Top up player rules.

[LordLucifer]

Have these new arrangments been proposed for the season proper?

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

What sort of organisation is the AFL if they do it this way for the pre-season stuff and then change the way it is structured for the season proper ??

It should be one set of players for the complete journey subject to what happens in this tribunal hearing.

As for forcing them to play, I find it rather disingenuous of the Essendon club overall that at this late stage they opull this stunt in the name of "wanting to look after the players".

 

[mxett]

You damn well should be or you should be forfeiting and the players penalised for not fulfilling the terms of their contracts. this is a soft**** approach.

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?

 

[Proper Gander]

They shouldnt need players if their team was held to their contracts. voluntarily standing down when not under suspension should be penalised. I dont care what the reason is.

I agree. Only how easy is it to tell that someone is voluntarily standing down? I mean, when there aren't any media articles about it?

Why oh why did Essendon release this gift? Why not go with a suspicious number of injuries, which we would all yodel about but not be able to prove or disprove?

Where we are now is with 8 players who have said, despite contract etc, nup. I'm not doing that. How is that okay?

 

[mxett]

What sort of organisation is the AFL if they do it this way for the pre-season stuff and then change the way it is structured for the season proper ??

It should be one set of players for the complete journey subject to what happens in this tribunal hearing.

As for forcing them to play, I find it rather disingenuous of the Essendon club overall that at this late stage they opull this stunt in the name of "wanting to look after the players".

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

 

[davis_756]

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

They knew what they were given

 

[LordLucifer]

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?

It's a goddam cop-out of the highest order, that's what the problem is !!

The AFL have been as soft as butter, the AFLPA are like a limp lettuce and everyone else is the AFL world is paying for the inconvenience and has been for two-years !!

FMD, this thing should have been done & dusted 12-months ago, not playing out still like another episode of "Bold & The Beautiful".

 

[mxett]

I agree. Only how easy is it to tell that someone is voluntarily standing down? I mean, when there aren't any media articles about it?

Why oh why did Essendon release this gift? Why not go with a suspicious number of injuries, which we would all yodel about but not be able to prove or disprove?

Where we are now is with 8 players who have said, despite contract etc, nup. I'm not doing that. How is that okay?

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

 

[mxett]

They knew what they were given

says who?

 

[mxett]

It's a goddam cop-out of the highest order, that's what the problem is !!

The AFL have been as soft as butter, the AFLPA are like a limp lettuce and everyone else is the AFL world is paying for the inconvenience and has been for two-years !!

FMD, this thing should have been done & dusted 12-months ago, not playing out still like another episode of "Bold & The Beautiful".

no argument there

 

[doona]

You damn well should be or you should be forfeiting and the players penalised for not fulfilling the terms of their contracts. this is a soft**** approach.

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.

 

[The_Wookie]

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?

You can either field a team or you cant. if your contracted players wont play despite not being suspended - regardless of the reason - then they should be penalised. end of story. if Essendon cant field a team from their list, then they forfeit. This top up crap is bush league.

 

[LordLucifer]

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

It's still very convenient though don't you think ??

As you correctly stated earlier, the AFL have not planned out this saga very well and this has turned the whole thing into a completely & unnecessary circus.

 

[The_Wookie]

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.

Thats exactly my position.

 

[mxett]

You can either field a team or you cant. if your contracted players wont play despite not being suspended - regardless of the reason - then they should be penalised. end of story. if Essendon cant field a team from their list, then they forfeit. This top up crap is bush league.

I'd say the AFL have some sympathy for the players after 24 months of shite

 

[The_Wookie]

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

yes please point out other instances where so many players have made such decisions en masse.

 

[Proper Gander]

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

I get that. Why not give that message out? What I am confused about is why Essendon thought it a good idea to actually tell anyone they were voluntarily sitting out? Everyone, including me, starts hollering about contracts, unfairness to other teams etc. the reason being that they said they were not going to play

 

[mxett]

It's still very convenient though don't you think ??

As you stated earlier, the AFL have not planned out this saga very well and this has turned the whole thing into a completely & unnecessary circus.

agree. It really is astounding that the tribunal began in December and the AFL didnt anticipate provisional bans would be an issue in February. Even allowing for the 8 other players this still could have been an issue where top up players were required

 

[The_Wookie]

I'd say the AFL have some sympathy for the players after 24 months of shite

Shite that would not have happened had the club run itself properly. The AFLs job isnt to have sympathy, its to run the competition in the interests of all 750 players and 18 clubs, not be held to ransom and have to create new rules for a team whose players wont honor their own contracts.

 

[davis_756]

says who?

Says anyone who doesn't have their heads in the sand

 

[mxett]

yes please point out other instances where so many players have made such decisions en masse.

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

Says anyone who doesn't have their heads in the sand

good of you to speak for everyone

Shite that would not have happened had the club run itself properly. The AFLs job isnt to have sympathy, its to run the competition in the interests of all 750 players and 18 clubs, not be held to ransom and have to create new rules for a team whose players wont honor their own contracts.

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

 

[LordLucifer]

Shite that would not have happened had the club run itself properly. The AFLs job isnt to have sympathy, its to run the competition in the interests of all 750 players and 18 clubs, not be held to ransom and have to create new rules for a team whose players wont honor their own contracts.

I had to highlight & increase the size of that really important point as it goes to the heart of the issue for me, it's one that way too many people are forgetting or choosing to overlook.

Take the club name out of the equation, what should have happened would be the same no matter who the club was.

A selective application of the rules (any rules that is) does nothing but taint the whole organisation as corrupt & lacking in morals & ethics.

 

[DrEvil_]

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.

 

[mxett]

I had to highlight & increase the size of that really important point as it goes to the heart of the issue for me, it's one that way too many people are forgetting or choosing to overlook.

Take the club name out of the equation, what should have happened would be the same no matter who the club was.

A selective application of the rules (any rules that is) does nothing but taint the whole organisation as corrupt & lacking in morals & ethics.

how? These are practice games. If it also occurs in the season proper it will hardly advantage Essendon with 18 of their best players missing.

 

[LordLucifer]

how? These are practice games. If it also occurs in the season proper it will hardly advantage Essendon with 18 of their best players missing.

This isn't about the season proper or Essendon, it's about the overall lack of moral fibre that the AFL has right now.

 

[jenny61_99]

Already got him

I'm sorry....