MaddAdam
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Bay 13: Vintage Bay
Podcaster
North Melbourne - North 2012 Player Sponsor
North Melbourne - North 2011 Player Sponsor
North Melbourne - North 2010 Player Sponsor
North Melbourne - North 2009 Player Sponsor
Five years ago today the Essendon Football Club self reported to the AFL and ASADA over concerns that its "supplements program" had in fact been a team-wide doping program.
After a long and brutal investigation, court challenges and media circus, the world's highest court for sporting matters held that 34 Essendon players had been doped with TB-4 and suspended them for one year.
Last year was Essendon's first since then with clear air. The Bombers made the finals and they have record membership. They have a large debt incurred during the doping investigation years, but are powering towards paying that off.
My question - was the whole thing the footy recession Essendon had to have? Have they come out stronger for the long term as a result? Better goveranance, lost their "messiah" complex? United their fans?
Or will the stain of being the only club in AFL history to suffer mass player suspensions for a team-wide doping program haunt them forever?
I think there are convincing arguments for both, and that the real answer is not as black and white as saying it is all over and they move ahead with confidence, nor can you say this will affect them forever.
Five years after the biggest story in footy history broke, to coin a phrase, are Essendon in a good place?
After a long and brutal investigation, court challenges and media circus, the world's highest court for sporting matters held that 34 Essendon players had been doped with TB-4 and suspended them for one year.
Last year was Essendon's first since then with clear air. The Bombers made the finals and they have record membership. They have a large debt incurred during the doping investigation years, but are powering towards paying that off.
My question - was the whole thing the footy recession Essendon had to have? Have they come out stronger for the long term as a result? Better goveranance, lost their "messiah" complex? United their fans?
Or will the stain of being the only club in AFL history to suffer mass player suspensions for a team-wide doping program haunt them forever?
I think there are convincing arguments for both, and that the real answer is not as black and white as saying it is all over and they move ahead with confidence, nor can you say this will affect them forever.
Five years after the biggest story in footy history broke, to coin a phrase, are Essendon in a good place?