Diligent, We traded comments a few weeks ago on this issue and I have stayed off since as I felt my comments were adequately made and supported and it seemed to me that the threads were just a lot of slanging between posters on both sides losing sight of the real issue, which in my view as stated in my post, was not so much the legality of the drugs used it was more about the actions taken or not taken and where the responsibility lay for bringing the game into disrepute. I think this post, is by far your best and I applaud for you recognising that there were issues and for your spirited defense. Again there will be arguments as to whether the sanctions are fair, both ways but the fact is, something had to happen or it would be a free for all and agree or disagree with the AFL Commission, they are the law makers put in place by the 18 clubs to proetect the game. I accept my team, WCE, had major problems and got off lightly, in hindsight. At the time I was gutted. They are much better for it now so hopefully Essendon will come back better and more robust in their management practices and will probaly have best practice in place beyond any other club. James Hird isnt a drug cheat, but he was seriously naive and he has now paid a very heavy price. Doubt he will be again. The Board are more culpable than Hird as practices should have been in place well before Hird was even appointed that ensured the due diligence on any health/supplement regime. Personally I hope the WADA investigation comes out zip so that the club can get on with Football. All the best.
P.S. Northbridge is actually not that bad. It's not all druggies and gangsters!
