Opinion Essendon vs Ben Cousins

[Smotie]

I have been wondering in recent days about the drugs issue circling around Essendon. I apologize if this is a taboo topic. (I guess the mods can delete if they think it is.)

But I remember the outcry by the AFL and commentators and other clubs on the East Coast when the Ben Cousins scandal hit. Some even called our 2006 a tainted flag.

On the other hand I watch Essendon games and the commentators all talk about them like they are "victims" of the drug scandal around them. Where are the accusations of tainted wins? Where is the threat by the AFL of de-registration like was levelled at West Coast. Where is the outcry by the AFL and the media.

I wonder if it was the Eagles being surrounded by this furore whether we would actually be playing in the AFL this year right now?

Am I wrong to wonder these things? Thoughts?

 

[lmach]

But they're so brave.

 

[The Dice Man]

Forgive my intrusion onto your board but I was thinking the same thing last week. With all the negative publicity Essendon are bringing to the game how can they not be considered to be bringing the game into disrepute? That being the trumped up charge Cousins was villified for?

AFL are a ****ing joke.

 

[Smotie]

Forgive my intrusion onto your board but I was thinking the same thing last week. With all the negative publicity Essendon are bringing to the game how can they not be considered to be bringing the game into disrepute? That being the trumped up charge Cousins was villified for?

AFL are a ******* joke.

Yeah I am glad I am not the only one thinking this.

 

[Hairy Lager]

VICentric media and the AFL at its all time best. Bring their own game into disrepute. BBBOOOOOoooooo!

 

[West Coast 06]

Yeah, just posted in another thread, but I don't see how the AFL can just carry on like nothing is happening. If Essendon win the premiership this year ( it's only early, but they are playing bloody well) is this not an embarrassment for the AFL?

The double standards have been there all along. Injunction club was protected for the same actions Cousins was hung out to dry for. I am not a Cousins apologist, just would like to see equal treatment for all.

 

[WCErevival]

What Cousins took wasn't even game related either.

 

[Smotie]

What Cousins took wasn't even game related either.

yeah, it was recreational drugs. Essendon have even now admitted to taking a banned substance.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-new...d-9604-last-year/story-e6frfkp9-1226629127553

I am telling you if it was an interstate club they would be calling for the sacking of the club in question. Isn't this the drug Shane Warne was banned for?

 

[Gods_Son23]

In many respects it's still the VFL and there is definitely bias in the Victorian media. I see it week in week out even in basic things like when tipsters love to doubt WC. In saying that though, if it was any club I don't think they wouldn't be playing. One less game a week for TV, etc, it would lead to many problems. It's hard though not to envision more of a negative spin being put on it than how the Dons are being handled by most of the media.

 

[Britz]

I totally agree with you...I thought the exact thought today as the news has broke about the 6 players. I don't think they could say to much though until the whole investigtion is completed (names and personnel associated) I am sure the AFL will have to act on it. I suppose in the media's defence because it has all been rumour and investigation they have been backing hird and bombers for soldering through all the "ALLEGATIONS" but now once the "ACTUAL FACTS" come to the surface Im sure the media and the AFL will be putting the bombers up for putting the game in disrepute unless the bombers come up with some evidence that they had NO idea it was illegal, which isnt looking good according to the articles running at the moment where there saying Dank gave them a s sheet of paper saying it was WADA safe which has gone "missing"

 

[Britz]

I totally agree with you...I thought the exact thought today as the news has broke about the 6 players. I don't think they could say to much though until the whole investigtion is completed (names and personnel associated) I am sure the AFL will have to act on it. I suppose in the media's defence because it has all been rumour and investigation they have been backing hird and bombers for soldering through all the "ALLEGATIONS" but now once the "ACTUAL FACTS" come to the surface Im sure the media and the AFL will be putting the bombers up for putting the game in disrepute unless the bombers come up with some evidence that they had NO idea it was illegal, which isnt looking good according to the articles running at the moment where there saying Dank gave them a s sheet of paper saying it was WADA safe which has gone "missing"

Although, until WADA come out and say it Im going to reserve my judgement on the bombers as some times media outlets get it wrong

 

[Jarlcorbz]

Imagine the reactions if this was on the main board haha. Good point well made, today's game is an excellent example of this kind of favoritism. As well as the love for Hird that has gone through the roof. Their fans seem delusional most of the time, if this were the Eagles I wouldn't know what to think of us.

 

[East coast eagle]

It's a disgrace I like the bombers but they deserve to be rubbed out! It's a joke on the afl and the league in general. They had a good win today but as the evidence suggests they have been found out to be cheating, how is that fair that there is barley a mention of there dirty shifty ways in the media. I hope they go down and so does there golden boyJames Hird. They deserve to be treated as the filthy cheats they are.

 

[Marlin01]

I agree with sentiment of the OP, in relation to the media, but the AFL have no choice but to remain silent atm. Once the investigations are complete, we'll see what action gets taken and whether, or not we have reason to feel hard done-by.

 

[the harry]

The drugs they have admitted to administering was to around half a dozen players and there was confusion as to whether it was actually banned at the time.

Cousins was intentionally using rec drugs (albeit due to addiction).

While I agree the media can be very bias and unfavourable to teams outside of Vic, and that Ben copped it probably harsher than he should have, I don't believe any link can be made to the current Bombers situation.

 

[The Dodger]

But would be easy to claim that anything that wasn't on the banned list that you didn't know it was illegal.
From what I have read a lot of ASADA's wording completely disregards he said / she said situations as it would be too easy to cheat and blame the party that has the least to lose. You know the guy that isnt registered with the AFL, has no medical license and is shady at best.
It would be nice and convenient for Essendon if this can be pinned on Dank altogether.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

The drugs they have admitted to administering was to around half a dozen players and there was confusion as to whether it was actually banned at the time.

Cousins was intentionally using rec drugs (albeit due to addiction).

While I agree the media can be very bias and unfavourable to teams outside of Vic, and that Ben copped it probably harsher than he should have, I don't believe any link can be made to the current Bombers situation.

I agree, having a good time and cheating are two very different topics!

 

[the harry]

I agree, having a good time and cheating are two very different topics!

Willingly "having a good time" and uncertainty about "cheating" aren't near the same.

The Bombers may have been dumb to trust some of the people they employed, but the players trusted the club. Where as West Coast trusted Ben....

 

[Arthaus]

I agree, having a good time and cheating are two very different topics!

 

[Smotie]

The drugs they have admitted to administering was to around half a dozen players and there was confusion as to whether it was actually banned at the time.

Cousins was intentionally using rec drugs (albeit due to addiction).

While I agree the media can be very bias and unfavourable to teams outside of Vic, and that Ben copped it probably harsher than he should have, I don't believe any link can be made to the current Bombers situation.

Ignorance doesn't get you off drug use as someone said. Will be interesting what happens but the media's reaction has been a surprise. The AFL's reaction is probably a result of threatened litigious action but they never backed away from threatening the Eagles even before anything was confirmed. I mean Cousins never failed a drug test. I guess the Bombers haven't either. And that's a whole other issue...how did they not fail a test IF it was as many players as 6?

 

[Arthaus]

Ignorance doesn't get you off drug use as someone said. Will be interesting what happens but the media's reaction has been a surprise. The AFL's reaction is probably a result of threatened litigious action but they never backed away from threatening the Eagles even before anything was confirmed. I mean Cousins never failed a drug test. I guess the Bombers haven't either. And that's a whole other issue...how did they not fail a test IF it was as many players as 6?

 

[Smotie]

Imagine the reactions if this was on the main board haha. Good point well made, today's game is an excellent example of this kind of favoritism. As well as the love for Hird that has gone through the roof. Their fans seem delusional most of the time, if this were the Eagles I wouldn't know what to think of us.

Should I post it on the main board? hahaha

"Bringing the game into disrepute" in this instance would be akin to people sitting back watching the game and "wondering" if their wins were a result of banned substances and wondering why the AFL did nothing. If indeed they do nothing.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

A single player is expendable. A club is not.

 

[Jarlcorbz]

Should I post it on the main board? hahaha

"Bringing the game into disrepute" in this instance would be akin to people sitting back watching the game and "wondering" if their wins were a result of banned substances and wondering why the AFL did nothing. If indeed they do nothing.

Maybe make a fake account that shows you supporting a different club

 

[the harry]

Ignorance doesn't get you off drug use as someone said. Will be interesting what happens but the media's reaction has been a surprise. The AFL's reaction is probably a result of threatened litigious action but they never backed away from threatening the Eagles even before anything was confirmed. I mean Cousins never failed a drug test. I guess the Bombers haven't either. And that's a whole other issue...how did they not fail a test IF it was as many players as 6?

No but there has been confusion as to which drugs were actually banned, and contradictory statments made by authorities regarding the drug.

In this instance the players, although potentially legally at fault, they didn't intend to take anything illegal. What was Bens reasoning?

Also, not all players are tested every year, we all know that. Chances are there has been teams with several players taking drugs at other clubs. We wouldn't have to look too far beyond home either....