Grahaml wrote:To me this is the only decision that could have been arrived at. Sport simply cannot allow ignorance to be a valid defense. Athletes have known since Sam Riley got banned for taking that headache tablet back in the mid 90s to know the legality of what goes into their bodies and being injected with an assortment of random things was more than enough to require them to say no. The only shame is that some players have retired and effectively got away with cheating. I've got no sympathy for the club, the coaches or the players. Dr Reid seems the only one who questioned it and even that wasn't strong enough. The supporters and members are the ones who deserve sympathy. Like Carlton a decade ago, they now face a long road to being able to be proud of their club again.
As for lawsuits, the players will struggle to sue Essendon unless they can show the club deceived them somehow. Port/St Kilda/Bulldogs will also have trouble unless Essendon withheld relevant information.
And I think match payments went a long time ago. Hard to properly manage a salary cap with unknown payments throughout the year.
From what i understand alot of player match payments/ extra incentives are done via club performance.
Ala BOG adjudged by the club gets $1k . 2nd best $500, 3rd best $250. So the club knows each game $1750 is needed in the salary cap.
Those figures are made up but my understanding is it similar structures to that which players get incentives etc from.