Cloud over Geelong's flags?

Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich says their players have been injected with vitamin supplements, but all above board.

Essendon high performance manager Dean Robinson worked at Geelong and Gold Coast, prompting the AFL to investigate those clubs. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

A SPECIAL AFL forensic team will investigate the operations of the two clubs who previously employed suspended Essendon high performance manager Dean Robinson.

Geelong and Gold Coast have been told the league's investigators will be putting the microscope over every aspect of their high performance departments.

Robinson, who was stood down by Essendon on Tuesday, joined Geelong in 2007 as its strength and conditioning coach before moving to the Suns at the end of 2010.

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Brisbane is also on the league's hit list after admitting Stephen Dank, the performance scientist who was brought to Essendon by Robinson and is the man at the centre of the scandal, had been briefly employed as a consultant to the Lions.

The AFL is planning to audit all clubs over their use of drugs and supplements with every training practice reviewed.

Geelong has maintained it has nothing to hide about the way it conducted its sports science and fitness departments during its stunning premiership run.

Gatto denies links to betting company

"Everyone in this organisation is accountable," chief executive Brian Cook said earlier. "That accountability is a high focus within our footy club.

"I'm confident we won't be implicated. The processes we use are pretty sound.

"The doctors are the only ones allowed to give injections, the doctors have to sign off any vitamin purchases made and we have a supplement register."

Geelong Football Club CEO Brian Cook with the 1st Brownlow Medal returned to the club. Picture: Glenn Ferguson Source: Geelong Advertiser

Despite the latest scandal, Cook said the club would continue to remain on the cutting edge of sports science.

For the past three years the Cats have had their own sports science advisory committee which is made up of elite sports scientists from across the country, including the Australian Institute of Sport.

Cook said while that committee was always looking for the next competitive advantage in the sports science area, it operated in a "very ethical framework'' that complied with Anti-Doping regulations.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire yesterday revealed the Pies had already conducted their own  audit of their sports science procedures including substances used by the club.

AFLPA CEO Matt Finnis says the roles of club doctors and medical professionals are being diminished sports science.

"We have already audited Collingwood two days ago and we are ready to come in with our ideas of what has to happen,'' McGuire said.

"After what happened in the last couple of days, we wanted to make sure everything is right and ship-shape at our club, to make sure we have the protocols in place.

"If there is anything to uncover I welcome it. One of the things that has been lost in translation is that we don't want to win a premiership by cheating. So we stand for sportsmanship. You have to stand up for that.''

Hawthorn has also conducted an audit which found players were only taking multivitamins and protein powder.

Brisbane coach Michael Voss said he was "not concerned at all'' about the club's links to Dank given the very "limited involvement'' the club had with him.

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Milne boots four in Seaford heat

Stephen Milne starred in St Kilda's first intraclub practice match of the year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

AGELESS Stephen Milne set the pattern for another productive AFL season as a standout performer in St Kilda's first intraclub practice match today.

Milne booted four goals and set up at least another three with his renowned crumbing work in the forward line at Seaford.

The form of the 258-game veteran was high on coach Scott Watters' list of encouraging signs from the workout that lasted nearly two hours.

Watters said Milne was on a modified training program early in the pre-season to protect a minor knee problem.

But the 32-year-old stepped up his work when players resumed after the Christmas break.

Milne looked sharp and keen and the coach continued to marvel at his leadership and example for younger teammates.

He had a hand in two of fellow forward Terry Milera's three goals while another small forward Ahmed Saad also chimed in with two.

Beau Maister - formerly Wilkes - was impressive among the tall targets with three goals and midfielders Jack Steven and David Armitage were others to show impressive early touch.

Captain Nick Riewoldt, best and fairest winner Lenny Hayes, Sean Dempster, Adam Schneider and Rhys Stanley were the senior players to sit out the opening practice match.

Watters was the overseer of the game, supervised by a full complement of field and boundary umpires, that gave players short breaks every 10 or 15 minutes for onfield drinks in the heat.

Ruckman Ben McEvoy ran to the dressing rooms with a trainer midway through the match and didn't return. But

Watters said he was fine and the rest was only to manage his heavy workloads.

St Kilda starts its NAB Cup campaign against Adelaide and Port Adelaide in Adelaide tomorrow week.

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AFL vows to save our game

The AFL announce new measures to their Integrity Commission to catch drug cheats including more investigators and more drug testing.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou is adamant that cheating of any form in the AFL will not be accepted and you will be caught.

North Melbourne vice-captain and AFLPA board member Drew Petrie is shocked by the revelations by the ACC and welcomes the investigation.

Government ministers and the heads of Australian sporting codes are talking tough about widespread criminal elements in sport.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and AFL Commission Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick address the media after the Australian Crime Commission released a report on drugs and organised crime in Australian sport. Source: Herald Sun

THE AFL has declared war on drug-takers and pushers as part of an unprecedented crackdown on criminals infiltrating the sport.

An emergency AFL Commission meeting yesterday fast-tracked a host of reforms to its drug code.

The league will require the name of every drug and/or supplement that is given to players by medical and sports science staff at the 18 clubs.

All club personnel will have background checks ordered and a whistleblower unit will be set up.

Responding to yesterday's Australian Crime Commission report, AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and chief executive Andrew Demetriou refused to share evidence of doping in the AFL, saying they were bound by confidentiality.

They said they were not aware of the number of players or clubs who had been identified by the ACC.

"We're not sure if it's a couple of individuals or more widespread at this stage, but we're going to find out," Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick said combating doping was the game's major priority.

"We feel the WADA testing was relatively successful to about 12 months ago, and it's become clear today it's not," he said.

"We're looking at moving as quickly as we can to make the sure the integrity, the fairness of the competition is reinforced.

"Our view is we're going to clean up the sport as quickly as we can."

It's understood the ACC has extracted information from criminal elements, and that at least one person central to the Essendon drugs scandal has been spoken to by the ACC.

Demetriou described yesterday as a "wake-up call", and that the AFL and the NRL - identified as the codes with the biggest integrity issues - needed greater resources to combat cheats.

"It would be fair to say after today there will be people at all of our clubs, working at all different levels, which would include players, that will have had a wake-up call," he said.

Adelaide Crows captain Nathan van Berlo surprised at the revelations revealed by the Australian Crime Commission.

"With this scrutiny they will be thinking, what should I do.

"I will say this, if you are out there and you think that you can run the gauntlet of cheating in this system, whether to be with the salary cap or the use of performance enhancing drugs, gambling etc, make no mistake you will be caught."

The AFL's strategy will be outlined to the four major heads of footy clubs - the chairman, the coach, the chief executive and football operations manager - who will be required to attend the AFL over the coming week.

The AFL reforms include:

A REVAMPING of the AFL's integrity unit, which includes more investigators, more technology, more intelligence gathering capabilities and more testing.

AN AUDIT of every club's use of supplements and other treatments.

THE AFL's medical officers to meet club doctor to review their practices and the use of external practitioners.

MANDATORY reporting of doping activity or when players are approached to take drugs.

REGISTRATION of all club staff, pointedly sports science staff and and high performance managers.

BACKGROUND checks on all club staff.

A WHISTLEBLOWER unit to help catch crooks.

Demetriou would not comment on the Essendon issue, but stressed some drugs were undetectable under current drug testing procedures.

"There are drugs out there not even approved for human use yet that are being trialled," he said.

Fitzpatrick said the game needed protecting from "insidious elements".

"Today's news from the Australian Crime Commission has shown us all Australian sport is not immune from the problems sport overseas have faced," he said.

"The world has changed and we have to respond to it."

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Dank set to tell all

Bombers midfielder Jake Melksham has injured his hand during a intra-club match.

Sports scientist Steve Dank is set to deliver an explosive interview. Source: news.com.au

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou is adamant that cheating of any form in the AFL will not be accepted and you will be caught.

Former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy chats to Fox Sports News about the Bombers doping scandal, saying anyone found guilty should be banned from the AFL.

STEPHEN Dank, the man at the centre of the Essendon drugs saga, is set to deliver an explosive tell-all interview in which he pledges his innocence in the scandal that has rocked Australian sport.

After several days in hiding, sources close to Dank say the controversial sports scientist is ready to emerge from the maelstrom to fully explain his methods and declare he never administered illegal substances to athletes in the AFL or NRL.

It is understood Dank has been in talks with ABC's 7.30 Report and could appear in coming days, possibly as early as tonight.

It is believed the man dubbed "The Pharmacist" has told sources he has nothing to hide ahead of the interview.

The former Essendon sports-science guru offered an emphatic "no" when asked by News Limited on Wednesday whether he had knowingly given or injected banned substances to Bombers players.

Robbo - The ugly day when belief died

But after staying silent for 48 hours as ASADA and the Australian Crime Commission ramp-up investigations into doping and alleged organised crime links, Dank is ready to open up, including detailed accounts of the practices he employed at various clubs including Essendon and former NRL premiers Manly.

A source close to Dank has scoffed at suggestions the former Essendon employee, nicknamed 'The Professor', peddled illegal substances to AFL or NRL clubs.

The source claimed Dank operated within the rules in the NRL and used mainly Vitamin B, Vitamin C and glutathiamine injections, which deliver antioxidants, with Essendon players.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou is adamant that cheating of any form in the AFL will not be accepted and you will be caught.

"Claims that Steve may have cheated at Manly are ridiculous," the insider said.

"He didn't go into peptides, he looked at DNA-profiling and the (Manly) club used injections with calves blood but that was never illegal.

"I can't see Dank helping out other NRL teams ... he did his own work."

A friend of Dank told News Limited this morning: "I have known Stephen for years and I can't see him getting into anything illegal.

AFL, NRL 'allowed cheating to fester'

"There is no doubt he is an offbeat sort of guy, he's very intelligent, very dedicated to sports science ... but whether he would be administering illegal substances, who knows?"

A 12-month investigation by the ACC released yesterday found illegal drugs were present in Australian sport and being facilitated by sports scientists, high-level coaches and sports staff.

A leading AFL conditioner, who has conducted extensive research into drugs in sport, explained why sporting teams would be playing with fire by using illegal peptides such as GHRP-6.

Former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy chats to Fox Sports News about the Bombers doping scandal, saying anyone found guilty should be banned from the AFL.

"We would be naive if we thought it wasn't happening, but I don't know of anyone (in AFL or rugby league) who is using it," he said.

"There is no evidence to prove (using peptides) actually works.

"Peptides such as GHRP-6 are designed to produce growth hormone which helps with muscle mass, so if anything it would be more useful with rugby league athletes than those in the AFL.

"There are hundreds of peptides, some are legal and some are not, and that is what ASADA will have to work out.

"Most blokes in our field would not go near this stuff. There is no real research on the effects on the body and how effective it is.

"If Essendon are doing it, it is certainly not commonplace."

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Trafficker worked with Hird in 2004

Convicted drug trafficker Shane Charter has links to Essendon legend James Hird. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

SHANE Charter - the convicted drug trafficker who may have supplied former Essendon sports scientist Steve Dank with supplements at the centre of footy's doping probe - has links to Bombers coach James Hird.

The Herald Sun can reveal Hird and Charter worked together for 12 months on his diet and fitness during the champion's premiership and Brownlow Medal-winning career.

Charter was also hailed as "the architect" behind Demon Shane Woewodin's 2000 Brownlow Medal win.

An Essendon spokesman told the Herald Sun today: "Shane Charter was introduced to James Hird by friends to give dietary advice to him and a number of his friends during 2003 and in early 2004.

"James has had no contact or communication with Mr Charter since, except when he ran into him in 2011.

"The relationship was never more than that."

Charter said in 2000, after Woewodin's win: "My life might be changing next year."

Of his program, Charter, then a full-time pharmaceutical company sales rep, said: "It's a multi-faceted program that involves nutrition, modifying training and also testing in terms of urine and blood analysis.

"It's very tailored. The system is individualised to cater for the individual's needs.

"Every player has different requirements in terms of his age, weight, energy, daily activity, repair to muscle tissue and vitamin, minerals and enzyme deficiencies.

"With Shane there were areas we could get large improvements.''

Former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy says it's better to have doping "on the table" and investigated rather than covered it up.

The football operations general manager at Melbourne in 2000 was Danny Corcoran, who is now head of football at Essendon.

There is no suggestion that Woewodin or Hird ever took banned substances.

A Fairfax report today alleged Charter had worked closely with Dank while he was at Essendon last year to provide players with supplements.

Charter was arrested and found in possession of 100,000 pseudoephedrine-based tablets in 2004. He pleaded guilty and received a reduced prison sentence.

The Bombers on Monday requested ASADA and the AFL investigate the club's sports science program after concerns were raised about players being injected with supplements off site by a registered nurse.

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Act before it's too late: Sheeds

Former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy says it's better to have doping "on the table" and investigated rather than covered it up.

GWS Giants coach Kevin Sheedy. Source: News Limited

REVERED AFL figure Kevin Sheedy has called on his sport to hunt down the drug cheats and banish them from before it is too late.

The GWS Giants coach spoke this morning following the dramatic media conference in Canberra.

Australian athletes across multiple sports are involved in doping and have links to organised crime groups, the major Government investigation has found.

Australia's day of sporting shame

The AFL is not immune and Sheedy said now was the time to strike or risk being overrun.

"We need to get rid of it - we need to find the people and eradicate them from the sport," he said.

"This is a rude awakening for a lot of people in all sports.

"I think when it comes out, whatever that report is going to say, we'll handle that correctly.

Trafficker worked with James Hird in 2004

"And that means for the players, player managers and clubs in general right throughout our sport and across all sports in general."

Sheedy said there would be consequences if the AFL did not act.

When asked if the AFL and other codes had done enough to prevent what has happened, he said:

"Well, you'll never know what is enough until you've eventually found out that's happened," he said.

Demetriou wages war on drugs

"I still struggle with the Tour de France debacle.

"That's alarms for me and I would look at that and would think what is happening in our sport is perfect for us to go in and go crunch straight away."

Sheedy also weighed into the issues at his former club Essendon.

The man who coached the Bombers to four premierships applauded the stance taken by the club.

"Essendon have done the right thing because in the end, we want to get that sorted out," he said.

How the codes responded today

"Essendon haven't been found guilty of anything.

"They just had basically an investigation, so we shouldn't really be jumping into them too much.

"But I'm glad they did what they did because it actually says to the public they are going to investigate this."

The legendary coach said he would not tolerate players being injected with substances without his knowledge.

"You'd want to know about that, because you'd stamp it out straight away," he said.

The key points that stunned a nation

"I'm pretty ruthless in this area.

"I don't know how these people infiltrate into football clubs."

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Hird backs suspended fitness boss

Essendon hold their first training session since announcing they have gone to the AFL over concerns about supplements supplied last year.

AFL great Dermot Brereton voices his thoughts on the Essendon doping scandal.

Essendon call in AFL and ASADA to investigate the club's training regime and suppliments given to players.

Victory University Institute of Sport's Simon Outram chats to Fox Sports News about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in light of the Essendon stimulant scandal.

Essendon coach James Hird appears to have the weight of the world on his shoulders as he throws a football in a wheely bin at the end of a training session at Tullamarine on Wednesday morning. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

Essendon players training at Windy Hill in 2012. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

Artwork: David Mcarthur Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON coach James Hird has today expressed support for suspended high performance manager Dean Robinson.

The morning after the Bombers announced they had stood down the club's fitness guru, Hird said he was "still shocked" by the drugs scandal rocking the club.

"I have confidence in Dean Robinson," Hird said upon arriving at Windy Hilly this morning.

"Our players are moving on, we're training hard and we're looking forward to the start of the season.

"I'm sure it (the allegations) does have an effect (on them), but we're moving on."

Club veteran Dustin Fletcher said he would let the club's senior officials speak about the impending the investigation.

"I'm not too fussed about it, the boys upstairs will deal with it," he said.

How soccer & NFL dealt with injection controversy

"Hirdy (coach James Hird), Evo (club chairman David Evans) and Robbo (CEO Ian Robson) will deal with it, we'll just keep training and doing our best."

Essendon midfielder Brent Stanton swore to stick by the club when he arrived at Windy Hill.

"(I'll) continue to support the football club and we're just getting on with our business," he said.

'I'd be devastated if Jobe lost Brownlow': Tim Watson

On Nova radio this morning, former Lion and Bulldog Jason Akermanis said he thought there would be large fallout from the investigation.

"It ain't going to wash this one, there will be a lot of guys who are going to be in a lot of trouble," he said.

The embattled club's home turf at Windy Hill remains a hive of activity, with players and senior officials believed to be holding crisis talks behind closed doors.

Motorists in the area are slowing down along Napier St to have a closer look at the club which has been thrown into turmoil over the past 48 hours.

Drivers are winding down their windows as they pass Windy Hill Oval, shouting choruses of "drug cheats"; while the Bombers' faithful have expressed their disappointment at the drug scandal allegations.

Craigeburn resident Joseph Fisher, 65, said he had followed the Dons for more than 20 years and this scandal wouldn't put him off barracking for the red and black.

"It's a sad time for the club," he said outside Windy Hill this morning.

"I am surprised that this could be happening at the club in this day and age.

"I'll continue to support them... But let's just say, drugs and football don't mix."

Earlier, Essendon players completed a high-security training session at Tullamarine following a club meeting which was off limits to the public and media.

SEE PICTURES FROM TRAINING HERE

The footballers and training staff were ushered into the under-construction Melbourne Airport Club training ground between 7-8am by security and club staff.

Media and fans were denied entry to the venue, which is usually open to the public.

A barbed wire fence encircled the facility.

Essendon coach James Hird appears to have the weight of the world on his shoulders as he throws a football in a wheely bin at the end of a training session at Tullamarine onWednesday morning. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

Several fans were relegated to watch the training session beyond the barbed wire fence and speculate on the scandal.

Bombers supporter Robert Glenn said the revelations were "a bloody shame".

"Hird and Thompson are very negligent in their jobs if they don't know what their players have taken," Mr Glenn said.

"It's a bloody shame because they've been training so well."

Tredrea: I was offered drugs

A security guard instructed those driving out of the ground to wind up their windows as he escorted them to the roadside, shielding them from the media contingent.

Media have also positioned themselves at Windy Hill, the football club's headquarters.

Security guards and club staff manned the gates of the Melbourne Airport training facility where Essendon Football Club players and officials met early this morning.

It comes after yesterday's day of high drama in which it was announced the AFL would investigate the Bombers.

The Herald Sun revealed players were taken away from the club and injected with unknown substances by sports science staff last season.

The Herald Sun can also reveal the off-site injections will form part of an investigation by the AFL and Australia's anti-doping watchdog into inappropriate use of supplements at the club in 2012.

Sources allege organised crime gangs also have been linked to the scandal.

It is alleged the alarm was raised at Windy Hill midway through last season about the activities of the club's performance scientist, Stephen Dank, who has since left the club.

BELOW: Possible sanctions that could be imposed by WADA and the AFL

Expense forms totalling more than $10,000, including the cost of a registered nurse to perform injections, were regularly submitted by Dank to the club.

Essendon late last night stood down Robinson, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The substances, which have not been identified, were taken orally, by injection and intravenously.

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Sports physician Dr Peter Larkins said Essendon players could be facing up to a two-year ban if found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Dr Larkins told 3AW this morning it was rumoured the drug used was a peptide.

"I've been given a lot of hints over the last 12 hours form the various people connected to this story and I've come up with three," he said.

"Best guess is that they're using a stimulator substance that produces your own increase of your natural hormones. So they're not taking an external drug that is routinely detectable," Dr Larkins claimed.

Essendon players were asked to sign waivers, supposedly exonerating the club of wrongdoing in the taking of the mystery substances.

It is understood an Essendon official spoke to an organised crime investigative body about his knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs in football last November.

The AFL is aware that its sport is being targeted by peddlers of illegal substances.

The Herald Sun last night submitted questions to the Australian Crime Commission, a leading law enforcement body in the fight against organised crime. In response, it said: "The Australian Crime Commission does not confirm who it is or isn't investigating."

Essendon coach James Hird, along with chief executive Ian Robson and chairman David Evans, talk to the media about inappropriate use of supplements by some players at the club during the 2012 season. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun

BELOW: See timeline of club's past three years and snapshot of the Bombers' 2012 season

Sources last night warned at least one more club could be implicated over misuse of supplements.

It is known Essendon's highly respected club doctor, Bruce Reid, became frustrated by elements of Dank's work with the players last year.

But Bombers chiefs yesterday claimed they had become aware of "concerning information" only in the past two days. 

Who is Stephen Dank?

 Axed former Essendon star Kyle Reimers told Channel 9 last night: "They (Essendon) admitted to us that it was right on the edge.

"Speaking to blokes from other clubs, I don't think anyone has ever thought about signing it or doing the stuff we were doing.

"After a couple of months away from it, it does seem pretty odd that, the type of stuff we were taking."

Editorial: Drugs menace is a great game

Essendon yesterday stressed the recent departures of football boss Paul Hamilton and chief operating officer Dom Cato were not related to the scandal.

The Herald Sun contacted a number of senior Essendon officials about the allegations on Monday and they strongly denied any wrongdoing by the club last year.

They now fear, however, banned drugs may have been given to their players without the knowledge of senior officials.

The club had late night meetings on Monday and again yesterday before coming forward to the AFL.

Players face two-year bans

Bombers chairman David Evans said: "The integrity at the club is critical, and that's why we've moved quickly to contact the AFL.

"The info we gathered over the last 24 or 48 hours is slightly concerning, and we want to dig a bit deeper but we want the AFL to help us."

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has long made known his dislike for the growing influence of sports scientists in the game.

Last night he said: "They (Essendon) have just started the investigation. They don't know what they have taken or alleged to have taken, they don't know the composition, and they don't even know if they have broken any WADA rules.

"They have come forward so I think they are entitled to the benefit of the doubt."

Bombers legend Tim Watson believes the players' trust has been abused.

"Players by nature are trusting individuals who think OK, if these people have been accepted into our football club, then we as players, we're not scientists, we don't know the make-up of this supplement," Watson told SEN.

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd also said the blame couldn't be placed on the players, who he says would have been following medical advice.

"You're told by a fitness coach or a sports scientist that you'll get a greater advantage and recover well, be fitter, stronger, and everything is done legally ... yeah you'd just jump onboard and do it," he told 3AW.

Meanwhile, Brownlow medallist and footy commentator Gerard Healy said he made the AFL aware of doping concerns 12 months ago after the issue was raised by an Essendon official at a sports medicine conference, 3AW reported.

- Reporting by Mark Robinson, Michael Warner, Mark Buttler, Erin Marie and Angus Thompson

Dejected Essendon players depart the MCG after another loss late in the season last year. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON'S 2012 IN A SNAPSHOT

- The Bombers soared to an 8-1 win-loss record and are second on the table heading into June. Their premiership odds are crunched as Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton and Dustin Fletcher lead the charge.

- The Dons' opening nine weeks eventuated despite a spate of early-season injuries and included a stunning 30-point win against Carlton, which is the flag favourite at the time.

- A shock loss to straggler Melbourne in Round 10 lights the fuse for Essendon's dramatic demise in the second half of the season. The Dons are the first side to lose to the Dees under Mark Neeld.

- Dons chairman David Evans is forced to publicly defend high-performance manager Dean Robinson ("The Weapon") for the injury curse in August. Essendon's soft-tissue epidemic claims about a dozen stars, including Michael Hurley, David Zaharakis, Brent Stanton, Paddy Ryder, David Hille and Stewie Crameri.

- Essendon peters out to finish with an 11-11 record, dropping 10 of the final 13 matches to finish 11th on the ladder.

- The Dons record embarrassing losses to Richmond (45 points) and Carlton (96) in the final month of the season.

- Jobe Watson becomes the first player since Shane Crawford in 1999 to win the Brownlow Medal from a non-finalist, polling 30 votes.

- Essendon parts company with sports science guru Stephen Dank in the fallout from their wretched collapse last season.

- Football manager Paul Hamilton reportedly walks out in September, with Danny Corcoran taking charge at Windy Hill.

Essendon's big guns (from left), chief executive Ian Robson, chairman David Evans and coach James Hird, front the media yesterday. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun

What they said
"I am very disappointed. Shocked, is probably the best word ... I believe we followed processes; we put in place the right kind of processes. My understanding is we worked within the framework that was given to us by the AFL and I am shocked to be sitting here really.'' - Essendon coach James Hird

"I think the investigation takes its course from here and we learn more, as I said earlier I don't have all the answers but as you would agree this is a minefield. It takes experts, we have contacted experts today and we will use them to help us with the findings.'' - Essendon chairman David Evans

"David Evans has briefed the AFL about the matter and we support his actions. The AFL's Integrity Unit already works closely with ASADA and will assist with the investigation.'' - Acting AFL Football Operations Manager Gillon McLachlan

TIMELINE
End of 2010
- Geelong premiership coach Mark Thompson quits the Cats to join Essendon as James Hird's senior assistant. He says the Bombers must get bigger.

End of 2011
- Former Geelong and Gold Coast fitness guru Dean ``The Weapon'' Robinson joins Essendon and says his pre-season program for the under-sized Bombers will be ``intense''.

Start of 2012
- Robinson recruits long-time collaborator sports scientist Stephen Dank. Known as "The Pharmacist'', Dank worked at NRL club Manly and Gold Coast Suns in the AFL with Robinson.

End of season 2012
- Robinson has his role downgraded as former Athletics Australia chief executive Danny Corcoran takes on more responsibility.

- Jobe Watson win the Brownlow medal, polling 30 votes.

- Football manager Paul Hamilton quits the club.

- Dank parted company with the club amid concern over the sports science program.

Yesterday
- Essendon chairman David Evans says "over the last 48 hours the Essendon Football Club has received information about supplements that have been given to our players as part of the fitness program of 2012". ADL and ASADA launch investigations.

Last night
- Essendon stands down Robinson pending the outcome of the inquiries.

A young fan flies an Essendon flag during a match at Etihad Stadium last season. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

Possible sanctions

WADA
- World Anti-Doping Code penalties for using performance-enhancing drugs: First violation - two years ineligibility; Second violation: lifetime ineligibility.

However, the Athlete or other Person shall have the opportunity in each case, before a period of Ineligibility is imposed, to establish the basis for eliminating or reducing this sanction

AFL
- The AFL has broad powers under its rules to penalise clubs and players it deems have brought the game into disrepute - clubs could face hefty fines and exclusion from the national draft.

REPLAY our chat of the press conference coverage below

IF YOU'RE ON A MOBILE DEVICE, CLICK HERE TO READ OUR LIVE COVERAGE

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Players banned under drugs policy

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou. Source: Herald Sun

PLAYERS have been repeatedly forced to miss matches because of serious breaches of the league's controversial illicit drug policy.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou confirmed to Patrick Smith of The Australian yesterday that the policy had been used to ban players from participating in premiership matches but he said he did not believe confidentiality of any individuals had been compromised.

"Club doctors would tell the coach or the football manager that a certain player was not in a condition to play," Demetriou told The Australian here.

"He does not need to specify any injury or illness, just that he considers the player not well enough to play.

"It is not uncommon if a club doctor who is treating a player, for depression say, to tell the coach that the player is not available for selection because of illness."

AFL medical officer Peter Harcourt told last week's AFL summit on drugs - attended by all club chief executives - that players continued to be stood down while they were undergoing rehabilitation.

He told the summit a number of club doctors had been told by the AFL medical staff that the footballers concerned were "not fit to play".

It is not known if any player has been forced to miss a finals match under the code.

The Australian also believes that testing showed at least four players had tested positive twice to banned drugs last season.

Last year two clubs were counselled by the AFL that testing indicated there could be an adverse drug culture within the team.

One of those clubs was Collingwood, whose chief executive Gary Pert was behind the AFL's decision to convene last week's summit.

Pert had claimed that illicit drugs were the greatest threat to the health of the AFL and that they were the reason for players' ``volcanic behaviour''.

Under the controversial three-strikes policy, players who require rehabilitation will be tested for illicit drugs but any positive test will not count against them while they are under treatment.

However, no footballer can play in competition matches unless any drug tests are recorded and counted.

"You don't have to be on two strikes to be forced to stop playing," Demetriou said.

"If a player tests positive just once and the AFL medical officers believe he needs prolonged rehabilitation then he will not be allowed to play.''

Demetriou yesterday denied that the league treated drug addiction differently to the serious problems associated with alcohol and gambling.

"Players have been stood down from matches because they are being treated for gambling and alcohol addictions," he said.

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Eagles cool on Buddy play

Lance Franklin has put contract talks with Hawthorn on hold until the end of the season. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast will wait until Lance Franklin confirms he definitely wants to leave Hawthorn before making a play for his services.

Franklin has put contract talks with the Hawks on hold until the end of the season, but yesterday declared he had no intention of leaving the club he tasted premiership glory with in 2008.

The 26-year-old Perth product becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the year and is likely to attract huge offers from rival clubs, especially the two teams in his home state.

Fremantle is understood to have the money to bid for the superstar forward after failing to lure Travis Cloke and Brendon Goddard west via free agency late last year.

However, the prospect of playing alongside best mate Sharrod Wellingham puts the Eagles in the box seat to acquire Franklin's services should he change his mind and leave the Hawks.

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Coach John Worsfold left the door open for Franklin to play for West Coast in 2014, but said such a move could come at a high price.

"We could squeeze Buddy into the line-up, but the other issue is being able to afford to fit him into your squad," Worsfold told 6PR.

"When the time is right, we'll get a list of all players that may be interested in moving clubs and available to us.

"There are so many factors that you have to take into account that it's not something I worry about until we get down to the crunch time."

Wellingham is set to make his Eagles debut in next weekend's NAB Cup triple header against Fremantle and Geelong at Patersons Stadium.

Forward Mark LeCras is also expected to line up for the first time since undergoing a knee reconstruction last February.

But ruck veteran Dean Cox is in doubt after dislocating a finger at training last Friday and will be sidelined for at least a week.

Mark Nicoski (hamstring), Brad Sheppard (thumb) and Brad Dick (knee) will also be missing from the NAB Cup opener, but Worsfold expected them to be available for the following pre-season fixture.

"In the first week we're allowed to play 34 players, so we'll probably use all of those guys," Worsfold said.

"For a variety of different reasons, we've probably got about 10 guys that we won't play that weekend.

"That means everyone else is going to have a run, whether it's two of the games or just one of them."

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PICTURES: See Browny blow up

Image Grab from Channel Nine shows Campbell Brown gesturing at Maverick Weller. Source: Supplied

PHOTOS have emerged of a fiery on-field incident at training between Gold Coast Suns hard man Campbell Brown and young cub Maverick Weller.

No punches were thrown but the pair had to be separated several times by senior players Karmichael Hunt and Jarrod Harbrow during a running verbal battle that lasted for a couple of minutes yesterday.

The vision from Channel Nine shows Brown gesticulating at Weller.

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The former Hawthorn premiership player has played the incident down, but would not reveal what sparked the exchange.

Image Grab from Channel Nine shows Jarrod Harbrow and Charlie Dixon holding back Campbell Brown. Source: Supplied

When asked if there was anything in the blow up, Brown said:

"Nah, not at all, just a little bit of feedback to and forth.

"As far as I'm concerned it's healthy feedback and we'll move on.

"We've really worked on our communication to one another this pre-season. What happened might have looked a bit heated, but the message certainly got across.

"There was nothing in it and there are certainly no hard feelings.

Image Grab from Channel Nine shows Campbell Brown gesturing at Maverick Weller. Source: Supplied

"In footy clubs these things happen all the time. You take it and you just move on."

It is no secret that, under new fitness and strength coach Stephen Schwerdt, the Suns are attempting to instil some steel into the younger playing group.

When it was put to Brown that it was good to see some extra spice out on the training track, Brown replied:

"With the first NAB Cup game only three weeks away, it's great to see the boys getting a little bit more physical and starting to take the match simulations so seriously."

Brown, looking as fit as he has been since he moved to the Suns from Hawthorn, faces a frustrating opening to the AFL season, forced to miss the first six rounds because of a 2012 suspension. He is permitted to play the NAB pre-season hitouts.

Image Grab from Channel Nine shows Joel Wilkinson holding back Campbell Brown. Source: Supplied

The flare-up brought back memories of the Brisbane Bears at Carrara when former Sydney glamour boy Warwick Capper and John Fidge locked horns in a much more physical clash than happened at Metricon Stadium yesterday.

In an intraclub match at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, Capper twice put his fists up to Fidge and was twice sat on his backside.

-with Gold Coast Bulletin

 

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Crows jump on the Buddy train

We're in the mix: Adelaide has announced it will be a big player in this year's free agency market even before Lance Franklin's surprise decision. Picture: Mark Dadswell Source: Herald Sun

ADELAIDE has thrown its hat into the Lance Franklin money ring, declaring it could make an audacious end-of-season play for the champion forward.

Armed with plenty of salary cap room after Kurt Tippett's controversial departure to Sydney, the cashed-up Crows say they will "keep a close eye" on Franklin's contract status and could be in a position to offer the looming free agent a multi-million dollar deal to lure him from Hawthorn.

Only Fremantle is understood to have as much cash to spend on free agents as Adelaide at the end of the season.

Franklin - a superstar who is arguably the game's best player - could hit the open market after shocking the Hawks on Friday by knocking back a four-year deal understood to be worth about $4 million and telling the club he will not discuss a new contract until the end of the season.

This has sparked fears the restricted free agent could leave and put rival clubs with money to spend on red alert.

Adelaide - robbed of key draft picks for its role in the Tippett salary cap scandal - had announced it would be a big player in this year's free agency market even before "Buddy" Franklin's surprise decision.

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Its failure to re-sign Tippett has saved it about $750,000-a-season in salary cap room.

Chairman Rob Chapman told The Advertiser "we will be pro-active in that (free agency) area, no doubt. We are well placed to spend some money on players we think can help our football club and the process of identifying those players will start shortly."

Franklin, who has kicked 520 goals in 161 games, has quickly jumped to the top of the queue.

It is likely to take an offer of at least $5 million over four years to get Franklin to leave Hawthorn, where he has become the AFL's most marketable player.

Fremantle last year offered Collingwood key forward Travis Cloke $1.1 million for five years but failed to land him.

While 26-year-old Franklin is favoured to stay at the Hawks, the Crows point to former Saint Brendon Goddard's free agency move to Essendon as evidence that big-name players are prepared to switch clubs in the new free agency era.

"The landscape is certainly different than it was a few years ago," Adelaide list manager David Noble said. "Free agency has changed that."

Noble said the Crows would "clearly be interested in a player of Franklin's quality".

But he acknowledged there would be plenty of water to go under the bridge before Adelaide got close to securing him.

Noble said the club was in no hurry to speak to Franklin's manager, Liam Pickering, about his future.

"Any club would love to have a Lance Franklin on their list but the season hasn't even started yet so we will just sit and watch how things unfold with him," Noble said.

"Like most clubs we will be watching developments closely. You would expect it would take a lot to get Buddy to leave Hawthorn but as we've seen with these things you never say never."

Noble said his club's most pressing need at this time of the year was to find an in-house replacement for Tippett, who has left Taylor Walker as Adelaide's only recognised key forward.

Josh Jenkins, Shaun McKernan, Lewis Johnston and Tom Lynch are vying to be Walker's new key position goalkicking sidekick.

"And just how those players develop could impact on the philosophy we take with free agency," Noble said.

"First you have to see which players are available in free agency and then you have to decide how they fit in with the make-up of your team."

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Buddy ordered to sit in the hot seat

Lance Franklin has put contract talks with Hawthorn on hold until the end of the season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Shane Crawford channels his inner Liam Neeson when he discovers Gary Ablett is 'taken' and tries to organise a swap with one of his mates

BREAKING NEWS: LANCE Franklin says he has "no intention" of walking out on Hawthorn despite putting contract talks on hold until the end of the season.

Franklin, who is out of contract and set to become a restricted free agent in October, said he wanted to focus on his football.

"There's going to be a lot of speculation, but I just want to play football. I have no intentions of leaving the footy club," he said.

"Internally it won't be spoken about, we'll just worry about playing footy.

"The footy club was shocked I didn't sign but I want to stay at hawthorn. It was my decision."

The superstar forward faced the media at 2pm today, just two days after the Herald Sun revealed he had put off contract negotiations with the Hawks until the end of the 2013 season.

Franklin and Richmond superstar Trent Cotchin spoke at AFL House ahead of Saturday night's Richmond-All-Stars exhibition showdown.

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Franklin's  contract revelation led to a media frenzy across the weekend, with the line from Buddy's  management eerily similar to that of Tom Scully, Gary Ablett and Kurt Tippett before that trio walked out on their clubs.

SuperFooty explained how history revealed this could spell disastrous news for the Hawks, while club legend Dermott Brereton told the Herald Sun that Franklin had made the right decision.

It was also revealed that Franklin had not struck a secret pact with Magpie-turned-Eagle Sharrod Wellingham to relocate to Perth and again shack up with his former housemate.

But Adelaide jumped on the front foot, today declaring it could make an audacious end-of-season play for the champion goalkicker.

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Dane Swan in career-best shape

Dane Swan takes part in match simulation during Collingwood's family day at Victoria Park. Picture: Scott Chris Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD midfielder Dane Swan says his fitness levels and motivation to perform this season are at career-high levels.

And engine room partner Dale Thomas is confident he will be fit to play in Round 1, despite Nathan Buckley's prediction that ankle surgery will keep the star out of the side for "months".

Thomas said yesterday he intends to begin running next week, while Swan continued his impressive pre-season campaign in the club's hour-long match simulation session at Victoria Park yesterday.

The Brownlow Medalist has been unfazed by criticism of his off-field lifestyle and proved he was in top shape, posting a series of personal best time-trial results over summer.

"It's certainly been one of the best (pre-seasons) for a long time,'' Swan said at the club's family day.

"I came back (from the Christmas break) in reasonably good condition, so that always helps.

"I've just done everything that's been asked of me so far and ran personal bests in all my time-trails, (so there's) not much more I can ask for.''

The Pies served the 28-year-old with a two-game suspension for an alcohol-related indiscretion last year, prompting speculation about his future at the club.

Summer Barometer: Track the Pies' pre-season

But the three-time best-and-fairest winner said he was committed to helping lead the Pies to on-field success this season.

"I actually feel pretty good and feel pretty keen to get back out there, which is probably changed compared to a couple of other pre-seasons,'' he said.

"I just can't wait to get back out there and get amongst it.

"While I've got 'Johnno' (Ben Johnson) and 'Dids' (Alan Didak) here, they make me feel pretty young, because they're getting pretty old, so while I'm here I feel pretty youthful.''

Picture gallery: Collingwood family day

Buckley cast doubt on Thomas's ability to be ready for Round 1 this week but the line-breaker said he wanted to play in the season-opener against North Melbourne.

"It depends who you ask, Nathan said I was a couple of months away, so hopefully I am a bit quicker than that,'' Thomas said.

"(I'm) Aiming for Round 1, so hopefully (I'll) get back running next week, get some decent training in.

"If all goes to plan, (I'll play) Round 1, or hopefully a week or two earlier.''

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Dermie backs Franklin delay

Lance Franklin tells Hawthorn he will not discuss a new deal until the end of the year, sparking fears at the Hawks that he may walk.

Lance Franklin celebrates a goal during the 2012 Grand Final. Picture: David Caird Source: Herald Sun

HAWTHORN legend Dermott Brereton says Lance Franklin has made the right move in delaying contract talks to get the best financial deal from the club.

The Herald Sun yesterday revealed Franklin's management had put off talks on a new contract until the end of the season, stunning Hawks officials who were hopeful of finalising the matter before Round 1.

Fremantle, in Franklin's home state of Western Australia, is seen to be in the best position to poach one of the game's biggest stars, with space in the Dockers' salary cap to pay the forward more than $1 million a year.

Brereton conceded the contract saga would likely create an ongoing distraction for Franklin and the Hawks, and said the move would cost the club in the vicinity of an extra $100,000 in its salary cap.

But Brereton, a five-time Hawthorn premiership forward, tipped Franklin to stay and was adamant the 25-year-old was entitled to hold off to get more money.

"If I was Buddy's manager, and this is 'Pickers' (Liam Pickering) we are talking about, I would advise him not to sign also," Brereton told the Sunday Herald Sun.

"It's like the Travis Cloke situation. You want to stay at the club, you love the club and 95 per cent you are going to stay at the club, but you want to maximise your earnings."

Pickering said Franklin, a three-time All-Australian who will become a restricted free agent at the end of the year, wanted to halt contract negotiations to concentrate on his football.

But Brereton said media scrutiny could disrupt the player and his club.

"It's not going to benefit him by saying, 'I just want to concentrate on my football'," he said.

"They (media) will keep asking him about it and every time you pull open the paper, it will distract him.

"So it is not to allow him to play better footy, it (the management tactic) is (intended) to maximise his earnings, but you know what, he's got that right."

Summer Barometer: Track the Hawks' pre-season here

Hawthorn's premiership odds eased from $4 to $4.50 with Betstar in the wake of the Franklin revelation.

Brereton tipped the athletic goalkicker to remain at Waverley Park beyond 2013, but said the Hawks would have to pay more than they initially expected.

"I would guarantee you this time next year, Buddy will be in pre-season with Hawthorn, but it is going to cost them probably 5-10 per cent more than they envisaged," he said.

"There is always a threat (of Franklin leaving) and always a possibility but I think they will get over the line."

Will Buddy be the next Gary Ablett?

The Hawks are understood to be paying near 100 per cent of their salary cap, making it difficult to accommodate the 196cm powerhouse's beefed-up contract and keep their up-and-coming youngsters.

"They do have a list at the top end which is ageing," Brereton said.

"They have got some 28-year-olds and over so there will be a little bit of wiggle room, so to speak."

Brereton said the Hawks would be in prime spot to contend for a premiership for one or two more seasons.

"They probably should have won the Grand Final but Sydney played better on the day, played at their maximum but Hawthorn didn't," he said.

"Next year will be the same. Hawthorn will be a top-three team but it's whether they can grab one then. I would say they need one next year.

"With the inclusion of Brian Lake, who can play on big forwards, they now would be the best-balanced team."

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