Essendon coach James Hird with assistant Mark Thompson. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: HeraldSun
Essendon coach James Hird arrives at Windy Hill. Picture: Michael Klein Source: HeraldSun
Essendon coach James Hird leaves his Toorak home this morning. Source: Getty Images
Essendon coach James Hird remains defiant amid speculation the AFL could hand down its findings in the coming hours.
ESSENDON faces being wiped from the finals after the club last night was sensationally charged by the AFL with bringing the game into disrepute.
Coach James Hird was also charged with conduct unbecoming over the club's 2011-12 supplements program.
The same charge was slapped on club doctor Bruce Reid, assistant coach Mark Thompson, and football boss Danny Corcoran.
But the four told the Herald Sun they would vigorously fight to clear their names.
As Essendon figures gathered at Hird's Toorak mansion last night, the coach declared: "Our football club is going to fight these charges."
Reid added: "I am not going to stand aside and let my reputation of 40 years go down the drain. I will fight."
Earlier, AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon announced: "I have reviewed the evidence, carefully considered the matter and have come to the view that the parties have a case to answer.
"They are all charged with conduct that is unbecoming, or likely to prejudice the interests or reputation of the Australian Football League or to bring the game of football into disrepute, contrary to AFL Rule 1.6."
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But Dillon said that on current evidence no players would receive infraction notices for doping.
"Although WADA has declared AOD-9604 a banned substance, on the information currently before the AFL, there's no specific anti-doping regulation violation attributed to any individual player for the use of AOD-9604 or any other prohibited substance."
The AFL Commission will hear the charges on August 26.
The AFL can suspend officials, impose large fines and strip the club of premiership points and draft picks. If Essendon were stripped of points, another team - possibly Carlton, West Coast or even North Melbourne - could sneak into the final eight.
AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon announces charges against Essendon and James Hird. Source: Getty Images
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority continues to probe the Bombers, and the league said it could not rule out further charges if new information came to hand.
Bombers will fight charges
Essendon chairman Paul Little said the charged club leaders would all continue in their respective roles.
"To do otherwise before these matters are finalised would be to effectively impose a penalty in advance of a fair hearing and represent a denial of natural justice," Little said.
"Essendon welcomes the news that no infraction notices have been issued against any of its players and the AFL's statement that, on current evidence, no notices will be issued.
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"We have maintained that no player has taken a performance-enhancing substance and that there was no breach of the AFL anti-doping code.
"We stand by this," he said.
"It is also important to be very clear that there is no doubt the club and individuals have made mistakes, and that our governance and people management had significant gaps."
The AFL has formally charged Essendon for bringing the game into disrepute in relation to the club's 2011/12 supplements program.
Club captain Jobe Watson, speaking on the players' behalf, said they felt vindicated.
Essendon players including Dustin Fletcher during a closed training session at Windy Hill this morning. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: HeraldSun
"None of us believed we'd done anything wrong in relation to the 2012 supplements program," Watson said. "The last six months have been an extremely tough time for us and our families and friends.
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"And, while we've stayed focused on our footy, the speculation and innuendo has had an impact in some way on all of us," he said.
Watson previously stunned TV viewers by admitting in an interview he took a contentious anti-obesity drug after signing a consent form.
Essendon assistant coach Mark Thompson reveals just how much of a toll the ASADA investigation is taking on him and head coach James Hird.
Tim Watson last night said he expects the Bombers to "go down swinging'' and take the AFL to court over the charges.
"I think they've been defiant up to this point of time. I think that they are going to go down swinging,'' Watson told Channel 7.
I don't want this on my tombstone
Why I'm standing by Hird
"I don't think that they're going to be complicit in what the AFL may want in all this.
"I think they've gone this far, they'll want to go further.
"These fellows may want to challenge the AFL in another forum and that is there prerogative as well, and I can see that playing out.''
Reid left Hird's at 10.40pm and said "it's been a long day".
He did not comment on the charges against him but said he planned to "read some reports" tomorrow as the club plotted their response.
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