Delay clears finals path for Essendon
James Hird and the other three senior Essendon officials facing serious charges over the club’s supplements scandal will not front the AFL Commission next Monday.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said Tuesday that Essendon have not yet asked for their charges to be deferred.
Coach James Hird, assistant Mark Thompson, club doctor Bruce Reid and football manager Danny Corcoran will not appear before next Monday’s scheduled AFL Commission hearing.
The AFL has granted them more time to prepare their cases, but the club itself is still scheduled to appear before the commission to answer charges relating to its controversial 2012 supplements program.
It remains unclear whether the Bombers will also seek an extension, but Demetriou says if they do, he can’t see a reason why it won’t be granted.
Essendon’s assistant coach Mark Thompson and several media outlets confirmed last night that he and other officials would not be fronting the Commission this Monday.
“I’m not sure what the consequences are – we don’t have to turn up,” Thompson told the Fox Sports AFL360 program.
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“It’s not off, we have to go some time.
“Who knows where it’s going to go, every day is an adventure.”
There has been widespread speculation that if the commission finds Essendon guilty, the club will be stripped of premiership points and therefore will not play in the finals.
The AFL has been keen for the commission to rule on all the charges before the finals series.
Last Tuesday, the AFL announced a series of charges against Essendon, Hird, Thompson, veteran club doctor Bruce Reid and Bombers football manager Danny Corcoran.
The charges relate to allegations of conduct unbecoming and bringing the game into disrepute.
The AFL’s letter to the four officials states “procedural issues relevant to that party will be dealt with in due course”.
Hird’s legal advisors had threatened Supreme Court action to stop next Monday’s hearing from going ahead, setting a deadline of 5pm Monday.
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The Hird camp wants another body to hear the charges and for AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou to be removed from the commission panel.
Earlier on Monday, club chairman Paul Little told Channel Seven that Essendon’s negotiations with the league were continuing.
“We can avert court action before next Monday by continuing to talk to the AFL, which is what we’re doing,” Little said.
Thompson said he intended to fight the charges as hard as he could.
“I was quite angry (with) being charged and I was quite disappointed it’s happened,” he said.
“I’m very willing to fight and take it anywhere, as long as we can go.
“We just don’t want that on our names.”
Thompson was also asked what he thought of the charges against him.
“Eighty per cent of it, 90 per cent – easily, I would say, there’s no way I’m responsible for that, I’m not going to accept that,” he said.
Asked about the other 10 per cent, Thompson conceded: “there could be just a bit in there … we’re all responsible.”
Demetriou admitted last Friday that the AFL’s planned disciplinary action against Essendon could drag on well after August 26.
