Meh.
Our players will never master kicking the round ball.
Our players will never master kicking the round ball.
Nor should they ever worry about doing it cos it is a massive waste of time.
Irish will be tired in the our heat especially in Perth.
THE AFL has allowed Essendon captain Jobe Watson and defender Dustin Fletcher to play in Saturday‘s International Rules Test despite their impending anti-doping hearing.
Watson and Fletcher flew to Sydney for a two-day camp, starting on Monday, before the one-off Test against Ireland in Perth.
The Dons skipper has spoken about being part of Essendon‘s supplements 2012 program with Fletcher also believed to be one of 34 players served with an infraction notice.
The AFL‘s anti-doping code says players with infraction notices must be provisionally suspended unless “otherwise determined by the AFL Commissionâ€.
The AFL confirmed the Essendon pair would be in camp on Monday, but there was no explanation of why they are deemed eligible to play.
The AFL Anti-Doping Code restricts what the AFL can say about doping cases.
Under the code, there appears to be two options in the Watson/Fletcher case: The International Rules Test has been deemed not to be an official AFL match, or the Commission has provided an exemption.
On Tuesday night the AFL‘s anti-doping tribunal chairman David Jones will hold a directions hearing where a hearing date will be set and the ground rules for the case will be settled.
The Herald Sun understands Watson and Fletcher were extremely keen to play in the series and were told on Saturday it was their choice.
They were given the freedom to pull out given they will be training and playing under intense scrutiny as the anti-doping hearing nears.
But both made it clear they wanted in, with Fletcher in particular crucial to Australia‘s chances given he will likely be the goalkeeper in the hybrid game.
The AFL Anti-Doping Code states: “Subject to clause 12.5 or unless otherwise determined by the AFL Commission in any case, a player will be ineligible to participate in any matchâ€, upon receiving an infraction notice.
Clause 12.5 relates to substances that are not a “specified substanceâ€, but the substance in the Essendon case, thymosin beta-4, is a specified substance.
Watson won the Brownlow Medal in 2012 and while he could technically lose it if found guilty of drug charges, the AFL has discretion to allow him to keep it.
If players receive a penalty less than the maximum two-year ban the AFL can decide to let them keep awards and prizemoney under its own code.
Former Essendon players Brent Prismall and Stewart Crameri have separate legal representatives to the 32 other players, with a ruling expected on the extent that all cases would be bundled.
Australia had assembled its strongest International Rules team in many years as it attempts to reinvigorate the flagging series.
The AFL expects to sell out the Patersons Stadium Test given strong support for the series in recent years in West Australia.
But the presence of Fletcher and Watson means some of the attention will be turned on the efforts of the Essendon pair as the fate of Bomber players becomes clearer in coming weeks.
Bomber Brendon Goddard is also in the Australian team but he arrived at the club after the 2012 season which is at the centre of the doping charges.
Will be interesting if Jobe gets booed again by those
rockapes over there even though he’s representing
Australia.
I’m sorry… But why does Fletcher need permission?
I'm sorry... But why does Fletcher need permission?
Because he may have not possibly been probably not given an infraction/showcause notice.
But he's blurred out in all those training shots they repeat every second day on the news. That PROVES he‘s guilty.Because he may have not possibly been probably not given an infraction/showcause notice.I'm sorry... But why does Fletcher need permission?
SOMEONE TELL ME THE RULES I'M GOING TONIGHT AND I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO LIKES AFL
Rule number 1 is try and look like you give a fark
SOMEONE TELL ME THE RULES I'M GOING TONIGHT AND I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO LIKES AFL
find leprachaun - 1 point.
catch leprachaun - 2 points
steal his potato - 3 points
and so on.
Dessie Dolan.
This series is just an excuse to beat up the Irish.
This series is just an excuse to get beat up by the Irish.
Just boooo everything and you'll fit right in.SOMEONE TELL ME THE RULES I'M GOING TONIGHT AND I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO LIKES AFL
Haha I am taking a few people who have never been to a game before so I'm a bit worried.
No state has as many racist FIFO bogans as WA. Looking forward to the passive racism.
RANDOM VIOLENCE
Just boooo everything and you'll fit right in.SOMEONE TELL ME THE RULES I'M GOING TONIGHT AND I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO LIKES AFL
Haha I am taking a few people who have never been to a game before so I'm a bit worried.
No state has as many racist FIFO bogans as WA. Looking forward to the passive racism.
Any chance you have any home grown ones?
find leprachaun - 1 point.
SOMEONE TELL ME THE RULES I'M GOING TONIGHT AND I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO LIKES AFL
catch leprachaun - 2 points
steal his potato - 3 points
and so on.
How many points for finding his pot o' gold?
find leprachaun - 1 point.SOMEONE TELL ME THE RULES I'M GOING TONIGHT AND I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO LIKES AFL
catch leprachaun - 2 points
steal his potato - 3 points
and so on.
How many points for finding his pot o' gold?
This is a PG-rated show, Azza.