Ray of hope for Dons

Playing on: After accounting for the Bulldogs on Friday, the Bombers will again be looking to take their minds off the drugs inquiry when they face Richmond on Saturday week. Picture: Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON players could be cleared of sanctions for any violation of the World Anti-Doping Agency code by proving they were not aware they were taking illegal substances.

The club believes its players did not take any non-WADA approved substances, but they could have unwittingly been given illegal peptides by sports scientist Stephen Dank.

The WADA code and the AFL's Anti-Doping Code both have a section on "exceptional circumstances".

Legal experts believe the case of Ukrainian rower Olena Olefirenko in 2004 could be relevant to the Essendon players.

Olefirenko tested positive to the stimulant ethamivan at the Athens Olympics, but was able to prove her team doctor administered it without her knowing it was on the banned list.

She lost her bronze medal, but was not banned from future Olympics.

WADA's rule 10.5.1 discusses the principle of "No Fault or Negligence", and is based on athletes proving beyond doubt they did not know what they were being given by sports scientists or doctors.

If an athlete can prove "in an individual case that he or she bears no fault or negligence, the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility shall be eliminated".

In other words, any future ban can be wiped or dramatically reduced.

While a potential mitigating factor, WADA warns the law is meant to have an impact "only in cases where the circumstances are truly exceptional and not in the vast majority of cases".

Sportspeople can have sanctions reduced rather than wiped completely, although WADA warns that "athletes are responsible for their choice of medical personnel and for advising medical personnel that they cannot be given prohibited substances".

Essendon players were given a log of substances they took under Dank, with players signing consent forms.

The Bombers are also facing an AFL-ASADA investigation for the manner in which substances were administered, with intravenous infusions banned in almost all circumstances under the AFL Anti-Doping Code.

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Full whack for Bailey, Connolly

Heavy penalty: Dean Bailey (above) and Chris Connolly will each be barred from working in the AFL for several months. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

FORMER Melbourne coach Dean Bailey and his football lieutenant Chris Connolly will be forced to serve the full term of bans for tanking.

The Herald Sun last night confirmed the AFL had rejected a bid to have part of their sentences suspended.

Bailey and Connolly will each be barred from working in the AFL for several months. The pair will become the face of tanking with Melbourne chief executive Cameron Schwab appearing to have escaped sanction in the seven-month probe.

The AFL Commission considered a report on the investigation into Melbourne's 2009 season at a meeting yesterday. Melbourne will be fined about $500,000 - but has been spared the loss of draft picks or premiership points.

Despite Melbourne's protests, it is believed the AFL have found the Demons were guilty of deliberately manipulating results.

Bailey, who is an assistant coach at Adelaide, has refused to comment since the investigation began.

He was sacked midway through 2011 and said at his final press conference: "I was asked to do the best thing by the Melbourne Football Club and I did it. I put players in different positions."

Bailey did not explain who asked him.

The AFL tanking investigation, led by chief integrity officer Brett Clothier, involved dozens of interviews with past and present Demons officials.

At the centre of the investigation was Melbourne's selection and game-day strategy during the contentious 2009 season.

Club insiders have claimed Bailey was under fierce internal pressure to lose games.

It was also alleged several club figures held a secret meeting in 2009 to plot their tanking strategy.

Connolly became a central figure after it was reported he reminded football officials about the importance of losing matches to improve the club's draft position.

He no longer works in Melbourne's football department but is employed by the club in marketing.

Matches scrutinised by the AFL included Melbourne's Round 17 loss to Sydney at Manuka Oval and the after-the-siren Round 18 loss to Richmond.

The tanking probe was triggered in July when Carlton midfielder and former Demon Brock McLean revealed on Fox Footy's On the Couch that a major reason for leaving Melbourne was its strategy of deliberately losing games.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has warned any person guilty of manipulating a result would "never work in football again".

There was no decision last night on a proposal to install integrity officers at every AFL club.

The commission was last night told new equalisation proposals were still being considered by clubs, several of which have criticised the so-called "rich tax".

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Players need to pressure AFL: Bucks

Port Adelaide's Kane Cornes tries to cool down at AAMI Stadium last Sunday. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley believes the AFL Players Association must pressure the league in coming days to make sure players are not exposed to undue duress in extreme heat during the NAB Cup.

Buckley suggested the AFL needed to be wary of putting its pre-season rules experiments, in particular "gathering information about the 3 and 1 interchange rotation", ahead of the players' welfare.

His comments came after Adelaide, Port Adelaide and St Kilda sweltered through 38-degree heat at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon, prompting Saints coach Scott Watters to call for "a close look at the heat policy".

Speaking at Healesville Sanctuary on Monday, as part of Collingwood's community camp in the region, Buckley said tweaking the policy "is probably something that the AFLPA will look at strongly over the next couple of days in particular".

"If we're playing in 35-plus-degree conditions, there's a duty of care to the playing group to make sure that we shuffle things a little bit to make sure players aren't under undue duress," Buckley said.

Clubs must trim their squads to 22 for the rest of the pre-season as the AFL's trial of a cap on interchange rotations takes effect.

They can make just 80 interchange rotations, 20 per quarter, under the experimental rule.

Buckley queried the relevance of taking statistics about interchange rotations during the extreme heat of the pre-season anyway.

"Moving the time of games is a consideration but I can understand the broadcasting relationship," he said.

"Adding players to the interchange bench, sometimes you need to say as much as we'd like to get this information, the conditions don't allow us to do that."

The AFL has scope to shorten quarters and extend breaks under its extreme heat policy.

Buckley said he was "sure the AFL and AFLPA will come to some arrangement and I'd be surprised if we didn't see some movement to support the welfare of players... In the end the thing that the AFL and the PA need to be commended for is that they have had the players' welfare at heart, and I think common sense will prevail."

Collingwood's next NAB Cup match against the Eagles is scheduled for 4.40pm in Perth on Sunday March 3.

He said the Magpies' two wins to begin their NAB Cup campaign on Friday night were "quite encouraging", and was unperturbed about the two-week break until the next match.

"We'll have a solid training session on Wednesday and probably some match simulation on Friday," he said.
Buckley believes the Magpies are well advanced in their preparations to this time 12 months ago.

"Clearly we believe the decisions we made on the trade table in our recruiting have us better placed," he said.

"We believe that we're in a position to contend for premierships right now and a lot of our decisions came with that in mind.

"We feel we're stronger and we feel we're deeper."

He said the club was relatively well placed on the injury front, with Dale Thomas (ankle), Alex Fasolo (foot), Tyson Goldsack and Luke Ball (knee) a chance to be back to full fitness by Round 1.

He expected tall backman Lachy Keeffe to return from a knee reconstruction a couple of months into the season.

Apart from the community camp in the Yarra Ranges, Buckley has just spent a few days in Mansfield with a dozen youngsters as part of the club's first-year players camp, which incorporated golf and hiking.
 

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Stevie J set to miss blockbuster

Best of mates? The field umpire asks Cats Steve Johnson and Hayden Ballantyne to cool it. Source: Getty Images

Geelong's Steve Johnson crunches Fremantle's Hayden Ballantyne during their Round 1 NAB Cup match at Patersons Stadium. Source: Getty Images

STEVE Johnson is likely to become the latest Geelong star suspended for the Round 1 blockbuster against Hawthorn after being offered a one-match ban by the match review panel.

Johnson was charged with striking Fremantle antagonist Hayden Ballantyne in Geelong's NAB Cup loss to Fremantle on Saturday.

James Kelly is already ineligible for the Cats' season-opener after he was suspended for making forceful contact to Tendai Mzungu in last year's elimination final loss to Fremantle.

Geelong said last night they were yet to make a decision on whether to appeal Johnson's penalty, but history shows they rarely take cases to the tribunal.

The Cats would risk a two-match ban if they chose to fight the charge.

Johnson, looking to block for a teammate, was caught on camera delivering a swinging arm to the stomach of Ballantyne in the second half at Subiaco Oval.

The incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point), drawing 125 points and a one-match ban.Under new rules, players suspended during the pre-season must serve their ban during the season proper.

Johnson was already walking a tribunal tightrope, with an existing 80 carry-over points stemming from his one-match sanction for rough conduct against Sydney's Dan Hannebery in Round 23 last year.

Geelong coach Chris Scott denied after Saturday's game that there was any lingering ill-feeling from last year's heated Round 1 match against Fremantle, in which Ballantyne was suspended for striking Paul Chapman behind play, before he was punched in the face by Matthew Scarlett.

"I would be amazed (if there was still friction), none that I've seen. There tends to not be too much friction in NAB 1," Scott said.

But Scott appeared to have a dig at the Dockers goalsneak for staging.

"I didn't see what happened. I know (Ballantyne) was down for a long time," he said.

"I was more concerned with how quickly he got up and set up the next goal, he didn't look too bad did he?"

Hawthorn hasn't beaten Geelong since the 2008 Grand Final, a sequence of nine matches.

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Cover-up claim hits the Lions

Lions coach Michael Voss says there is no chance drug taking could have happened at the club in the years of his captaincy without his knowledge. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

Brisbane Lions players with 2002 premiership cup. Picture: Jody Darcy Source: Herald Sun

EXPLOSIVE allegations have emerged that the reason for a Brisbane Lions player's absence from some games last decade was falsified to cover-up an illicit drug issue.

A former Lions staffer told The Courier-Mail a player missed specific matches in this period because of the illicit drugs issue.

It is just one of several allegations to emerge that have prompted the AFL to open an investigation into behaviours at the club between 2002 and 2009.

The AFL confirmed yesterday the league's integrity unit would investigate.

It follows claims by Jason McGrath, the cousin of premiership player Ash McGrath, that he was involved in match-fixing, illegal gambling and was a drug supplier to six Lions players from that period who were regular users of speed, ecstacy and marijuana.

The Courier-Mail revealed these claims yesterday and was then contacted by a former staffer who worked at the Lions for several years.

The ex-staffer said he could confirm many of Jason McGrath's allegations surrounding drug use.

Another former employee also made the revelation that while at the Lions he was told the reason for a player's absence from the side was a fabrication to cover up an issue with illicit drugs.

Last week AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou confirmed players in the AFL have been repeatedly forced to miss matches because of serious breaches of the league's illicit drug policy.

The Lions reacted angrily to the decision by The Courier-Mail to publish Jason McGrath's allegations.

"These claims from a 'self-confessed drug dealer' are completely unsubstantiated and do not deserve publicity," the Lions said in a statement.

"We have no reason to believe the word of a 'self-confessed drug dealer', but if anyone, including The Courier-Mail, has any evidence with regards to this, or any other matter, it should be referred to either the AFL integrity unit or the Queensland Police.''

AFL corporate affairs manager James Tonkin said the league had opened a probe into events at the club between 2002-09.

"We don't comment on unsubstantated claims, but the matter has been referred to the integrity unit,'' Tonkin said.

The AFL confirmed the League's integrity officer Brett Clothier will also investigate a 2003 game involving the Lions with regards to match-fixing claims.

The Lions received an irate phone call from the AFL in 2003 following the game.

The AFL's Integrity Unit was not established until 2008.

Lions chief executive Malcolm Holmes declined to return calls from The Courier-Mail  yesterday requesting further comment.

The Courier-Mail has alerted the AFL to the latest allegations, but have protected the identity of our sources.

It can be revealed that one person has made himself available for a confidential interview with the AFL's integrity unit and another is considering his position.

Other sources declined.

Last week, The Courier-Mail contacted several former players and staff in an attempt to interview about Jason McGrath's claims.

None of the sources had proof of any drug-taking, but each claimed they were aware of drug use by some or all of the players from the 2002-09 period mentioned by Jason McGrath.

Former Lions chairman Graeme Downie said he was unconcerned about the allegations.

"I never heard questions about any matches and I never heard any rumours of drugs during my time,'' Downie said.

Lions coach Michael Voss last night told Channel 7 there was no chance drug taking could have happened at the club in the years of his captaincy without his knowledge.

Voss captained Brisbane in each of their three premiership years in 2001-03 and until his retirement in 2006.

"You would know, when you are amongst the players, you would know,'' Voss said.

"If there is evidence to suggest that we would encourage you to go to the AFL integrity office or Queensland police.''

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Johnson to learn fate today

Best of mates? The field umpire asks Cats Steve Johnson and Hayden Ballantyne to cool it. Source: Getty Images

Geelong's Steve Johnson crunches Fremantle's Hayden Ballantyne during their Round 1 NAB Cup match at Patersons Stadium. Source: Getty Images

GEELONG will learn today if mercurial forward Steve Johnson has any case to answer after his tangle with Fremantle antagonist Hayden Ballantyne on Saturday night.

The Cats returned to Victoria late yesterday, with Mathew Stokes sporting a moon boot after wrenching his ankle in Geelong's game-one win over West Coast.

The Cats say they are yet to know the full extent of the injury but admit Stokes is unlikely to play in the short-term.

Johnson appeared to make slight contact to Ballantyne's midriff with a swinging right arm during Geelong's game two loss against the Dockers at Subiaco.

If Johnson is suspended he will have to serve the ban in the home-and-away season under a change to the tribunal system.

Johnson is walking a suspension tightrope, given he has 80 carry-over points after accepting a one-match ban for rough conduct against Sydney's Dan Hannebery in Round 23 last year.

But changes to the tribunal system mean his loading for past offences, which was 40 per cent last year, has been dissolved.

Calculations for a player's poor tribunal record now only take into account the previous two seasons, down from three.

And to qualify for a poor record, a player needs to have been suspended for two or more matches within the previous two years.

Johnson's only suspension since the start of the 2011 season was that incident with Hannebery.

His three-week suspension for his infamous tangle with Steven Baker in 2010 no longer counts against him.

Cats coach Chris Scott denied there was any lingering ill-feeling from last year's heated Round 1 match against Fremantle, in which Ballantyne was suspended for striking Paul Chapman behind play, before being floored by Matthew Scarlett.

"I would be amazed (if there was still friction), none that I've seen. There tends to not be too much friction in NAB 1," Scott said.

"I didn't see what happened. I know (Ballantyne) was down for a long time. I was more concerned with how quickly he got up and set up the next goal he didn't look too bad did he?"

Stokes was on crutches during Geelong's second match, with Scott admitting post match the injury looked serious.

"It doesn't look great at the moment but, with those sort of things, they can blow up and be sore for a few days and then come good really quickly," he said.

Cats football manager Neil Balme said he did not know if Stokes would need scans.

"It's not too bad I don't think, but he'll miss something, most certainly," Balme said last night.
 

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Drugs breach hard to Swallow

Andrew Swallow is frustrated by renegade players abusing the illicit drugs policy. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

NORTH Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow has hit out at renegade players abusing the AFL's illicit drugs policy.

Swallow, 25, backed the league's three-strikes code but said the game's stars were being let down by a group of players exploiting loopholes in the system.

The three-time club best-and-fairest winner said it was frustrating for players and a concern for league chiefs that some players felt they could manipulate the policy.

"I think it's a worry that the processes that are put in place and the guidelines put in place exactly to help those people are being abused," Swallow told the Herald Sun.

"I think that's what annoys, especially the majority of the AFL.

"The policy that we've got might need to be tweaked, but it is looking after the welfare of the guys that need it.

"The guys that are abusing it, well, we expect better than that."

A loophole allowing players to dodge a drugs strike by self-reporting use is under the most scrutiny and is expected to be limited to one chance only.

One player is believed to have "self-reported" three times last year.

The Herald Sun has reported six players from one club reported their own drug use to the AFL a total of 10 times last year.

After concerns about players' "volcanic" off-season behaviour were raised by Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert and an industry-wide summit was held, the AFL established an illicit drugs policy working party to refine the league's drugs code.

While the working party process is under way, league executives will begin meeting with club officials this week to discuss the findings of the Australian Crime Commission report into drugs and crime in sport.

"At the moment the club meetings with the AFL executive are a priority, but the IDP testing continues as normal," AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said.

The AFL has defended its drugs policy, as the first of its kind in Australian sport.

But the country's top crime watchdog has warned drug use is far more wide-spread than testing results would indicate. Players are tested for illicit drugs twice a year on average.

Swallow said North's leadership group would discuss the drugs crisis with the rest of the players immediately.

"From a leadership point of view we don't want any of our players taking or being a part of any illicit drugs," he said. "But then there's the other hand where you've got to create an environment where blokes who are having certain problems and addictions feel comfortable enough to come and actually speak up.

"We will definitely be extremely strong on coming across that it is not on and it is not acceptable.

"It is not part of being a premiership footballer.

"We still need to make sure they understand and they know if they are having issues they can come and open up and feel like they have the trust of us and that we actually want to help them."
 

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Mick stands by flag belief

We're in with a chance: Mick Malthouse has talked up Carlton's prospects at the club's family day. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse has made no apologies for declaring the Blues have the makings of a premiership side.

Malthouse, speaking at the club's family day yesterday, was given the opportunity to water down the bold comments he made in his program notes at last week's intra-club match.

Instead, the veteran coach further cranked up the hype, telling a sea of navy blue fans there were "no limits" on Carlton's prospects.

"If you aren't an optimist you're in the wrong game," Malthouse said.

"You've got to come to the football club full of hope so that your playing group, support staff, board and members jump on board and say, 'Right, we've got a chance'.

'We want to make sure that our manta is: 'There's no limit'. Why should we be restricted? That's the thing, too often in our country, our schools and our society, we are suppressed because of what people tell us."

Carlton president Stephen Kernahan said the Blues were on a "journey of redemption" after a hugely disappointing 2012 season saw them miss finals and sack coach Brett Ratten.

"The team is in a fantastic place. It's adapting to a new style and a new attitude," Kernahan said.

"It's very important that we win back respect after a couple of ordinary performances last year."

The Blues believe they are ideally placed leading into Sunday's NAB Cup meetings with Sydney and Greater Western Sydney, with an almost clean bill of health a welcome change from the injury-interrupted pre-seasons of recent years.

Only Chris Judd (hamstring) and Jarrad Waite (calf) are carrying niggles.

Ruckman Robbie Warnock was wearing a knee brace after copping a knock in the second intra-club game, but said he would only miss a week.

This time last year up to a dozen players were still underdone or in rehab programs after operations.

"It's been pleasing as I walk past the medical room over the last few months to see it just about empty. We didn't have that luxury last year which hurt us in the long run," Kernahan said.

Malthouse said it was all part of a carefully managed and cautious summer program that put a strong emphasis on being injury-free.

"It's a real marathon. You need to get people up and feeling very confident about themselves," he said.

"Where will we end up? Everyone wants to be there in September. We are not without taking one step at a time, but we're looking at improving with every step we take."

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Saints burn out in furnace

St Kilda intend to use the NAB Cup to focus on the development of young players.

Adelaide, Port Adelaide and St Kilda fight for bragging rights in their NAB Cup triple-header at AAMI Stadium.

Saints players cool down during the round one AFL NAB Cup match against the Adelaide Crows. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

ST KILDA coach Scott Watters wants a review of the AFL's heat policy after breaking even in a scorching start to the club's NAB Cup campaign.

The Saints thumped Adelaide by 26 points but then wilted in a 50-point loss to Port Adelaide, before the Crows downed the Power by 16 points in the final game.

Watters said St Kilda's medical staff were on "high alert" during their games, played in 38C at AAMI Stadium.

The only concession to the searing heat was each club being allowed two extra drinks carriers.

"Maybe a few extra players, maybe shorter halves, but at the same time we're trying to get some mileage into our players (and) we have limited rotations coming up in NAB (games) two, three and four," Waters said.

"With 80 rotations per game in those three games, it's really important that we get mileage into players today because we're going to have no flexibility at all in (games) two, three and four.

"So next week you've got to be really cautious in exposing your player to a game where there is only 80 rotations. Our medical staff will have a lot of work to do over the next couple of weeks."

According to Champion Data, Port Adelaide made 100 interchanges to St Kilda's 72 in their clash.

Watters said St Kilda had got a lot out of both games.

"To expose players like Jimmy Webster, Nathan Wright (who) played both games today - and if you look at the 34 players we had, there were 20 who had played less than 20 games of footy for this club," he said.

"It was great learning for our young players on how we need every player to lead regardless of whether you've played five, 10 or 200 games."

Gold Coast recruit Tom Hickey and WAFL draftee Tom Lee stood out.

Hickey impressed with his ruck work and marking around the ground, showing he'll be a likely partner for Ben McEvoy, while Lee was lively as one of two focal points in the forward line.

"I thought he (Hickey) was good and marked it well," Watters said.

"(He's) still developing some good centre-bounce work. I don't think our inside mids capitalised on that, so just building that understanding is still happening. But he took some really good marks in testing conditions so it was a good start."

Arryn Siposs was trusted with the kick-ins against Adelaide and was the go-to man as St Kilda rebounded from defence while Terry Milera, Ahmed Saad, Stephen Milne and Trent Dennis-Lane ran amok at the other end.

St Kilda's next game is against Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, March 3.

Watters said Nick Riewoldt and Lenny Hayes were chances to play.

"Roo is knocking down the door but he would probably be NAB three or four and we'll assess Lenny ... possibly next week but certainly the week after."

For Port Adelaide, first-round draft pick Ollie Wines, from Echuca, was a standout.

Few teenagers are built as strongly as the bullocking onballer, who kicked a goal and had eight disposals against the Saints.

Former Bomber Angus Monfries looked dangerous up forward as well as adding to Port's midfield numbers. He saved his best for the second game when he had a game-high 11 possessions and kicked a goal.

Former Swan Campbell Heath was rock solid in the back half and Kane Mitchell and Lewis Stevenson had their moments in both games.

But the surprise packet was 170cm, 67kg lightweight Jake Neade.

The pocket rocket acquired in a trade from the Giants was spectacular inside-50 in the first game against St Kilda.

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Silence on Lions drug den claims

No comment: Brisbane Lions chief executive Malcolm Holmes is silent on the drug claims. Picture: Glenn Barnes Source: The Courier-Mail

THE AFL has refused to reveal if it will investigate serious allegations of match-fixing, illegal gambling and drug use levelled at the Brisbane Lions.

Jason McGrath, the cousin of Lions premiership player Ash McGrath, has made a series of threats to expose behaviour at the club between 2002 and 2009, as the fallout continues from Australian sport's doping storm.

The Courier-Mail can confirm that Jason McGrath, a self-confessed drug dealer, was seen in the Lions' dressingrooms and at functions at times during that period.

The newspaper made contact with Jason McGrath after he made a series of Facebook posts claiming he was ready to expose dodgy AFL practices: "If you don't think the drugs and match-fixing is real, I bet on the AFL and was involved in a game being fixed."

He told the newspaper he had been a drug supplier between 2002 and 2009 and named six Lions players from that period who were heavy users of speed, ecstasy and marijuana.

He said members of the Lions' coaching staff knew some players were regular drug users.

Lions chief executive Malcolm Holmes refused to confirm if the club would investigate the claims or pass the allegations on to the AFL.

"The Brisbane Lions do not comment on unsubstantiated allegations, rumour or innuendo," Holmes said.

The AFL has also refused to say whether it will look into Jason McGrath's claims.

The Courier-Mail can confirm the Lions administration at the time had heard suggestions about drug use by two of the players in question.

Jason McGrath claims to have been involved in fixing a match involving the Lions in 2003, another instance of spot fixing, and to have regularly received inside team information from Lions players just before games for the purposes of betting.

Jason McGrath also told of an occasion where he had delivered an ounce of speed to a Mad Monday celebration at the Broadway Hotel, another where a player was hospitalised after a binge on speed, and multiple times where players had smoked pot in his home.

He also said he had supplied cocaine to players on occasion.

Four players named by Jason McGrath are still playing in the AFL.

He also claimed he would provide to the newspaper betting slips and phone records to substantiate his claims about match-fixing, but he has since gone to ground and refused to return phone calls.

He claims to have received threats from a current player after making his Facebook posts.

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