Player sanctions for Essendon and Cronulla players imminent

[David]

[ANNODAM]

Players who took illegal substances to gain an unfair advantage need a 2 year plus ban, anything else is just bullshit!

[think positive]

[Steve86]

if saad cops a 18 month ban for this

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/a ... 2yo7s.html

then essendon boys who were going off camp to get these 'injections' regardless of what it was need equal. Its a joke if its not.

[Stupied]

But some did say no, so that's no excuse

Yep. Zaharakis said no from memory. And the BS explanation from Mark McVeigh about him being afraid of needles doesn't fly, coz he had been getting dirty great cortisone injections in his shoulder the season before.

[neil]

If 14 year old Chinese female swimmers are expected to know what they can and cannot take than 20+ yo professional footballers with access to ALFPA, the internet, managers, ASADA have no excuse.

Remember every year all players from all clubs must undergo mandatory anti PED courses.

[jackcass]

[jackcass]

if saad cops a 18 month ban for this

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/a ... 2yo7s.html

then essendon boys who were going off camp to get these 'injections' regardless of what it was need equal. Its a joke if its not.

There are some interesting shades of grey related to both these scenarios. Saad actually tested positive to a banned substance, and even though the particular supplement is allowed for use in the off season, it is still banned during the season. Not 1 Essendon player that we're aware of has tested positive for a banned substance and that has to be a mitigating factor.

[David]

Being a veteran of sorts and a regular fixture in the 22, I think Zaharakis was in a position of some privilege here, as you acknowledge; and his teammates may not have been in a position to foresee that his (or their) refusal to take part in the program wouldn't have negative repercussions. Of course, there were even more senior players who assented, so it's tricky. But I think these dynamics do need to be considered very seriously.

[jackcass]

But some did say no, so that's no excuse

Yep. Zaharakis said no from memory. And the BS explanation from Mark McVeigh about him being afraid of needles doesn't fly, coz he had been getting dirty great cortisone injections in his shoulder the season before.

It's a long bow to suggest because he's had injections in the past that that completely discounts his stated extreme dislike/phobia of injections.

[think positive]

Being a veteran of sorts and a regular fixture in the 22, I think Zaharakis was in a position of some privilege here, as you acknowledge; and his teammates may not have been in a position to foresee that his (or their) refusal to take part in the program wouldn't have negative repercussions. Of course, there were even more senior players who assented, so it's tricky. But I think these dynamics do need to be considered very seriously.

Jobe Watson.

Why didn't he talk to his dad? Seriously. I really want to know.

[Stupied]

But some did say no, so that's no excuse

Yep. Zaharakis said no from memory. And the BS explanation from Mark McVeigh about him being afraid of needles doesn't fly, coz he had been getting dirty great cortisone injections in his shoulder the season before.

It's a long bow to suggest because he's had injections in the past that that completely discounts his stated extreme dislike/phobia of injections.

Have you ever had a cortisone injection? Trust me, if you were scared of needles, there's no way you would get one. They're like the granddaddy of all injections

[think positive]

Hehe your right, I had them in my back after falling from a horse, they come with an anesthetic guaranteed to wear off in half an hour, and then the real pain hits!

[collie dog]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[Big T]

I understand people looking forward to Essendon's day of judgement (particularly in the aftermath of the AFL's trivial sanctions), but I'm still holding out hope that the players will be spared the brunt of this. Hird, Dank, Corcoran et al should get life bans, and I hope they do, but the players are victims here. However many times ASADA trot out the "ignorance is no excuse" line in a dalek-like fashion, it would be fundamentally unfair for the players to be sidelined for a year or more because of the actions of their superiors. It may be naive, but I hope that the AFL choose to flout the ASADA recommendations and cut ties with them rather than accept unjust penalties, whatever the consequences. Rather a lot is at stake here.

I didn't see too much sympathy on Nicks for Saad who consumed a commercially available health drink in ignorance and received a 2 year ban.

In his case for a first offence I felt that a 6 month ban would be punitive. 2 years ????


Now some are happy with a 6 week ban on the Essendon Dopers. Hardly seems fair.

As I recall it was a prize for best on ground from the VFL or associated lower league? Total joke, he should have got off and the league should have been charged.