While the focus has been on Essendon, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the club is relieved Stewart Crameri has been cleared to play after it was ruled he was not administered a banned drug when at his former club.
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Crameri, a key cog of the Dogs' forward line, will take to the field against West Coast at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, delighted to be back in action after having to sit out the NAB Challenge while provisionally suspended. Brent Prismall, the former Bomber now with the Dogs' VFL side, was also cleared.
As he embarks on his rookie season as a senior coach, Beveridge understands the importance of having Crameri, the club's leading goal-kicker with 37 last season, as a focal point in attack.
"We are all relieved," Beveridge said on Friday. "It's actually been very difficult for Cramers and Brent Prismall as well.
"Stewy has been really, really thankful and he has expressed as much to me and to everyone who has supported him, especially his teammates."
Before a light training run on Friday, Beveridge used his news conference to thank the legal efforts of club president and lawyer Peter Gordon, Gordon's son Patrick, who is alsoa lawyer and was involved in the anti-doping hearings, and Rob Stary Lawyers for helping to clear Crameri.
"There was a time there where maybe there was some stagnation, there was some uncertainty in the process and they were the ones that got it on track for everyone, and that will come out in time," Beveridge said.
"We are really relieved and over the moon now that Stewie can get on with his AFL career."
Crameri will line up alongside off-season recruit Tom Boyd, while the likes of Jack Redpath, Lin Jong, Jason Johannisen and Mitch Honeychurch have been given a chance to start the season in the right manner. Jong was one of the more impressive performers through the summer campaign.
Boyd has attracted heavy media focus after leaving Greater Western Sydney in a multi-million-dollar deal, but Beveridge and the Dogs have worked hard to temper short-term expectations of the 19-year-old with only nine matches to his credit.
"He (Boyd) has been on record as saying it's important he plays well in the ruck when it's his opportunity to do so. That's not imperative, that's not his No.1 role with us," Beveridge said.
"But if we go into a game and we pick our side based around him being able to contribute in the ruck as well as being a really threatening forward, competing up there, that's a string to his bow."
The Dogs hope Michael Talia can become the key position defender to help vice-captain Jordan Roughead. Veteran Dale Morris and skipper Robert Murphy also have important roles to fill inside the defensive 50, while ruckman Will Minson is determined to regain his All Australian form.
While the Dogs ended the pre-season with a thumping win over Collingwood, just what that means in the context of the new season is unclear, a point Beveridge admitted.
"You don't know coming into the season really what the NAB form line really tells you. West Coast will be like us, looking to start the year on the right note," he said.
"All the predictions say we are the underdogs but we really believe we are going to challenge most sides this year."
