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At first I was like. Then I was all like... Open training sessions have been the highlight of the preseason. Brilliant reporting and photos from a few members has been nothing short of awesome. Today's shot from Dave Savell / dsav - @SavellDave See more here http://bomberblitz.com/forums/index.php?/topic/828-training-friday-240114/

[hirdbystander]

Was this simply cowardice on the part of AFLPA or something more sinister? Was Jobe Watson’s trial by media and bogan fans just collateral damage in Mr Finnis’s climb up the AFL ladder?

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Bomberblitzcast: Draftcast - Ep70 071113

Featuring Emma Quayle, Cal Twomey, Ben and Simo

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This reporting is free of the moral outrage that laced almost every Essendon-related article but at least there's the promise of MORE TO COME

[bomberblitz]

You won't see this on the back page of either paper today but the AFL's website last night published an article which buried the lead deep, deep down.

The supplements survey also found that 12 clubs conducted programs with medium or high levels of supplement use and lacked "a single point of accountability".

Furthermore this information seems to have been made public during Grand Final week when it was also ignored.

Compare this to some of the charges laid against Essendon by the AFL Commission (via Michael_Long_Legend):

failed to ensure that those implementing the Program were adequately supervised;

failed to devise or implement adequate systems or processes to ensure that some substances provided to and used by players were safe and were compliant with the AFL Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Code;

failed to identify and record the source from which some substances used by players were obtained;

failed to adequately monitor and record the use of some substances;

I get that the AFL and all of the 18 clubs want this whole thing to go away, but when you make a year-long rod for your back comprised of morals and integrity this stinks. 12 clubs potentially as guilty as each other and just the one gets singled out.

One would imagine that between early February when Essendon 'self reported' and August 22 at the meeting of club presidents, that each one of those presidents looked internally at their own clubs supplement use.

So put on your tin foil hat with me and imagine a scenario where 11 of 18 club presidents sit in a room knowing that their club wasn't squeaky clean and if the magnifying glass was put on them for an instant they too could be looking down the 'integrity barrel'.

So why wouldn't you express your 'full faith in the AFL commission' when they had strongly telegraphed through the media their interest in pursuing one club, making an example of them and then moving on.

Essendon screwed up. That's history. But that the history books will record they were the only club punished for running an unaccountable supplement scheme when three quarters of the AFL were doing the same is ordinary.

By this point I've run out of ways to maintain the rage of express disappointment in the AFL's hypocrisy. At this point Essendon fans are isolated in this. No club wants the story to come back again, not even Essendon. 

Demetriou back in September:

Rest assured, our integrity unit has all the resources possible to ensure we apply the best techniques to protect the purity of our game.'

It's just that they're not always applied I guess.

No idea how to end this piece so I'll finish with some trivia. What AFL club hired Dean Robinson, Steven Dank and had a player test positive to Performance Enhancing Drugs?

The Gold Coast Suns.

[bomberblitz]

Crameri Drives off

Crameri in hospital today but a source close to his manager tells me he will inform @Essendon_FC tonight he wants a trade to the bulldogs.

— Nicholas Fogarty (@fogdog_79)

September 24, 2013

Losing Monfries and Crameri in successive years is less than ideal. I realise we're stacked in the forward half but not of capable players his size, not overflowing with his body shape and aggression. Massive loss.

Discuss on the forums

[bomberblitz]

Gymnastics aside, good to see the Herald Sun continue to have the inside line on this one. First to report he'd take it, then he wouldn't, now he could. By the end of the week hopefully it's decided by rolling dice or spinning a wheel.

A Thompson-Harvey combination with Simon Goodwin and Matthew Egan to remain as assistant coaches would be seen as ideal by Bombers fans reeling from the penalties handed down by the AFL.

Actually for this Bomber fan that sounds three quarters ideal.

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Bomberblitzcast: 2013 Players Review - Ep69 190913

He's like a smaller, less talented Scott Lucas. With no similarities.

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Well this doesn't sound good.

The Australian has learned that the first tranche of infringement notices will be issued at the conclusion of the current AFL season, marking the "first step" in several sanctions that will be sought by ASADA. Players and officials face bans of up to two years for taking the supplements, but it is believed ADADA is looking at issuing some of the infraction notices with trafficking infractions, which could bring about a life ban.

With a bit of luck that'll be Dank and/or Weap, but we've not been lucky so far...

Discuss on the forums.

Edit: Hang on a second...

It is believed the AFL decision not to push ahead against Dr Reid was, in part, due to the fact that an adverse finding could affect his standing as a doctor.

So because Reid is a doctor the case was dropped? Combine this with the AFL's desire to make the doctor the highest authority in a football club; doesn't this almost incentivise club doctors to be reckless given they're immune from punishment? Comical.

[bomberblitz]

Easily two of my favourite paragraphs written in this sorry saga

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou last week resorted to personal attacks on The Australian's senior reporter Chip Le Grand while seeking to dismiss his exclusive front-page story that the code was about to drop its case against Dr Reid.

Just weeks after he descended into laughter when told how a St Kilda player had set fire to a dwarf, the football boss turned his scorn on the journalist.

[bomberblitz]

Last friday

Asked if he would expect to know if the AFL was on the verge of reaching a settlement with Reid, Demetriou said: "Yes, I would actually. Given I'm the chief executive of the AFL, I probably would.

Probably not, actually.

[bomberblitz]

DING DONG

[bomberblitz]

With the 'list manager' and 'spud' giving their two cents, how could we go wrong? Bet Stew's just begging for the dotted line.

[bomberblitz]

Losing my Crameri

A few Blitzers who should know are saying Crameri could be on the way out. Not done yet, but could be done soon. Dammit.

As much as it pains me to say it, I believe the @westernbulldogs are winning the negotiations to secure Stewart Crameri. Shattered!

— Nicholas Fogarty (@fogdog_79) September 15, 2013

Doggies have nose in front in Crameri race, but not a done deal. There is still hope for Bombers fans.

— . (@martinihenry1) September 15, 2013

If Stewart Crameri leaves and gets Angus Monfries'd into a dominating player somewhere else I'll be quite unhappy. One of my favourites.

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Bomberblitzcast: 2013 Season Review - Ep68 130913

No drug talk. Except for all the drug talk.

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[bomberblitz]

AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick is understood to have put a settlement offer to Essendon president Paul Little in which Dr Reid would be cleared of all charges and face no penalty

So the AFL sees fit to charge a man with a 30+ year reputation with the worst crimes in the history of the game ... until they have to prove it? Oh, also worth repeating:

the 68-year-old, normally quietly spoken doctor replied: "You tell them to f . . k off."

[bomberblitz]

Gotta sue someone.