Graeme McMahon in the Essendon Football Club boardroom back in 2003. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun
FORMER Essendon chairman Graeme McMahon has lashed out at the AFL, branding its stance on drugs "hypocrital".
McMahon said he was bewildered how the league could be so aggressive in policing performance-enhancing drugs but so lax on the use of illicit substances.
The ever outspoken McMahon, who was Essendon chairman from 1997-2003, expressed deep disappointment about the Bombers' current plight, saying fans would be "gutted" about the allegations.
"I'm disappointed,'' he said.
''It's a 120-year, 130-year-old club, it's got fantastic tradition.
''I don't know what the facts are ... but if it turns out there is something there then my disappointment will turn to absolute bloody anger because it's wrong, no matter what way it comes out, it's wrong.'
"I'm disappointed for the members and supporters who gave me the opportunity to be chairman of the club, to whom I'm so grateful.
"It is not often spoken about but most AFL clubs are the property of its members and they simply appoint directors and a chairman to run the club for them.
"They must be gutted about the allegations.
"The one strong comment I would make is my respect for people like David Evans (chairman), Bruce Reid (doctor) and James Hird (coach) is such that I cannot and won't believe they would knowingly allow illegal practices to happen.''
McMahon, who is battling inoperable cancer, has lost some of the trademark power in his voice, but his passion for football - and Essendon in particular - remains undiminished.
He said he looked back at his time at Windy Hill with "great affection'".
"Football is Essendon to me,'' he said.
Turning his attention back to the topic of the AFL's illicit drugs policy, McMahon warned of lawsuits from parents of young players who strayed into drug use because of clubs failing in their duty of care.
"The club hierarchy has no ability to try to police drugs in any shape or form,'' he said.
"The reason I'm so strong on (the AFL's illicit drugs policy) is it deprives from the chairman and management of the football clubs their abilty to carry out the duty of care they have when they take into their charge these 17-year-olds and 18-year-old boys from the country and interstate.
"The illegal drugs have been thrown into stark profile by where the AFL has put itself in relation to these non-legal but performance enhancing drugs, where they are standing up and beating their chests and saying they will stamp this out, that it's taboo, and that players will be rubbed out if they are dealing with them.
"But at the same time they have different policy for drugs which are criminal .. it doesn't make sense to me.''
He cited an example of a non-sportsman obtaining performance enhancing drugs by prescription without breaking the law, compared to AFL players who use them and breach the laws of the sport.
Meanhwhile, players were taking illegal drugs which are "absolutely'' illegal in society.
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