In reply to Jake Niall (The Age)

Dear Jake,

Thank you for your letter and thoughts on the Essendon-ASADA investigation.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dear-bomber-fans-20130720-2qbkc.html

You raise some good points although I don’t think anyone can predict the future especially with so many missing facts and elements yet to be revealed.

As an Essendon member it strikes me though that Fairfax Media in particular has spent an absurd amount of time trying to unravel Essendon and its people yet have spent so little time on external parties.

For example; the situation regarding the former Essendon sport scientist. Often the media paint the ‘scientist’ as an Essendon scapegoat.

However, I ask where is the media scrutiny on the supplement expenditure at Essendon? Why was the sport scientist allegedly sacked at Essendon?

Fairfax Media I assume are able to sniff the scent of the smoking gun in the ASADA investigation?

Unless of course Caroline Wilson can reveal through her sources that James Hird was in fact also secretly working with Cronulla and Manly in the NRL.

I am also surprised the media has not shown more than a modicum of interest in the organised crime elements of the ASADA investigation. Cynically, I say to myself perhaps James Hird sells more papers than the faceless men of the underworld.

It’s clear though that the ACC and ASADA have bigger fish to fry than a juicy golden fish finger like James Hird.

Essendon has stuffed up. The Ziggy report confirms this and Essendon members are rightfully disappointed that the club is in this situation. We will cop our whack as long as it is fair for the crime committed.

In the meantime, as delusional Essendon fans in a state of denial we will continue to support of our club and James Hird.  They need us more than ever.

I just ask, can the media lower their eyes and spot more than one target in the forward 50?

Yours Sincerely,

Darren Reid

Essendon member

ASADA Syndrome

There is a new disease striking fear into sporting clubs around Australia known as ASADA Syndrome. You don’t want to catch it because even if it turns out to be benign the effects will be debilitating for a long period of time.

Once the disease takes hold the club’s well being is immediately compromised, it attacks the nervous system first and then progressively wraps itself around the host causing enormous stress and anxiety.

There is no short term relief. Once ASADA strikes the club is immediately under suspicion by all as trial by media ensues. Sponsors get nervous, fans hope for the best but fear the worst and the playing group suffers the most.

We already know 1 AFL club and 6 NRL clubs have the syndrome whilst another AFL club is showing isolated symptoms.

How can ASADA possibly investigate all these clubs in a timely manner!

I want to know how many people work for ASADA. Once they inflict your club with their ‘infestation’ it will be paralysed for how long before they let go?

As their testing regime has proved impotent, ASADA have to rely on circumstantial evidence gained through intelligence involving numerous interviews, computer records and with the help of the Australian Crime Commission (ACC), phone taps.

In the truest sense this is a long term investigation and they need a scalp to justify the release of the Organised Crime and Drugs in Sport report.

In the meantime the paralysis continues at Essendon whilst 6 other NRL clubs await the start of the ASADA investigation.

In Essendon’s case, the preseason competition is about to begin and the whole club has a dark cloud following it’s every movement.

Self inflicted I hear you say?

Nothing has been proven, just a suspicious character whose trail across multiple sporting clubs is deemed worthy of investigation.

The onus is on ASADA to throw all possible resources at getting a result either way. If it has the best interests of sport and the fans at heart this is a must.

Further, if the organisation with the assistance of the ACC took 12 months to get this far with the ubiquitous ‘could’ and ‘possibly’ spread throughout the report, I fear a long and painful investigation process.

In the case of ASADA Syndrome the treatment does considerable damage regardless of the outcome