealt with as harshly as the law allows, but hanging it on players who wouldn't know a peptide from a hightide, and who are simply falling into line with club policy smells.  I can imagine all the lawyers out there who specialise in sports law salivating at the thought of getting a crack at the AFL or Wada.  And all that negative publicity is something the  AFL will wish to avoid at any cost.

[S_Coach99]

At this stage,this is the way I see it.  If the Essendon players were assured or led to believe by senior management that the drugs(peptides) were legal, how is it possible to prove that the players are guilty of wilfull criminal deceit or willful negligence? 

The way doping people see it is, it doesn't matter. You have to draw the line somewhere, if you've doped youve doped. You will be banned, Look at Warnie, Look at that young girl in the olympics whos mum gave her cold and flu with the illegal stuff in it...

I tend to agree with them, you need a black and a white, to many different shades in between for people to hide behind. It's the only way to keep it out.

I'm actually really glad it's out of the AFLs hands, they care too much for their own image then the integrity of sport. They sweep far too much wrong doings under the carpet for the sake of money and their wealth/image... And when you look at it like that, some might say well done Essendon for side stepping them, or I'd rather say they were forced to due to the 12 month federal investigation.

If they've done wrong and it will be their own fault when their own players start to take them through the courts, one by one, and their club falls apart around them.

I hope they are cleared. I'm an Eagles supporter and I've always enjoyed the rivalry and the jacket wave. Nobody would want their club to be in this position. But if they're not cleared and they've done wrong, throw the bloody book at them.

[Grazz]

Surely each and every player accused has a legal right of response, as it is their livelihood we're talking about here.  Are we to believe that WADA/ASADA get it right 100% of the time, that their findings cannot be challenged? If so, we all may as well move to North Korea.  Don't get me wrong, I think the criminal scumbags behind all this should be dealt with as harshly as the law allows, but hanging it on players who wouldn't know a peptide from a hightide, and who are simply falling into line with club policy smells.  I can imagine all the lawyers out there who specialise in sports law salivating at the thought of getting a crack at the AFL or Wada.  And all that negative publicity is something the  AFL will wish to avoid at any cost.

No there is no legal right of response available. As i have stated the individual is entirely responsible for what they take, situation and circumstance dont come into it accept for maybe a reduction in sentence with 6 months being the minimum it can be reduced to from 2 years. If an AFL player has done wrong the best thing he can do is confess and assist ASADA and his ban will be reduced if he chosses to try his luck and stay quiet and gets caught out he's looking at a 2 year ban. Its harsh i agree but if we are serious about ridding sport of drugs then harsh penalties need to be handed out. Whats the alternative open slather, if we take that option then parents will be pushing their kids towards another sport where they feel their kids will be protected better. Im a Crows supporter and if anyone is outed for the Crows and hasnt come forward to ASADA then chuck the book at them reagardless of who they are. Has to be this way if we are to clean up and protect the AFL from performance enhancing drugs.

[Ringo]

Grazz is right here - The ASADa is the judge and jury in these matters. They and they alone decide what penalties are to be given which at the moment is an automatic 2 year ban but the ASADA has the power to reduce down to as low as 6 months depending on circumstances.  That is why if I was a player and have been given substances that I did not know what they contained I would be voluntarily coming forward now even though they may have been legal.

Have been doing a fair bit of research on this matter since the ACC report became available and what you find out is disturbing.  This is why it needs to come to a head now and like removing cancers a lot of pain now for future benefit. 

We just have to sit and wait for this investigation to be completed.  Bear in mind Essendon went to ASADA to ask for the enquiry and investigation so it may be that no illegalities took place.

[Grazz]

To true Ringo regarding EFC's guilt, people are assuming guilt when nothing has been proven as yet. I understand this as alot of what weve heard would make a suspicious mind think where there's smoke there must be fire when in reality this isnt the case yet.
Also after the press conference on Thursday with ASADA, the Goverment, ACC and others throwing a blanket across Australian sport in general and alluding to Football while not coming out and actually saying Football is riddled with drug issues can make people feel there is guilt there. This is the sad part about drugs in sport the innocent get thrown in with the scum untill a finding is made public.