Yes I agree with your McDonald-Tipungwuti point. However I think the AFL messed up the club penalties.
The fact that the club and player penalties were off set essentially meant Essendon traded stripped draft picks in 2013 for the 2016 number 1 pick.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think the player suspension was all “long term pain.” They have been pretty successful with recruiting lately, likely borne from 2nd order effects of the salary cap relief drawn through having a team suspended for a year.
Bombers likely came out on par or ahead on the the field.... in say that though, they still cheated.