Top up player rules.

[Admiral Byng]

so the HTB spent a week abusing Essendon because they didnt want to play the NAB with top up players, now Essendon are copping abuse for agreeing to field a team in the NAB with top up players............

Never change HTB, never ever change

It's the issue of the 2012-listed players that are available not playing to protect the identities of the rest that aren't.

 

[VL3OJ]

The real question is, why do we even need Essendon as a team? If a team is going to be made out of a couple of players from the reserves of each team, then just kick Essendon out for a couple of years and have a Best of the Rest team fulfill TV rights.

Perhaps call it Tasmania.

 

[jenny61_99]

so the HTB spent a week abusing Essendon because they didnt want to play the NAB with top up players, now Essendon are copping abuse for agreeing to field a team in the NAB with top up players............

Never change HTB, never ever change

Or perhaps it's different people saying different things.

 

[DrEvil_]

Perhaps call it Tasmania.

Call it anything you like because the team has absolutely nothing to do with Essendon. Honestly if I were a player I'll be ashamed to put on an Essendon jumper.

 

[compact72]

I think the players that are not participating shouldn't be paid.

Perhaps the coach can take a hit on his 1mil salary to try and not go over the cap. They shouldn't be allowed to spend any extra, businesses cut hours/budget all the time, why should Essendon be any different? After all, they cheated

 

[DrEvil_]

so the HTB spent a week abusing Essendon because they didnt want to play the NAB with top up players, now Essendon are copping abuse for agreeing to field a team in the NAB with top up players............

Never change HTB, never ever change

If you can't field a team because of drug suspensions, get out of the comp. It's pretty simple.

 

[The_Wookie]

this entire saga is unprecedented. But the point is players often pull out of full season games for reasons other than injury.

They dont pull out to protect other players. Please cite instances where this has ever happened.

good of you to speak for everyone

Id say he's speaking for a fair few.

Write to GM then. He seems to empathise with the players on this

Not the point.

 

[Ambrosia]

It's the issue of the 2012-listed players that are available not playing to protect the identities of the rest that aren't.

Is it really an issue if the AFL and the AFLPA are in support of those players? I don't see why people are getting so outraged by the idea that Essendon will have 5 or so WILLING players join the side for the NAB cup.

 

[NoAFLinmycomp]

their anonymity was respected over their participation in practice games, which was supported by the AFLPA and now the AFL. Where's the problem exactly?

The problem is that it is not consistent for all 34 players named in the infractions.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Is it really an issue if the AFL and the AFLPA are in support of those players? I don't see why people are getting so outraged by the idea that Essendon will have 5 or so WILLING players join the side for the NAB cup.

Well, it's my issue with it, and my therapist supports me.

 

[Ancient Tiger]

I think the players that are not participating shouldn't be paid.

Perhaps the coach can take a hit on his 1mil salary to try and not go over the cap. They shouldn't be allowed to spend any extra, businesses cut hours/budget all the time, why should Essendon be any different? After all, they cheated

I guess that they should not get allowances if they are proven to have cheated. If innocent, they should get all the allowances they deserve.

 

[BlueWorld]

Maybe if campaigners on here stopped calling them cheats before their trial they wouldn't be so concerned about anonymity?

Chicken or egg?

If they're so certain they're innocent it shouldn't matter.

 

[Proper Gander]

Ok. Thought out the spaghetti knot and ready to de-thread:

Essendon have top up players. Apparently because a bunch of players have said they are sitting out. Um ... Hello? Not injured, not with any reported personal reasons? Wake up AFL! Call their bluff ... Fine them or do some other penalising thing. Has it occurred that another team might like to spare a bunch of players, have them fresh for season proper etc.? No, Essendon can go ahead and we can give them players to wear the sash - no sweat. We will ignore any contract for a bit.

Not consistent. Not right.

NAB Cup is just a preseason prep etc? Wrong. It has sponsors and other, non-Essendon players who have to stand up. I'm a long term supporter of Melbourne (more than a bit of a challenge) and this could be my one chance of 2015 before it all goes agonising. Some people watch and many care. Essendon too good for NAB? You would have been better off telling the people behind the supplements program that you were too good to need the multiple undocumented injections.

And my third point, no idea. I believe I had one. It can't have been telling because it's gone.

 

[BlueWorld]

so the HTB spent a week abusing Essendon because they didnt want to play the NAB with top up players, now Essendon are copping abuse for agreeing to field a team in the NAB with top up players............

Never change HTB, never ever change

Nobody's forcing you to come here.

 

[BlueWorld]

which is probably pretty silly given they were most likely given a banned substance without knowing it. Saad tested positive yet I dont think anyone in their right mind would think of him as a drug cheat, just someone who wasnt diligent enough

Even Reimer knew they were on the edge. If they didn't check then who is to blame?

 

[BlueWorld]

the players made the decision to make themselves unavailable. Are we gooing to force players to play against their will now?

they shouldn't be making themselves unavailable,,particularly if their club can't field a team.

 

[BlueWorld]

players make decisions not to play for personal reasons all the time, even during the regular season

What personal reasons? Can't ever remember players refusing to play.

 

[BlueWorld]

Part of the contracts would have the WADA/ASADA information, clauses, etc... in them. Therefore as they have a provisional suspension through WADA/ASADA, from their contract I would say they have a right to sit out.

The players that are not on provisional suspensions should be forced to play though.

They have no right. They are not allowed to play unless the AFL agree to waive the provisional suspensions.

 

[BlueWorld]

I dont think the AFL have planned this entire saga out too well. Surely they would have anticipated this issue. Maybe they actually dont believe players will be banned come round 1

They thought the tribunal would be over before the nab started. The only thing they did not anticipate is players still being on provisional suspensions and unable to be identified. Once they are banned they will no longer have their identities protected.

 

[BlueWorld]

this entire saga is unprecedented. But the point is players often pull out of full season games for reasons other than injury.

good of you to speak for everyone

Write to GM then. He seems to empathise with the players on this

No not for reasons like essentially going on strike.

GM has said nothing. Seem to have no authority at all.

 

[Sunshine Saint]

Maybe if campaigners on here stopped calling them cheats before their trial they wouldn't be so concerned about anonymity?

Chicken or egg?

So will you join us in calling them cheats then if (when) they are found guilty?

 

[davis_756]

good of you to speak for everyone

I am well aware some have naive hopes, we do idolize these guys in some respect after all. In time you will come to realise drugs in sport isn't a revolving door around one club but a much larger problem facing all sports, there are a lot of people out there who will cheat to get ahead and I for one don't blame the players for going with the group and signing up to this program.

They certainly aren't the first afl footballers to do it and probably won't be the last but they did know what they were doing, no excuses there.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Be fascinating if any of the fill-in players perform well enough to get a normal contract for 2016 (at any club). Suspended players whose contracts end this year will be bloody hoping not.

It's the issue of the 2012-listed players that are available not playing to protect the identities of the rest that aren't.

Agree it's bullshit. Club is maintaining the facade of "Hope is not lost" until the very end. There's going to be staff getting turfed out in the weeks and months after the hammer comes down (beginning with Hird).

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Maybe if campaigners on here stopped calling them cheats before their trial they wouldn't be so concerned about anonymity?

Chicken or egg?

Being concerned doesn't override essendon's respinsibility to field a team

 

[gutsroy]

Not really in favor of VFL players being able to be selected across the board, non AFL-aligned state league players and non-aligned VFL clubs would have made more sense.