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Essendon - Supporter Support

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Hopefully there is a premiership for the Hawks this year, given our injury list we have no excuses, hahaha.

I have no issue with having a program to do what you can to aid recovery and I also don't think Essendon set out to dope players but there is no doubt they lost total control of their program and took it further in regards to some of the exotic drugs used and the amount of injections given.

The fact they let guys like Dank and Robinson work pretty much unchecked, especially given Dank's fairly well known history. Reid's letter highlights Dank's past was known and even Reid could see what would happen in the press if the program was not controlled.

Blaming the media is a cop out imo, this is one of the biggest scandals to ever take place in Australia sport, what do you think the media would do?

Essendon's own internal report is pretty damning and the more that comes out the more amazed I am that the people in charge at Essendon could let it get so out of control. How Essendon supporters can continue to stand by Hird amazes me.
 
This is only a scandal because the Labor Party needed to divert attention away from their ineptitude and papers were losing money. Fairfax has made a deal with the devil here. It's not about sport; it's about power, and selling newspapers.

The bottom line is; did Essendon knowingly take 'illegal, performance enhancing drugs banned by ASADA?

No.
 
The St Kilda player probably wasn't aware he was consuming a banned substance.

As for Essendon - ASADA made a little bit of a mess. If they followed WADA more closely the hole would have been more closed- people involved would have known they were using something they shouldn't.

I don't think the issue has anything to do with Labor although it was them that had a press conference about the ACC report. Something at Essendon would have leaked and media would have been all over it.

Golden Boy Hird needs to take responsibility for what he has said - that is he takes full responsibility. Man up.
 

Yes!
 

Oh puhhleeeeze!
Football may be kind of a religion to some Victorians, but isn't it a bit far-fetched to compare the shenanigans of one team and the ineptitude or otherwise of the Federal Government???

With one item I agree: It's not about Sport. "It" being Essendon as well as the AFL in general. It's about money - far too much for some guys in shorts prancing around an oval and believing they're Gods.
 
kennas said:
The bottom line is; did Essendon knowingly take 'illegal, performance enhancing drugs banned by ASADA?

No.
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Sheezes Kennas the dons failed to do the basics regarding documenting what they were doing and to whom this alone in any western football code (certainly in any Olympic sport) world wide would mean serious sanctions.

And you blame the press WTF

To be honest I am amazed Hird has had such a free run the press should be ripping him apart.
 

Surely you don't believe that Kennas, bit tin hat.

There is a scandal because Essendon lost control of its supplement program in a big way. If you think Essendon did nothing wrong because it didn't knowingly take performance enhancing drugs banned by ASADA you have been drinking too much of the cool aid James Hird has been giving out.

Ziggy's report and Reid's letter is enough to show how out of hand things got at Essendon last year. I really can not believe that Essendon supporters aren't filthy about what went on there last year. If even one player suffers health issues from the stuff they were given it will get even uglier for Essendon.
 
I'm an Essendon supporter and live in the Essendon area. I was at a function last night with many Essendon supporters and everyone I talked to wanted Hird to disappear.

I think the change in opinion has only really happened over the last two weeks. Essendon need to bite the bullet and sack him.
 
The highly paid SC will enable Hird to continue on for a while. That's what enablers do, they enable... for a price.

With the tide very much against him, what next for Hird? When Kennett was unceremoniously kicked from office, no one knows what happened, but he re-appeared as the Beyond Blue spokesman... so you can guess what happened. Something similar is on the cards I think.
 
I'm not taking my Essendon goggles off until the fat lady sings...
 
kennas said:
I'm not taking my Essendon goggles off until the fat lady sings...
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I think we're all but given in now Kennas. Little will hopefully find agreement with the AFL that means it will be short term pain, for longer term gain. Our governance is the biggest issue and we have admitted that all along. The circus that was the trial by media was a disgrace.

My feeling is that 2013 finals will be forfeit, Hirdy may sit out a year (or quit altogether) and we will get a fine from the AFL.

Probably don't deserve much more IMO - unless they can prove we broke rules, and judging by the "bringing the game into disrepute" charge, that has not evenuated and is dependent on the final ASADA report.
 
nomore4s said:
Ziggy's report and Reid's letter is enough to show how out of hand things got at Essendon last year. I really can not believe that Essendon supporters aren't filthy about what went on there last year.
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Of course we are Nomores! But that doesn't negate our belief that Essendon has been pummeled all along by the media. Caro and Patrick Smith can curl up in bed and have a satisfactory smoke together because it is likely to reach the climax they were both hoping for.

Not satisfied that Hird is likely to be suspended, Smith is now arguing for Hird never to coach again.

What Essendon supporters are particularly aggrieved at Nomores is that via a tip off and pressure from the AFL they opened the doors to ASADA, the AFL and ultimately the world via the media. They did this on the basis that they were suspected of using banned drugs and it would be "better for everyone if they cooperated." Essendon has been nothing but open and upfront with the investigation and have not stonewalled, shirked their responsibility or behaved in a manner that could be described as anything but professional. They commissioned their own report.

Now after 6 months, despite ASADA coming back with an interim report of no confirmed breaches, the AFL is using Essendon's own report as well as the ASADA report to hang us. Makes you wonder how Essendon would have faired if they had of stared down Demetriou back in Feb and said, "We don't believe we have given our players banned substances. We are not coming out and saying anything. You show us the proof".

Hird is guilty of trusting and relying on specialists that let him and the team down. Checks and balances weren't put in place. What is the price to pay? A large portion of the media( including Patrick Smith) seem to accept that it was not Essendon's intention to cheat. ASADA has come out and said they have no evidence of cheating for specific players. Why then should we lose draft points. Fine us, suspend us but leave losing points to salary cap rorts and confirmed widespread systematic performance enhancing doping.

Hird's press conference was very strong tonight. Gotta love him. Great win by the boys!!!!! Great to beat the blues.

Duckman
 
Well said.

Nuff said.
 
So Hird gets suspended for 1 year, after which he will return to Essendon as coach again. So what's the point?! All this does is breaks the hearts of supporters. I understand when a player is suspended, as their output has a direct influence on the field. Suspending a coach just seems like the AFL is trying to prove a point.

And to make the team miss finals for corporate governance issues.....Penalties don't seem to fit the crime.

If any of this was happening to a poorer team i.e Melbourne, I think the AFL and the public in general would've reacted avery differently.
 

I think the reaction from all supporters and teams will be more than they expect, this is preposterous.
 

Corporate governance issues? The administration of who knows what (Hird certainly doesn't seem to know) to players (who may or may not have long term health issues as a result). You have Reed write to the team management that the program shouldn't be continued and they keep it going.

The cult of St James continues.
 
I have sat on the fence for this, but if drugs were involved, I am not impressed.

What are you talking about with Melbourne, we were pulled over the coals and so were Carlton, which just now have started to come back.
 
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