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swan42 wrote:

Bazza wrote: Swan Essedon will drag and fight this as long and as far as they can.

Apparently they were offered some deals yesterday behind closed doors to settle the matter, they refused.

Their new president is known as one of the most litigous characters in Victoria.

It will gp on for a long time...

Bazza Essendon will not win any fight with the AFL. Sure they may have minor victories along the way, but they won't win in the end. For example, any supposed blockbuster games - GONE; premium timeslots for their games - GONE etc

No Swan - if the AFL try to damage their business be resticting income by games etc, they will fight it as a Restraint of Trade under the TPA.

This will be a very litigious saga.

BC wrote: Essendon will be looked after in terms of games because the AFL is a business...unpalatable yes, but a fact nonetheless.

Yep and herein lies the problem - the AFL is both the regulator and the business owner with an interest in maximising the financial return. Makes it difficult to go too hard against Essendon when it hurts your own business.

Something that needs to come out of this scandal when its all settled is separating the regulatory and commercial arms of the AFL, particularly if they fail to nail Essendon on the lawyers feast that is "bringing the game into disrepute".

I see "The West" clearly has no understanding of whats going on with the headline "Club legends face sanctions but players in the clear". The players aren't in the clear...yet. The ASADA investigation is ongoing. What happens with the players has nothing to do with the AFL. Its ASADA and WADA who will decide what, if anything, happens there.

agreed dazzler...any sanctions the AFL imposes will most likely hurt the club but not the business owner...so imo taking blockbuster games off them won't be an option...more likely fines, loss of draft picks and maybe stripping of points but the latter will hurt the AFL in attendances if Essendon doesn't take its place in this years finals.

You like that word li·ti·gious. Essendon and Collingwood now own Anzac Day at the gee. Maybe it is time that fixture was shared around more fairly.

can't see that happening any time soon joan as that fixture gives the AFL it's greatest revenue return all year including most finals.

There has been potential blockbusters overlooked this season. Matches to be played at docklands that could of been played at an empty gee and drawn a crowd overlooked - what does it matter when the afl is so wasteful. The pies and the dons are not the only clubs to draw a crowd.