Essendon has been banned from the 2013 finals series, hit with significant draft penalties and slapped with a $2 million fine for the derelict failures of its football program in 2012.
Scott Spits and Will BrodieUpdated ,first published
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10.31pm on Aug 27, 2013
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Let's wrap it up there. What an extraordinary day. From the start it shaped as the day that might provide some sort of resolution to the entire Essendon supplements saga. In the end it was nothing short of hugely significant for the AFL competition, one of its biggest clubs Essendon and, most notably, James Hird, after the Bombers relented and decided to accept the penalties from the AFL. You will continue to hear about this for many years to come and 27 August 2013 will always be a significant day on the footy calendar. Thanks for your patronage during the day. Stay with this website for the latest news and expert analysis from the likes of Jake Niall, Greg Baum and Caroline Wilson.
10.05pm on Aug 27, 2013
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It has been a simply amazing day.
Matthew Lloyd has just said on Footy Classified that James Hird has agreed to terms to coach Essendon in 2015 and 2016. The former Essendon full-forward also says Hird wants Mark 'Bomber' Thompson to take the reins as Essendon coach next year. Of course Hird can return as senior Essendon coach once his suspension has been served in late August next year. Could Thompson take the Bombers to the 2014 finals, only for Hird to then resume his duties?
9.43pm on Aug 27, 2013
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Mike Fitzpatrick and Andrew Demetriou fronted the media.
Demetriou: "It was a very complex case, with very complex issues ... there were lots of discussions going backwards and forwards.’’
"Hopefully we can all put this behind us."
How did the league dissuade Hird from suing AFL? "We haven't convinced him. The AFL Commission didn’t engage in discussions with James Hird. That was done in discussion between the respective legal parties."
Demetriou said Hird "spoke very well" before the commission.
"He apologised for his role. He apologised on behalf of his players and his club. He’s genuinely remorseful and he has accepted responsibility that his actions helped the Essendon Football Club breach rule 1.6."
What about Hird returning as Essendon coach after the suspension?
"You've heard the AFL on many occasions say on many occasions that this code is a very forgiving code. In accepting James Hird's suspension we've made it very clear he’s welcome back to the game."
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9.15pm on Aug 27, 2013
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Paul Little confirms that a contract extension is in the wind for James Hird.
The Essendon chairman won't reveal details but it's clear the Bombers have offered the coach the guarantee he can return to coach the club once his suspension has been served.
Little also offers the club's sincere apologies to Essendon fans. He won't comment on speculation that David Evans could return to Windy Hill as president.
Fascinatingly, Little said the club had already had three coaches on a short list prepared to accept the Essendon coaching role for 12 months.
He said former coaching great Kevin Sheedy was among those people prepared to assist the club in a new role at the club through the period of turmoil.
Chairman confirms that assistant coach Simon Goodwin will coach the Bombers in Hird's absence for their last match of this season - a now-dead rubber against Richmond on Saturday night at the MCG.
9.11pm on Aug 27, 2013
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AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick.Wayne Taylor
More from Mike Fitzpatrick:
"At the outset, Essendon . . . came forward and reported its concerns about the supplements program, and from that point the club and its players and officials co-operated fully with the AFL and ASADA in the investigation process. Their assistance has helped get a much clearer picture of what happened at Essendon in 2012."
He thanked the AFL integrity unit, headed by Andrew Dillon and Brett Clothier, for its "hard work and due diligence in investigating and prosecuting this complex and challenging case’’. The unit conducted more than 130 interviews and reviewed 13,000 documents, which were gained by means including searching email servers, backup hard-drives and data tapes, and mobile-phone records.
"This level of forensic inquiry shows the AFL’s commitment to finding the truth and protecting the integrity of the competition."
Fitzpatrick also commended ASADA "and its first-class investigators was crucial in being able to take action before finals."
9.03pm on Aug 27, 2013
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Essendon chairman Paul Little is now speaking to the media.
Among many points, Little says the Bombers are 'sorry'.
"We have learnt from our mistakes ... the club accepts the commission's penalty."
"James Hird told the commission tonight that he took responsibility for the club's shortcomings."
Little reminds the assembled media that there haven't been any infraction notices issued to Essendon players, and he doesn't expect there to be.
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8.38pm on Aug 27, 2013
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The thoughts of commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, who started the media conference by addressing footy fans:
"The AFL Commission shares your anger and frustration that the 2013 season has too often been dominated by headlines we'd rather not see, and hoped we’d never see associated with our game.
"The issues involved in the Essendon Football Club supplements program are deeply disturbing. The investigation undertaken in the past six months and the actions we have taken today reflects this gravity.
"A number of fundamental principles guide our code and collectively contribute to making the AFL a successful competition. Two of these principles are absolute non-negotiables: the health and safety of our players and the overall integrity of the competition. These principles underpin our rules and also our day-to-day decision making.
"On behalf of the AFL Commission I want to send a clear and unequivocal message to everybody, that nothing and no-one comes ahead of the duty of care owed to our players and the need to safeguard the fairness our our competition.
"The pursuit of on-field success can never been allowed to obscure our commitment to these principles. The very essence of sport demands it."
AFL Commission Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick arrives at AFL House on Tuesday.Pat Scala
8.31pm on Aug 27, 2013
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The AFL is confirming the penalties against Essendon and the four individuals charged:
- The club: $2 million fine and banned from year's AFL finals series. The Bombers will lose both their first and second round picks for 2013 and 2014, but will be given a pick in 2014 immediately after the first round. Club deemed to have finished 9th in 2013.
- James Hird: 12-month ban from coaching, backdated to 25 August. Hird can't hold a role with any AFL club during that period.
- Danny Corcoran: 6-month ban (two months suspended), effective from 1 October
- Mark Thompson: $30,000 fine
- Dr Bruce Reid: TBC. Reid's case to be considered by commission at 10am on Thursday
8.30pm on Aug 27, 2013
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Mike Fitzpatrick was adamant on an important point. He agreed no-one at Essendon set out to administer illegal substances. But did admit it was "inadequately vetted and controlled".
"‘The AFL acknowledges that neither the Essendon Football Club or any of the individuals charged set out to implement a supplements program that would result in players being administered prohibited or potentially harmful substances.
"However, the Essendon Football Club today acknowledged it had established a supplements program that was experimental, inappropriate and inadequately vetted and controlled, and in relation to that program that . . . it failed to adequately protect the health, welfare and safety of the players.
"Secondly, there was a risk that Essendon players could have been administered substances prohibited by the AFL anti-doping code and the world anti-doing code. Any such risk is an unacceptable risk.
"Thirdly, the Essendon Football Club is unable now to determine whether the players were administered some substances by the AFL anti-doping code and the world anti-doping code."
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8.27pm on Aug 27, 2013
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AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick is addressing the media:
"The AFL Commission shares your anger and frustration," he says. "The issues involved in the Essendon ... are deeply disturbing. Fitzpatrick says the penalties dished out on Tuesday ‘‘reflect this gravity’’.
"I want to send a clear an unequivocal message: that nothing and no-one comes ahead of the duty of care of players."
Fitzpatrick says all parties involved in this complicated case ‘‘to their credit’’ worked hard to resolve charges, knowing football was best served by it.