To say the effects of the bans handed down to 34 current and former Essendon players were far-reaching would be an understatement. The ripples that followed the Court of Arbitration for Sport's judgment on Tuesday morning (Australian time) will be felt for years to come, while the decision made headlines on CNN and the BBC, and even the front page of local Greek publication Neos Kosmos. While only half of the 34 players are still on AFL lists, it was widely noted that several others are still playing at state league and local level, with both players, and their respective clubs suffering as a result of the suspensions.
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One of those is Aberfeldie co-captain Luke Davis — who led his side to a drought-ending premiership last season — only two years after being delisted by the Bombers without playing a game. It seems though that the loss of Davis was not the only ill-effect for "Abers". Pssst has learnt that the Essendon District Football League club had also been in discussions with Bombers games-record holder Dustin Fletcher, who retired at the end of an injury-riddled 2015, the 23rd season of his storied career. The defender had flagged the possibility of a return to local football during a press conference in the middle of last year. Aberfeldie had seemed the perfect fit given the strong connection between the suburban club and the Bombers, and the fact Fletcher's sons play for Aberfeldie juniors. But with Fletcher now suspended until November, hopes of him playing again have been dashed – at least for now.
Meanwhile, Aberfeldie president John Larkins has vowed to support Davis, who posted an emotional message on Instagram after the penalties were dished out. "Today i was told I was a drug cheat," Davis wrote. "I am not a drug cheat. I will miss playing and being the best person I can be for this club. I wish all 34 the best. It shatters me the news we received today but i will be a better person because of it (sic)."
Best of the rest?
We don't want to kick the Bombers when they are clearly down, but how's this for bad timing? Last Sunday the club announced online who supporters had picked as the team's best 22 for the coming season. More than 2000 supporters nominated Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell, Joe Daniher, Michael Hurley, Cale Hooker, Michael Hibberd, Zach Merrett, Mark Baguley, Travis Colyer, David Zaharakis, Brendon Goddard, Matthew Leuenberger, David Myers, Brent Stanton, Heath Hocking, Craig Bird, Tom Bellchambers, Jayden Laverde, Darcy Parish, Shaun McKernan, Ben Howlett and Martin Gleeson. Well, as we know, the Bombers were rocked two days later when CAS released its decision. This meant that of the team picked by supporters, Watson, Heppell, Hurley, Hooker, Hibberd, Colyer, Myers, Stanton, Hocking, Bellchambers and Howlett were now excluded. As for picking a revised "best of" team, that's some challenge. Regardless, club great Matthew Lloyd fears the Dons will be winless this season.
Too little too late?
The coincidence could barely have been starker on Tuesday morning at Etihad Stadium. Hours after their peers had been rubbed out for anti-doping violations, the AFL's first year players were learning about the risks of drugs in sport at the annual AFL Players Association induction camp.
Garry scissorhands
CAS's penalties caught not only the players by surprise ... but some commentators. The dramatic day prompted a special edition of Footy Classified on Nine but there was one hitch - host, and Age columnist, Garry Lyon needed a hair cut. So, we hear, he did it himself - and the results weren't that great, with elements of what some described as a mullet still on show. Hopefully 'Gaz' can lift his game come the season proper!
Horse Bolted
It is amazing how sports lingo can sweep the world. The Blues have been espousing their "re-set" under new coach Brendon Bolton, with the club undergoing a revamp on and off the field. Now we have Brooklyn Nets owner, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, orchestrating change, although he says not quite on the scale as has been going on at Royal Parade. The Nets have fired their coach and have re-assigned their general manager after another disappointing season. Said Prokhorov: "Our approach helped us reach the play-offs three seasons in a row, but we have failed [to win a title], and it's important for us to go [further]. That's why we need a small re-set for this year, and I hope we will be back as a play-off team and as a championship contender. It's my only goal."
Knock-on
The long-term impacts of head knocks and concussion continue to be an agenda item among some player agents and former players. There is talk even a United States law firm has taken a look at a possible case against the AFL on behalf of a local group of agitators. Don't be surprised if there is legal action of some kind this season. As has been well documented, the impact of concussion, and the multi-million dollar legal cases, have become a growing point of interest in the NFL.
Tale of the tape
Much has been made of the professional standards brought to the W-League by Melbourne City, who have beaten all and sundry during their first season in the competition. Sometimes it is the little things that stand out though. Asked about the things that had changed since she first played the game at the elite level in Australia, City midfielder Aivi Luik got shirty. "I can't remember the taping on of numbers in the W-League per se, but that's definitely happened in my career. We're short a jersey or someone's forgotten a jersey and you've literally taped on a '1,' or turned a '3' into an '8'."
Food for thought
The stars of world tennis should only be hungry for success during the coming fortnight at Melbourne Park, as they have no excuse to be wanting for tucker. Organisers recently announced all players are now allowed unlimited food at the event with their accreditation.
The watchman
A couple of seconds past midnight... for Essendon as the club tries to pull itself together after the disastrous CAS judgment.
Local Hero
Beating him would be akin to shooting Bambi, but someone had to be drawn against Lleyton Hewitt in the first round of the Australian Open. So we are giving the nod to fellow Australian James Duckworth, because no one else will be in his corner this week.
Numbers up
30 votes polled by Jobe Watson in the 2012 Brownlow Medal.
26 votes polled by runners-up Richmond's Trent Cotchin and Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell, who stand to win the medal if Watson is stripped of the award at an AFL Commission meeting next month.
1971 the last time a Tiger (Ian Stewart) won the Brownlow.
Got a tip? Contact Daniel Cherny or Jon Pierik. Twitter: @danielcherny or @pierik_agesport
