We took the drug: Essendon

The Bombers admit to drug investigators, some of its players took a banned anti-obesity drug last year.

Essendon have admitted to drug investigators some of its players took anti-obesity drug AOD-9604 last year. Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON has admitted to drug investigators some of its players took the anti-obesity drug AOD-9604 last year.

The Bombers said they relied on a document purported to have been issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency approving use of the substance, which WADA confirmed this week was banned.

It is believed Essendon's former sports scientist Stephen Dank showed a document to Bombers club doctor Bruce Reid.

Essendon does not have the letter, and believes Dank has the only copy.

Anzac Day teams

Several Essendon officials are aware of the letter's existence.

Dank was not available to respond to questions about the document yesterday.

It has been reported "half a dozen" Bombers took the drug as part of the supplements program at Essendon last year, the subject of a joint Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority-AFL investigation.

While AOD-9604 is not banned under category S2 of the WADA code - which lists specific substances - it is prohibited under category S0, which states substances not approved for human use are prohibited at all times.

Reid has been interviewed by ASADA investigators and is believed to have told them of the letter of authorisation.

Essendon coach James Hird also has been interviewed, with other coaches and players to follow.

Hird raised to be Mr Anzac

Dank has not yet agreed to talk to ASADA.

Given he is not employed by an AFL club, he is not compelled to submit to interview.

Asked about an AOD-9604 "authorisation letter" last night, an Essendon spokesman said: "The club has launched an AFL-ASADA investigation and an internal review and we will not be commenting until the investigations are completed."

If charged with doping, players would be expected to defend themselves under 'exceptional circumstances' provisions in the WADA code and the AFL Anti-Doping Code, which can have two-year bans cancelled.

WADA's rule 10.5.1 discusses the principle of "no fault or negligence", and is based on athletes proving 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".

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The Australian Crime Commission said yesterday it had relied on information from ASADA in compiling its report on drugs in sport, which stated several times AOD-9604 was not prohibited.

Melbourne has also been linked to "AOD" in text exchanges between Dank and Demons club doctor Dan Bates revealed last week.

Bates, who has been stood down by Melbourne, was interviewed by ASADA and AFL officers last week.

He said yesterday: "I wish to point out that I will be open and transparent and I look forward to continuing to fully assist ASADA and the AFL in their investigations."

- with Eliza Sewell

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Tigers let Vlastuin loose

Richmond's first-round draft pick Nick Vlastuin will play his first senior game tomorrow night. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

RICHMOND'S top draft pick Nick Vlastuin will make his debut against Fremantle tomorrow night.

The Tigers revealed today the 19-year-old midfielder, taken with pick nine in last year's national draft, will play against he Dockers at Patersons Stadium.

"I was on the massage table and Dimma (coach Damien Hardwick) rang me. I thought 'I'd better answer' just in case, and he told me to come to his office," Vlastuin told the club website.

"When I walked in he said congratulations. I thought he was going to tell me I had just missed out again, so I was very happy with that.

"I'm trying to keep it a bit low key at the moment … I haven't told too many people. But I'm stoked. I can't wait."

A strong-bodied ball-winner, Vlastuin captained Vic Metro at last year's under-18 national championships. He performed strongly during the NAB Cup and has been an emergency for three of the opening four rounds.

The Tigers will make at least three changes for the clash, with Reece Conca (foot) and Troy Chaplin (concussion) set to miss the trip while Steve Morris is suspended.

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Hird ponders Daniher riddle

Joe Daniher marks during an Essendon training session at Windy Hill. Source: Getty Images

ESSENDON coach James Hird says prized father-son recruit Joe Daniher is ready to play AFL football.

But with forward Stewart Crameri set to return from a knee injury, Hird gave the strongest indication yet that Daniher would be kept in cotton wool for at least another week.

Hird said veteran defender Dustin Fletcher would not play and all but conceded that forward Michael Hurley will join him on the sidelines after hurting his ankle against St Kilda last Saturday.

"Michael will try and do a bit of running this morning but I'd be very surprised if he comes up,'' Hird said.

"We hope to have them the week after.''

Scott Gumbleton was a huge presence up forward for the Bombers last week in his first game of the season, kicking four goals against the Saints.

With Crameri coming back in essentially as a replacement for Hurley and the ruck combination of Tom Bellchambers and David Hille fit and firing, the need for Daniher to debut is less than what it might have otherwise been.

Hird denied the Anzac Day stage against Collingwood, with a crowd of 90,000 expected to attend, was too big for the 19-year-old to debut.

And after kicking four goals to be the Essendon VFL team's best player last Saturday, form is not the issue either.

"Joe's definitely ready. If you've seen him play in the last two or three weeks he's very close to playing AFL football,'' Hird said.

"Whether he plays Anzac Day or another game is not the issue, it's whether he'll fit in to the team and in the right way and we'll make that decision later on.''

See the Anzac Day teams as they drop today at SuperFooty

With just five days between the Saints and Magpies matches, recovery has been the aim of the game for Bombers players and coaches this week.

"We had a good session yesterday, a good 45-minute session at training,'' Hird said.

"We got a bit out of that, worked out which guys would be ready to play and which guys wouldn't. We'll announce our team later on today.''

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Magpies won't risk Jolly

Collingwood ruckman Darren Jolly leaves the ground in pain during the Magpies' clash against Carlton. Source: Getty Images

COLLINGWOOD'S first choice ruckman Darren Jolly will miss tomorrow's Anzac Day match to be eased back through the VFL after a rib injury.

Jolly will join comeback midfielder Luke Ball in the VFL team in Bendigo on Friday night.

"If you look at his last seven weeks he has missed a lot of footy and training. He had his kidney issue about six weeks ago and he has missed a large chunk of training. So we're just giving him the opportunity to get up to speed and trust the incumbents at the moment,'' coach Nathan Buckley said after training today.

"If you take a step away and look at the reality of the situation, it's clear that Darren needs the solid training and the football. It won't take long for him to get back to speed, but it's pretty important for him to get that.''

While Buckley said experienced ruckman Ben Hudson has recovered well, the Magpies do have the option of bringing in young big man Jarrod Witts for what would be a dream debut on one of football's biggest days at the MCG.

"We'll have a discussion to decide whether we go with Ben or Jarrod. I'm pretty confident they both bring something to the table,'' Buckley said.

"Obviously, Jarrod hasn't played a (senior AFL) game yet and that comes into consideration. It's all about balancing up whether Huddo has recovered well enough, we feel that he's thereabouts, or whether we go with youth.

"We pick players to play their roles within the side regardless of what round it is. We're pretty confident we prepare our young players with that ability, so we wouldn't be considering the occasion.''

On the prospect of playing both Hudson and Witts to combat Essendon's talls, Buckley said: "It's probably unlikely. It's not the policy we've continued through the NAB Cup and into the early home-and-away (rounds).

"We believe Quinten Lynch is giving us really good cover in that regard. His minutes in the ruck have been damaging, he has been able to contest really strongly in the ruck contests.

"And around the ground, he has been able to get into dangerous positions and defended particularly well. So, we're pretty confident he provides a bit of structure for us in that regard.''

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Defender Nathan Brown (groin) and versatile Ben Johnson (calf) are ready to play as the Magpies staff eased the players through an ultra-short preparation.

"Players have recovered really well and we're all set to go. It's just another opportunity for us to play our type of footy for four quarters and test ourselves against pretty good opposition,'' Buckley said.

"It's something I've been fortunate enough to be a part of for a number of years. But you can't forget why we're playing on this day and that's the thing you try to get across to new people in your club.

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"We're blessed to represent Collingwood, the AFL and the wider community and we educate our new players and staff around the reality of Anzac Day and why it exists. And that's an important part of bringing people into our culture.''

On Essendon's unbeaten start to the season, Buckley said: "They're four and zip, they're playing irresistible footy both in offense and defence. Their contested ball is up very high and we expect a team full of confidence and with a bit of an us-against-the-world mentality at the moment and playing accordingly.''

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Anti-obesity drug banned - WADA

Explosive new doping claims have been revealed in an interview with biochemist Shane Charter.

Shane Charter, who is embroilled in the Dank, Essendon and AFL drug drama. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun

THE World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has confirmed a growth hormone alleged to have been used by Essendon players last year is a banned substance, as convicted drug dealer Shane Charter says he helped footballers use performance enhancing drugs.

It is alleged anti-obesity drug AOD-9604, which has not been cleared for human use, was administered to at least six Essendon players last year by controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank.

Confusion has surrounded the status of the growth hormone with the Australian Crime Commission stating in its Drugs in Sport report that the drug was not yet banned.

But last night WADA issued a statement that as the drug has not been approved for human use it is a banned substance.

"AOD-9604 is a substance still under pre-clinical and clinical development and has not been approved for therapeutic use by any government health authority in the world," the statement said.

"Therefore, under the 2013 Prohibited Substances and Methods List, the substance falls into the S.0 category which states: Any pharmacological substance which is not addressed by any of the subsequent sections of the List and with no current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use (e.g drugs under pre-clinical or clinical development or discontinued, designer drugs, substances approved only for veterinary use) is prohibited at all times."

WADA said it issued the statement following several inquiries regarding the drug.

Mr Dank has reportedly said he injected Essendon players with the anti-obesity drug.

While Metabolic Pharmacy chief executive David Kenley, whose company holds the worldwide rights to AOD, said he had often discussed the drug with Mr Dank.

Mr Kenley said he believed some Essendon players used the drug to help them recover from injury more quickly.

"I understand it used by about half a dozen footballers at Essendon purely to assist in soft tissue injury and to aid the recovery so that the players that were injured could get back onto the pitch quicker,' he told the ABC's Four Corners program last night.

Former Head of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Richard Ings said this morning that any player using AOD 9604 after 2011 has a serious case to answer.

"The announcement overnight by WADA is extremely significant," he told 3AW radio.

"One of the threshold questions in this whole investigation has been the status of AOD 9604 and WADA has definitively said that it is classified as a banned substance under the WADA".

The WADA statement comes as Charter claims he helped elite footballers dope and dodge blood tests.

The bodybuilder and biochemist's claims cast fresh doubt on the adequacy of existing sports drug testing regimens and bring new urgency to the need for benchmark blood testing, also known as biological profiling, of athletes.

On ABC TV's program, Four Corners, Charter was asked: "Just to be clear, you've assisted NRL players and AFL players with their use of performance-enhancing drugs?"

He replies: "I've kept them in a safe and non-toxic range so that they didn't do long-term damage to themselves," he said.

Charter, who is represented by celebrity agent Max Markson, is believed to have extensive knowledge of sports doping practices not only within football but several other sports.

He has told how doped athletes would pull out of an event citing injury if blood tests conducted beforehand indicated they would return a positive official test.

"If they (test results) came back and they weren't passing the test, then depending on the product and the timeline up to the event, that athlete may pull a hamstring and not go to that event," he said.

"There's a difference between being shown positive and using performance-enhancing drugs, and that's the issue I'm trying to bring to light."

Charter worked with Mr Dank, the sports scientist at the centre of the doping scandal sweeping Australian sport.

Mr Dank has denied links with Charter, but it has been alleged Charter has correspondence between the pair stretching back 18 months.

Charter, who is known to spend time in Thailand and has visited Malaysia, has claimed a bikie-affiliated contact in the powerlifting industry introduced him to performance-enhancing drugs and organised crime in both Australia and Asia.

Europol is investigating a worldwide soccer match-fixing operation anchored in Asia.

Charter, who once knew Hird and chairman David Evans, is adamant that Hird had not use banned substances.

"James is proud of the fact that I was able to help James in his twilight years to get that extra season out of him," he said.

Charter was charged in 2004 with bringing millions of dollars worth of pseudoephidrine into Australia.

A personal trainer, he had also worked with a number of football players.

There has never been a suggestion they took banned substances.

The Herald Sun has reported that Charter was an associate of the late underworld figure John Giannarelli, a sports agent who has represented athletes including Olympic swimmer Scott Miller and jockey Simon Marshall. Miller admitted to supplying ecstasy to a friend, rugby player Mark Catchpole, in 2008.

Biological profiling is under way in the AFL and is being introduced by the NRL.

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Hurley ruled out of Anzac Day

Essendon remain undefeated after beating St Kilda but lose key forward Michael Hurley to an ankle injury.

Essendon forward Michael Hurley is carried off by trainers after hurting his ankle. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON captain Jobe Watson says while bookends Michael Hurley and Dustin Fletcher are set to miss Thursday's Anzac Day showdown, forward Stewart Crameri is a chance to return to face Collingwood.

Crameri, who was a late withdrawal with a knee injury from the Bombers team that defeated St Kilda on Saturday, did handball drills away from the main group at the Bombers light recovery session today.

Hurley was subbed out at the weekend with an ankle injury while Fletcher missed the match with a groin problem.

Watson also said prized father-son recruit Joe Daniher was " in the mix".

"Just with the short turn around being an ankle injury, there's no structural damage but five days, very difficult to get up," Watson said of Hurley.

He expected both Hurley and Fletcher to be fit to face GWS in Round 6.

Watson said the Bombers had great depth.

"I think what it is is it's creating a lot of hunger amongst the VFL guys," Watson said.

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" Pearsy' (Tayte Pears) has played for six weeks in the VFL and Gumby's (Scott Gumbleton) been the same, Hilley's been the same.

"(Nathan) Lovett-Murray hasn't been able to get an opportunity yet, Leroy Jetta hasn't got an opportunity ... When you get that competitive type of hunger out of a VFL side it means that guys not only are they in a good mindset to play when they get their opportunity but they've got to good fitness as well. At the moment it's holding us in good stead."

He expected the Anzac Day clash to be a "scrap".
 

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Menzel expects worst on knee

Daniel Menzel arrives at Lake Imaging, St Johns of God. Picture: Leanne Churchill Source: Geelong Advertiser

DANIEL Menzel has arrived for scans on his knee, resigned to his fate.

A shattered Menzel admitted he expected confirmation of bad news after injuring his LARS-reconstructed knee in the VFL on Saturday.

Results will be known this afternoon. It would be his fourth reconstruction.

Menzel said he could not believe his luck.

He will find the results of his scans about 1pm.

"Just 'Not again', I guess," he said this morning of his initial reactions.

"Shattered that I've possibly done the same thing again.

"And when you put in so much work and so much effort, it's hard to believe it could happen again.

"We'll have the scans to see how we go, but there's not a lot of hope there, so we'll wait and see."

Menzel snapped his right anterior cruciate ligament in the 2011 qualifying final. He did the same thing to his left leg in his VFL comeback match last year.

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LIVE: Demons v Giants

Melbourne will be keen to put its best foot forward against GWS Giants today. Source: Getty Images

NO CHANGES
SUBSTITUTES: Aaron Davey (Melbourne), Anthony Miles (GWS)

A CLUB on its knees on and off the field Melbourne will be looking to go some of the way to erasing memories of a torrid week with a win over Greater Western Sydney.

But victory is far from assured for Mark Neeld's battered Demons after three rounds of pain.

Port Adelaide belted the Demons, while Essendon schooled them in a four-quarter demolition.

Jack Watts returns after a week on the outer, Mitch Clark should be nearing the top of his game while Jacks Grimes and Trengove have a point to prove.

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Meanwhile, GWS coach Kevin Sheedy can sniff a third victory in Giants strips.

Jon Patton going down last week was a huge blow for the fledgling club, now looking at Jeremy Cameron to shoulder the bulk of the load inside the arc.

Callan Ward has been solid form while Tom Scully shows plenty of upside.

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Schoenmakers to undergo surgery

Ryan Schoenmakers writhes in pain after twisting his knee at Aurora Stadium. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Herald Sun

Hawk Ryan Schoenmakers walks the boundary on crutches after the injury. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Herald Sun

HAWTHORN has confirmed Ryan Schoenmakers will require a knee reconstruction and miss the rest of the season.

The defender went down early in yesterday's win over Fremantle at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.

Scans this morning revealed Schoenmakers had snapped his anterior cruciate ligament and strained the medial ligament in his right knee.

Hawthorn football operations manager James Fantasia said Schoenmakers remained upbeat despite the devastating news.

"While Ryan is naturally disappointed by the injury, we're certain he will approach his rehabilitation with the same professionalism, positivity and dedication he has displayed as a young player," Fantasia said.

Schoenmakers will consult with a specialist in coming days.

It's the Hawk's third serious knee injury behind Brendan Whitecross and Matthew Suckling, who went down at the same venue during the NAB Cup.

Schoenmaker's injury paves the way for Hawthorn recruit Brian Lake to make his debut after joining the club as a free agent last year.

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Selwood inspires Cats to victory

A superb third quarter from Geelong helps the Cats defeat Sydney Swans in a high-scoring clash at the SCG.

The spotlight returned to the AFL's sliding rule when Sydney goal sneak Ben McGlynn became the latest pinged for making the football, not the man, his sole objective

Geelong captain Joel Selwood bursts out of the middle to drive the Cats forward. Picture: Philip Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

A VINTAGE Joel Selwood performance has led Geelong to a 21-point win over Sydney, as it confirmed its premiership credentials.

The Geelong captain was exceptional at the SCG as the Cats extended their unbeaten run to four wins to start the season.

Selwood had 30 possessions in a dominant display, again leading from the front as the Cats fought from 19 points back in the early stages of the second quarter, to run out comfortable winners.

The 4-0 start to the season, with the Western Bulldogs to come next week, sets up a perfect run to the second half of the season that includes six of the last 10 games of the season at Simonds Stadium.

Live HQ: SuperCoach scores, stats

Geelong beat Sydney at its own game, picking the perfect time to turn around its form at the stoppages which saw it ranked last in the competition heading into this round.

The Cats' intensity and work at the clearances blew the game open in the third quarter, as they piled on seven goals to one for the quarter.

They stopped Sydney's run through the middle which strangled its scoring opportunities.

The Swans didn't kick a goal between the 11-minute mark of the second quarter, when the margin was out to 19
points, to the 26-minute mark of the third quarter, as Geelong completely got on top.

Selwood played a quarter to remember in the third term, picking up seven disposals, at 100 per cent efficiency, which eventually led to seven Geelong scores, including six goals.

AFL - Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats at the SCG. Sydney's Adam Goodes gets out a diving handball ahead of the Cats Joel Selwood. Picture: Hillyard Philip Source: The Daily Telegraph

Geelong's pressure on Sydney became its trademark, particularly from the midway point of the second term, as it applied the screws.

The Swans simply couldn't find the answers.

Geelong dominated the clearances in the middle two quarters when the game was really in the balance.

They won seven to four out of the centre in those two terms.

Young Geelong midfielder George Horlin-Smith vindicated his promotion back to the senior team, ably assisting
Selwood in the middle with 23 touches and doing his lion's share at the stoppages, winning seven clearances.

Swans lose discipline, composure

Daniel Hannebery worked tirelessly for the Swans all night, battling on after copping a couple of huge knocks to finish his two-goal game with 29 touches.

It was a night when Geelong's key forwards didn't get it their way, but the spread of goalkickers is what did the Swans in.

Twelve Geelong players kicked goals last night, with the main target, Tom Hawkins, getting his three when the Cats finally had all the momentum.

Hawkins battled Ted Richards, who probably still finished with the points, despite Hawkins finishing with a credible three goals.

The contest was setup by an extraordinary first quarter that produced 15 goals.

For two teams renowned as tough, contested sides, it was an unexpectedly open, end-to-end term, as both teams ran the ball out of their back half, and converted remarkably accurately.

Lewis Roberts-Thomson was started up forward, but Chris Scott countered that, sending his own swingman, Harry Taylor, forward in a cameo in the middle of the first term that produced two goals.

The Cats were clearly intent on using the corridor, going inside at every opportunity as they tried to slice through the middle of the SCG.

AFL - Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats at the SCG. Sydney's Adam Goodes gets out a diving handball ahead of the Cats Joel Selwood. Picture: Hillyard Philip Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Swans were pushing all their numbers back, and then trying to outrun Geelong on the way back to goal.
Josh Kennedy, after a quiet start, started to get into it the longer the first quarter went.

The Swans started to get the game on their terms in the second quarter, restricting Geelong as it battled to get the ball past centre or half-forward.

They had kicked five of six goals either side of quarter time and were really starting to step up the scoreboard pressure on the Cats.

Geelong put the clamps down on Jarrad McVeigh, who had a game-high 10 possessions, four clearances and two goals in the first quarter.

He was held to just two touches in the second quarter as the Cats held in as Sydney threatened to open a comfortable lead.

With Steve Johnson and Steven Motlop held to just three touches for the second quarter, Sydney had stifled Geelong's creativity, and that had flow-on effects as it tried to go inside 50s.

Daniel Hannebery continued on his way, racking up 18 touches by the main break, but it was Selwood who stepped it up for the Cats, picking up 10 second-quarter possessions, as he lifted the intensity in the middle.

And while it was Sydney that looked to be getting on top in the first half of the second quarter, Geelong had pegged the margin back to just five points by half time.

The damage was restricted because of Geelong's dominance in the middle, winning 11 clearances to Sydney's three for the second term.

They had 100 possessions to just 77, and had control of the uncontested ball as the tried to find space.

Sydney's setup was also hampered by a knee injury to Roberts-Thomson, who was subbed out of the game during the second quarter.

Geelong kicked six unanswered goals from just before half time to the final 10 minutes of the third quarter, to establish an ascendency Sydney would never peg back.

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