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from the interweb.... Yahoo news.

The Essendon Bombers have confessed to the World Anti-Doping Agency that some members of the squad took the banned substance AOD-9604 just last year, reports News Ltd.

The club say they went ahead using the anti-obesity drug after receiving a document from WADA approving its use. The document in question was supplied to club doctors by now infamous sports scientist Stephen Dank, however the Bombers do not have a copy of it.
Dank is believed to have the document, but has been dodging media on the topic.

The names of those who took the substance have not been released, but it is understood that around six players were involved in the supplements program which sparked the drugs investigation in the AFL.

ASADA has conducted interviews with members of the Essendon support staff, including coach James Hird, with player interviews to get underway soon.

Because he is no longer employed by Essendon, Dank is not required to speak with ASADA investigators, and so he is yet to do so.

"The club has launched an AFL-ASADA investigation and an internal review and we will not be commenting until the investigations are completed," an Essendon official told News Ltd.

AOD-9604 is a synthetic substance part of human growth hormone used to target fat deposits. It is banned under the S0 category, as a drug that is not approved for human use.

Players found to have taken AOD-9604 could find themselves facing a two-year ban, unless they claim ‘exceptional circumstances’ as a defence.
 
What a great win against the PIES!


Hopefully we can see Joey Daniher take the field in the ones against GWS next week.

Go Bombers
 
Good game thought Dons had it most of the way, Dons unbelievable considering what's happening in the back ground but as pointed out to me today Dons were top of the ladder round 10 last year.

As long as they can contain injuries they look good.
 
Essendon super impressive atm. I'm changing my mind about all this drug business - lock 'em all up and throw away the key :frown: ;)
 
Well done GWS, nice showing.

Now we just need to fit in: Hurley, Carlisle, Fletcher, Winderlich, Heppell and Ryder.

Good inclusions for Geelong next week.
 
kennas said:
Well done GWS, nice showing.

Now we just need to fit in: Hurley, Carlisle, Fletcher, Winderlich, Heppell and Ryder.

Good inclusions for Geelong next week.
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GWS played very well.

Pears first to make way. He has really dropped off the pace.

Duckman
 
Duckman#72 said:
GWS played very well.

Duckman
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They certainly did!

I went to the game and came away very impressed with GWS, alot of big kids who can also run like the wind.

They (GWS) can only seem to play 2 or 3 quarters atm but watch out in next few years, much better kids then GCS imo.

For us (the dons) we wont know the significance of this game till later in the season to see if it can reduce a flat spot/fade out in the middle of the season similar to last couple of seasons.

With Jobe spending alot of time resting up forward against gws and Heath Hocking sub and the other 5 or so who were rested we should be pretty fresh for Geelong this week.

Go Bombers
 
Hope tomorrow nights game is a cracker - ending with a Bomber victory.

On paper the ins make the side strong.

Carn the Dons!

Duckman
 
What did we learn from last night's game?

Firstly, the positive. Such is the development of Essendon that they aren't out of their depth in the company of a team like Geelong. Based on that game, Essendon would realistically fancy themselves against any team in the competition. The effort that the Bombers displayed was very commendable. It was one of those games where clearances, tackles and shots on goal were all KPI's won by the losing side.

Now for the negatives. We seemed very "top heavy" last night. I've said it before and I'll repeat today. Crameri, Gumbleton and Hurley are very hit and miss as forwards. It was a shame Davey went off injured, but we were exposed for a lack of dangerous small forwards. With Winderlich not having an impact, we also badly missed the attacking creativity of Stanton and Dempsey's run and carry. Geelong played much smarter football and seemed to have so many more people at the feet of marking contests. Players like Stokes, Christensen and Selwood roved beautifully.

The game was played in two halves and Geelong applied the pressure like no other team can. Essendon just shut up shop. Halfway through the second quarter Essendon started the little chip passes, constantly going backwards and big kicks to congested packs.

Just a couple of question marks. I wonder how big Joe Daniher is going to fit into the structure when looking at that game. We still had Ryder on the sidelines. As much as teams full of "tall timber" are extremely hard to play against, it is my experience that teams full of "tall timber" are much more inconsistent and if they are having an "off night" smaller, more nimble and skillful players expose their weaknesses.

I just wonder why Essendon didn't do more to try and stop Johnson when he started to have an impact on the game in the 3rd quarter. Would have been worth a try. Next time Essendon need to continue playing football on their own terms. After half time the Bombers played the football that geelong wanted them to. They need to learn from that.

All in all a very good effort. It was a strange game in that it could have been much closer, but you also sensed that Geelong could have been front by a lot more.

Duckman
 
I think last night came down to simple momentum. If a couple of those points had been goals I think the score line would have been much different. Missed opportunities killed us.

Yes, Johnson should have been managed better but Hocking went to Selwood. Maybe they should have put Winderlich on him to get him into the game.

Leaving out Ryder? Should have played him instead of Hooker perhaps, Gumby probably did deserve his spot.

What's happened to Howlett? The first few games he was on absolute fire and looked to be breaking out. Back to being mediocre.

Hurley his usual self. Why we paid so much to tie him up for 5 years is just beyond me. Sure he tries hard, but he's too small for a key forward. He's a lemon.

Melksham not developing that much, maybe he needs to be the extra small defender while Heppell goes on the ball and give Hibberd a go through the middle, he's a gem.

Myers threatens to do anything.

Zaha has been managed back in extremely well. Back to B&F form. Will give Jobe a run for his money this year.

Carlisle in All Australian contention.

I'm very happy to have kept Kommer in my Supercoach team. One out of the blue.

All up, gee Geelong look good for another Grand Final.

But, overall Supercoach tally was 1666 to 1636 so they're not that far in front.
 
kennas said:
I think last night came down to simple momentum. If a couple of those points had been goals I think the score line would have been much different. Missed opportunities killed us.

Yes, Johnson should have been managed better but Hocking went to Selwood. Maybe they should have put Winderlich on him to get him into the game.

Leaving out Ryder? Should have played him instead of Hooker perhaps, Gumby probably did deserve his spot.

What's happened to Howlett? The first few games he was on absolute fire and looked to be breaking out. Back to being mediocre.

Hurley his usual self. Why we paid so much to tie him up for 5 years is just beyond me. Sure he tries hard, but he's too small for a key forward. He's a lemon.

Melksham not developing that much, maybe he needs to be the extra small defender while Heppell goes on the ball and give Hibberd a go through the middle, he's a gem.

Myers threatens to do anything.
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I didn't want to appear too negative Kennas, as a loss to Geelong is nothing to be embarrassed about, however I hear you. There were a few players that went back to their form of prior years - Howlett, Myers, Melksham and Winderlich all had very average games. Without Stanton too much was left for Zaha and Jobe.

We've spoken about Hurley before and as much as I love the way he attacks the ball, does it really make him worthy of a 5 year contract? I hope he blows me out of the water and becomes the player everyone seems to think he will be but I would rather have Carlisle and Heppell locked in for that length of time.

One other thing about last night......I suspect Fletch was still carrying an injury/illness as he was not his usual self. He wasn't moving all that quickly and didn't seem to be as "in control" as he usually is. At least I hope he was injured and it is not Father Time suddenly remembering about him!

Duckman
 
You have to admit though, Geelong looked like a well oiled machine.

I am sure Essendon will be studying this game in the future to see what they need to do to reach that level. They did play well though, definitely much better than last year. They should make top four.
 
Knobby22 said:
You have to admit though, Geelong looked like a well oiled machine.

I am sure Essendon will be studying this game in the future to see what they need to do to reach that level. They did play well though, definitely much better than last year. They should make top four.
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No arguments here Knobby. Geelong looked very good. You have to admire their ability to remain so strong year after year.

There's a lot to be said for pressure, pressure and more pressure. The Bombers will learn a lot from that game.

Cheers
Duckman
 
kennas said:
Leaving out Ryder? Should have played him instead of Hooker perhaps, Gumby probably did deserve his spot.
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Yep Hooker is a liability down back, slow and can't read the play.

Anyone would think we were short on talls.
 
Not impressed with the weekend's efforts. Lost the intensity and desire for the ball. And the mediocre players who were playing to the next level are back being mediocre. The bottom 6 are the key to any side.
 
kennas said:
Not impressed with the weekend's efforts. Lost the intensity and desire for the ball. And the mediocre players who were playing to the next level are back being mediocre. The bottom 6 are the key to any side.
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Yeah, we still look garbage under pressure. If we lose the tackle count we seem to lose the game.
 
Wheels fell off a bit today.

"Before the Game" were joking that club officials were seen looking for Danks.

I think its just the let down from last week. They will come back.
 
I expect them to come back a bit, but still not there yet. Top 8.

Carlisle, Hibberd, Bellcher and Heppell development has been amazing.

Recruiting Goddard a master stroke, but yet to really pay his way.

The bottom 6 on the supercoach scores need to look at themselves.

And the Hurley belief is wrong.
 
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