The Saga's TOP 3.

[DapperJong]

The delusion is strong in this one.

how

number 2 is a classic

 

[Buddy89]

This thread is a little premature, and surprisingly so given the OP.

Anyway here we go:

1. The comprehensive not guilty verdict from the AFL tribunal and the subsequent 45 minute sulk/hissy fit from Ben McDevitt.

2. The clinical and authoritative expose of just how cooked the EFC financials were brought to us by HTB legend Laphroaig. The lengths that the devious duo Little and Brasher went to! Unconscionable!

*3. Watching a group of opposition supporters over several years on the HTB becoming so infatuated with my team that they know more about all things Essendon than their own teams. I just hope it translates into further record memberships at EFC.

*I hope to replace #3 with a not guilty CAS verdict soon

But..if this had all happened to another club, your reaction would be?

 

[1990crow]

how

number 2 is a classic

First two are fine. McDevitt should've simply stated he would be working with WADA and exploring their options and left it at that. He was obviously very emotionally invested in it.
3rd is wishful thinking and it shows he/she is not prepared for a realistic outcome.

 

[DapperJong]

First two are fine. McDevitt should've simply stated he would be working with WADA and exploring their options and left it at that. He was obviously very emotionally invested in it.
3rd is wishful thinking and it shows he/she is not prepared for a realistic outcome.

so 2/3 yet the delusion is strong

even though the 3rd may well happen

kk

 

[tesla1962]

But..if this had all happened to another club, your reaction would be?

Don't know
But if there are any precendents it would be short term passing interest a la my reactions to the tanking investigation, salary cap issues and positive ped test results.

 

[1990crow]

so 2/3 yet the delusion is strong

even though the 3rd may well happen

kk

The third one was that ridiculous that it overcame the first one. Wasn't simply a prediction, statement about opposition fans which didn't account for the fact people care whether a team in their competition has been doping.

 

[DapperJong]

The third one was that ridiculous that it overcame the first one. Wasn't simply a prediction, statement about opposition fans which didn't account for the fact people care whether a team in their competition has been doping.

Thanks, James.

 

[Buddy89]

Don't know
But if there are any precendents it would be short term passing interest a la my reactions to the tanking investigation, salary cap issues and positive ped test results.

I have total respect for you but you only half answered. I really don't believe that it would be only a short term passing interest if another club had gone through EVERYTHING that Essendon has.

 

[Sir Hugh Percy]

I don't sojourn to these darker parts of BF much any more, but this thread has given me some good chuckles as almost a highlights package of the Saga. However, I feel that some of the 'highlights' have been missed:

1. EFC Consultant, Dr Andrew Garnham, causes a media frenzy by announcing on 360 that, in his capacity as a member of the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal in Feb 2013, he had called ASADA and inquired about the status of AOD9604 and been told that it wasn't prohibited. He later backpedaled and admitted he was advised it was not prohibited under S2, then inferred that S0 was not considered.

2. Fogdog, a 'Blitz poster who "usually has very good mail", announces circa May 2013 that the Saga would be "over soon" and that EFC had nothing to worry about. Yep.

3. Hird's acceptance of his 12 month ban on the proviso that he was paid in full for that year and got a course at an exclusive French business school thrown in. Then, when this news broke like a thunderstorm, Hird, Tanya and the koolaiders defended this to the hilt and couldn't understand why anybody would have a problem with it.

4. Four Corners shows a reenactment of a taped meeting between Carlton FC officials and Nimo Alavi telling them that he can get them anything they want, no matter how banned and without any sort of reservation, before the tape is mysteriously destroyed and never spoken of again.

5. The letter from ASADA that "Dank showed everyone" clearing AOD for use, turns out to be an email from WADA doing nothing of the sort.

6. The AFL releases the results of a survey that reveals that "a dozen sides conducted supplements programs that lacked a single point of accountability." And, "found another 11 clubs ran programs with "medium or high levels of supplement use" as well as "identified an inappropriate definition of supplements and a flawed selection process in the employment of support staff. Players at nine clubs also independently sourced supplements. Some clubs had inadequate record keeping" This is then screamed by Bombers fans for months (years?) afterwards as proof that "12 other clubs were doing exactly the same thing as us!"

7. Doc Reid, who had all of this happen on his watch and didn't even demand to review records of what the players were being given, gets elevated to the EFC Hall of Fame at around the same time he is charged by the AFL Commission.

8. The three guys who make up the supply chain of 'supplements' to EFC ALL refuse to give official evidence one way or another. Not suspicious at all; not even after one of them, Shane Charter, initially tells ASADA investigators that he got TB4 for Dank, but then starts quibbling about the wording of his statement following, in his own words, death threats, and then he turns up some evidence that could help Essendon and 'uses' Mick Gatto to shop that around where it is purchased by a wealthy EFC coterie member.

9. Dank's story of how the TB4 that was given to him by Alavi was discovered to have been destroyed by sunlight by a testing laboratory that had no record of any such test.

10. Essendon posters' insistance that the AFL couldn't touch them/wouldn't do anything prior to the severe penalties for governance failures.

The number one though has to be that photo of the folded photo of the dodgily labelled vial. That had been built up over months as a vital piece of Essendon's defense that ASADA were ignoring. Then it final hit the media and was initially portrayed as the non-smoking gun that would clear Essendon, before everybody burst into laughter about its complete lameness.

I also think we need to acknowledge some of the colourful characters that the Saga has brought to us: The Weapon, The Pharmacist, The Gazelle with his esky of peptide ice creams, The Sea-Kayaker, Orange Danksy, Vitamins McVeigh, Sleepy Reimers, Mick Gatto, The hermit former Test opening bat who knew nothing about football but took up the Hird cause having been given a dossier by a long-time Hird buddy and proceeded to write a series of detailed letters and emails, compile 34 volumes of information, all with one finger... The Fallen Goldenboy, The 80s action movie wealthy bad-guy - Paul Little, The Henchman - Dean Wallis, Slippery Charters - the convicted drug-trafficker who is reformed - or is he?

EDIT: mentioned Alavi twice and the Charters character needed a bit more detail. You just couldn't write this shit!

 

[tesla1962]

I have total respect for you but you only half answered. I really don't believe that it would be only a short term passing interest if another club had gone through EVERYTHING that Essendon has.

I may have made up my mind pretty early, probably based on media reports. I would have hoped, schadenfreude aside, that whatever happened was fair and just. I probably would have hoped it was over years ago and resented the way it has dominated the AFL.

 

[DapperJong]

I don't sojourn to these darker parts of BF much any more, but this thread has given me some good chuckles as almost a highlights package of the Saga. However, I feel that some of the 'highlights' have been missed:

1. EFC Consultant, Dr Andrew Garnham, causes a media frenzy by announcing on 360 that, in his capacity as a member of the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal in Feb 2013, he had called ASADA and inquired about the status of AOD9604 and been told that it wasn't prohibited. He later backpedaled and admitted he was advised it was not prohibited under S2, then inferred that S0 was not considered.

2. Fogdog, a 'Blitz poster who "usually has very good mail", announces circa May 2013 that the Saga would be "over soon" and that EFC had nothing to worry about. Yep.

3. Hird's acceptance of his 12 month ban on the proviso that he was paid in full for that year and got a course at an exclusive French business school thrown in. Then, when this news broke like a thunderstorm, Hird, Tanya and the koolaiders defended this to the hilt and couldn't understand why anybody would have a problem with it.

4. Four Corners shows a reenactment of a taped meeting between Carlton FC officials and Nimo Alavi telling them that he can get them anything they want, no matter how banned and without any sort of reservation, before the tape is mysteriously destroyed and never spoken of again.

5. The letter from ASADA that "Dank showed everyone" clearing AOD for use, turns out to be an email from WADA doing nothing of the sort.

6. The AFL releases the results of a survey that reveals that "a dozen sides conducted supplements programs that lacked a single point of accountability." And, "found another 11 clubs ran programs with "medium or high levels of supplement use" as well as "identified an inappropriate definition of supplements and a flawed selection process in the employment of support staff. Players at nine clubs also independently sourced supplements. Some clubs had inadequate record keeping" This is then screamed by Bombers fans for months (years?) afterwards as proof that "12 other clubs were doing exactly the same thing as us!"

7. Doc Reid, who had all of this happen on his watch and didn't even demand to review records of what the players were being given, gets elevated to the EFC Hall of Fame at around the same time he is charged by the AFL Commission.

8. The three guys who make up the supply chain of 'supplements' to EFC ALL refuse to give official evidence one way or another. Not suspicious at all; not even after one of them, Shane Charter, initially tells ASADA investigators that he got TB4 for Dank, but then starts quibbling about the wording of his statement following, in his own words, death threats, and then he turns up some evidence that could help Essendon and 'uses' Mick Gatto to shop that around where it is purchased by a wealthy EFC coterie member.

9. Dank's story of how the TB4 that was given to him by Alavi was discovered to have been destroyed by sunlight by a testing laboratory that had no record of any such test.

10. Essendon posters' insistance that the AFL couldn't touch them/wouldn't do anything prior to the severe penalties for governance failures.

The number one though has to be that photo of the folded photo of the dodgily labelled vial. That had been built up over months as a vital piece of Essendon's defense that ASADA were ignoring. Then it final hit the media and was initially portrayed as the non-smoking gun that would clear Essendon, before everybody burst into laughter about its complete lameness.

I also think we need to acknowledge some of the colourful characters that the Saga has brought to us: The Weapon, The Pharmacist, The Gazelle with his esky of peptide ice creams, The Sea-Kayaker, Orange Danksy, Vitamins McVeigh, Sleepy Reimers, Mick Gatto, The hermit former Test opening bat who knew nothing about football but took up the Hird cause having been given a dossier by a long-time Hird buddy and proceeded to write a series of detailed letters and emails, compile 34 volumes of information, all with one finger... The Fallen Goldenboy, The 80s action movie wealthy bad-guy - Paul Little, The Henchman - Dean Wallis, Slippery Charters and Alavi.

tldr

 

[Buddy89]

I may have made up my mind pretty early, probably based on media reports. I would have hoped, schadenfreude aside, that whatever happened was fair and just. I probably would have hoped it was over years ago and resented the way it has dominated the AFL.

I thought it was dominated by Hird and Essendon after the AFl tried to nullify it all

 

[tesla1962]

I thought it was dominated by Hird and Essendon after the AFl tried to nullify it all

I didn't attempt to apportion blame for the factors that have seen this drag out for 3 years, that has been argued on here quite a bit. I was just attempting to tell you how i would have responded if it was another club.

Edit: when i said i would have resented the way it has dominated the AFL i wasn't pointing my finger at any group in particular.

 

[Buddy89]

I didn't attempt to apportion blame for the factors that have seen this drag out for 3 years, that has been argued on here quite a bit. I was just attempting to tell you how i would have responded if it was another club.

Edit: when i said i would have resented the way it has dominated the AFL i wasn't pointing my finger at any group in particular.

I appreciate your reply... its an endless argument really...

 

[Cronos]

I don't sojourn to these darker parts of BF much any more, but this thread has given me some good chuckles as almost a highlights package of the Saga. However, I feel that some of the 'highlights' have been missed:

1. EFC Consultant, Dr Andrew Garnham, causes a media frenzy by announcing on 360 that, in his capacity as a member of the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal in Feb 2013, he had called ASADA and inquired about the status of AOD9604 and been told that it wasn't prohibited. He later backpedaled and admitted he was advised it was not prohibited under S2, then inferred that S0 was not considered.

2. Fogdog, a 'Blitz poster who "usually has very good mail", announces circa May 2013 that the Saga would be "over soon" and that EFC had nothing to worry about. Yep.

3. Hird's acceptance of his 12 month ban on the proviso that he was paid in full for that year and got a course at an exclusive French business school thrown in. Then, when this news broke like a thunderstorm, Hird, Tanya and the koolaiders defended this to the hilt and couldn't understand why anybody would have a problem with it.

4. Four Corners shows a reenactment of a taped meeting between Carlton FC officials and Nimo Alavi telling them that he can get them anything they want, no matter how banned and without any sort of reservation, before the tape is mysteriously destroyed and never spoken of again.

5. The letter from ASADA that "Dank showed everyone" clearing AOD for use, turns out to be an email from WADA doing nothing of the sort.

6. The AFL releases the results of a survey that reveals that "a dozen sides conducted supplements programs that lacked a single point of accountability." And, "found another 11 clubs ran programs with "medium or high levels of supplement use" as well as "identified an inappropriate definition of supplements and a flawed selection process in the employment of support staff. Players at nine clubs also independently sourced supplements. Some clubs had inadequate record keeping" This is then screamed by Bombers fans for months (years?) afterwards as proof that "12 other clubs were doing exactly the same thing as us!"

7. Doc Reid, who had all of this happen on his watch and didn't even demand to review records of what the players were being given, gets elevated to the EFC Hall of Fame at around the same time he is charged by the AFL Commission.

8. The three guys who make up the supply chain of 'supplements' to EFC ALL refuse to give official evidence one way or another. Not suspicious at all; not even after one of them, Shane Charter, initially tells ASADA investigators that he got TB4 for Dank, but then starts quibbling about the wording of his statement following, in his own words, death threats, and then he turns up some evidence that could help Essendon and 'uses' Mick Gatto to shop that around where it is purchased by a wealthy EFC coterie member.

9. Dank's story of how the TB4 that was given to him by Alavi was discovered to have been destroyed by sunlight by a testing laboratory that had no record of any such test.

10. Essendon posters' insistance that the AFL couldn't touch them/wouldn't do anything prior to the severe penalties for governance failures.

The number one though has to be that photo of the folded photo of the dodgily labelled vial. That had been built up over months as a vital piece of Essendon's defense that ASADA were ignoring. Then it final hit the media and was initially portrayed as the non-smoking gun that would clear Essendon, before everybody burst into laughter about its complete lameness.

I also think we need to acknowledge some of the colourful characters that the Saga has brought to us: The Weapon, The Pharmacist, The Gazelle with his esky of peptide ice creams, The Sea-Kayaker, Orange Danksy, Vitamins McVeigh, Sleepy Reimers, Mick Gatto, The hermit former Test opening bat who knew nothing about football but took up the Hird cause having been given a dossier by a long-time Hird buddy and proceeded to write a series of detailed letters and emails, compile 34 volumes of information, all with one finger... The Fallen Goldenboy, The 80s action movie wealthy bad-guy - Paul Little, The Henchman - Dean Wallis, Slippery Charters and Alavi.

When you put it all together like that, it's clear that nothing dodgy happened at all. They must be innocent.

 

[Suma Magic]

1. That photo
2. Spike's rant
3. Continual support of Hird

 

[DapperJong]

3. Continual support of Hird

Excellent moment

Thanks, James.

 

[Suma Magic]

Excellent moment

Thanks, James.

His eventual sacking was a bit of an anticlimax though. So much angst/support then the bombers started getting flogged and he lost the job.

I also enjoyed how "both sides" have had lots of victories. The AODisOK victory and the clearing at the tribunal really knocked to stuffing out of the foamers.

 

[Satan]

tldr

Better than latest star wars

 

[Proper Gander]

Don't know
But if there are any precendents it would be short term passing interest a la my reactions to the tanking investigation, salary cap issues and positive ped test results.

Good for you and all, but I don't really get why this matters. What exactly is wrong with any particular persons interest in this saga? As you say yourself - it has dragged out for years and attracted an unprecedented amount of media interest. Some people are going to be interested - especially with so many of the cast of characters being more than a bit colourful. And there are plenty of people around who probably agree that it is the Bombers affair and doesn't need to be picked over. Those people can, and do, avoid Internet forums on the topic.

 

[TerryWallet]

I don't sojourn to these darker parts of BF much any more, but this thread has given me some good chuckles as almost a highlights package of the Saga. However, I feel that some of the 'highlights' have been missed:

1. EFC Consultant, Dr Andrew Garnham, causes a media frenzy by announcing on 360 that, in his capacity as a member of the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal in Feb 2013, he had called ASADA and inquired about the status of AOD9604 and been told that it wasn't prohibited. He later backpedaled and admitted he was advised it was not prohibited under S2, then inferred that S0 was not considered.

2. Fogdog, a 'Blitz poster who "usually has very good mail", announces circa May 2013 that the Saga would be "over soon" and that EFC had nothing to worry about. Yep.

3. Hird's acceptance of his 12 month ban on the proviso that he was paid in full for that year and got a course at an exclusive French business school thrown in. Then, when this news broke like a thunderstorm, Hird, Tanya and the koolaiders defended this to the hilt and couldn't understand why anybody would have a problem with it.

4. Four Corners shows a reenactment of a taped meeting between Carlton FC officials and Nimo Alavi telling them that he can get them anything they want, no matter how banned and without any sort of reservation, before the tape is mysteriously destroyed and never spoken of again.

5. The letter from ASADA that "Dank showed everyone" clearing AOD for use, turns out to be an email from WADA doing nothing of the sort.

6. The AFL releases the results of a survey that reveals that "a dozen sides conducted supplements programs that lacked a single point of accountability." And, "found another 11 clubs ran programs with "medium or high levels of supplement use" as well as "identified an inappropriate definition of supplements and a flawed selection process in the employment of support staff. Players at nine clubs also independently sourced supplements. Some clubs had inadequate record keeping" This is then screamed by Bombers fans for months (years?) afterwards as proof that "12 other clubs were doing exactly the same thing as us!"

7. Doc Reid, who had all of this happen on his watch and didn't even demand to review records of what the players were being given, gets elevated to the EFC Hall of Fame at around the same time he is charged by the AFL Commission.

8. The three guys who make up the supply chain of 'supplements' to EFC ALL refuse to give official evidence one way or another. Not suspicious at all; not even after one of them, Shane Charter, initially tells ASADA investigators that he got TB4 for Dank, but then starts quibbling about the wording of his statement following, in his own words, death threats, and then he turns up some evidence that could help Essendon and 'uses' Mick Gatto to shop that around where it is purchased by a wealthy EFC coterie member.

9. Dank's story of how the TB4 that was given to him by Alavi was discovered to have been destroyed by sunlight by a testing laboratory that had no record of any such test.

10. Essendon posters' insistance that the AFL couldn't touch them/wouldn't do anything prior to the severe penalties for governance failures.

The number one though has to be that photo of the folded photo of the dodgily labelled vial. That had been built up over months as a vital piece of Essendon's defense that ASADA were ignoring. Then it final hit the media and was initially portrayed as the non-smoking gun that would clear Essendon, before everybody burst into laughter about its complete lameness.

I also think we need to acknowledge some of the colourful characters that the Saga has brought to us: The Weapon, The Pharmacist, The Gazelle with his esky of peptide ice creams, The Sea-Kayaker, Orange Danksy, Vitamins McVeigh, Sleepy Reimers, Mick Gatto, The hermit former Test opening bat who knew nothing about football but took up the Hird cause having been given a dossier by a long-time Hird buddy and proceeded to write a series of detailed letters and emails, compile 34 volumes of information, all with one finger... The Fallen Goldenboy, The 80s action movie wealthy bad-guy - Paul Little, The Henchman - Dean Wallis, Slippery Charters - the convicted drug-trafficker who is reformed - or is he?

EDIT: mentioned Alavi twice and the Charters character needed a bit more detail. You just couldn't write this shit!

Excellent Sir Hugh.

Your condensed version here induced many lols.

Not nearly as many lols as the 3 year longform version though. And for that....the EFC faithful must be heartily thanked.

 

[tesla1962]

Good for you and all, but I don't really get why this matters. What exactly is wrong with any particular persons interest in this saga? As you say yourself - it has dragged out for years and attracted an unprecedented amount of media interest. Some people are going to be interested - especially with so many of the cast of characters being more than a bit colourful. And there are plenty of people around who probably agree that it is the Bombers affair and doesn't need to be picked over. Those people can, and do, avoid Internet forums on the topic.

Someone asked me how I would have responded if it was another team and I answered that poster's question. So, good for you and all but why does it matter to you?

 

[Proper Gander]

Someone asked me how I would respond if it was another team and I answered that poster's question. So, good for you and all but why does it matter to you?

I probably quoted the wrong post. It was more your top three including a sort of funny comment about people focussing more on your club then theirs, and something about memberships. I should go back and quote from that one, but I stuffed up the process back when so may as well continue. That was more where I was heading. I feel as though we've had this conversation before though, so you can let it slide if you prefer.

 

[tesla1962]

I probably quoted the wrong post. It was more your top three including a sort of funny comment about people focussing more on your club then theirs, and something about memberships. I should go back and quote from that one, but I stuffed up the process back when so may as well continue. That was more where I was heading. I feel as though we've had this conversation before though, so you can let it slide if you prefer.

Pass

 

[pablo668]

The one moment that keeps popping up for me was the AFL tribunal verdict which, in a staggering twist essentially made the GG correct in his arguments.