Julian de Stoop rounds up the fall out from the charges handed down to Essendon on Monday night by the AFL.
ESSENDON coach James Hird has declared he will defend himself "vigorously" against the charges laid by the AFL last night.
Speaking outside his Toorak mansion just before 11am, Hird said he was "shattered" to be charged with bringing the game "I love and cherish and respect" into disrepute.
But the Bombers coach expressed relief that his players has not yet received infraction notices for doping.
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"It's incredible, actually," he said.
"I think it's great the players have been freed and they've got a great sense of relief over that."
After months of speculation Essendon and four of its top officials including coach James Hird have been charged by the AFL for bringing the game into disrepute.
"We're obviously going to defend ourselves vigorously," he said.
CASE NOT CLOSED, SAYS ASADA
"We're gonna contend the charges, we're gonna make sure we're proven not guilty.
"I think that our footy club is a great footy club, as I said. We find it hard to believe we've been charged on the base of an interim report where no infraction notices have been handed down and we'll move on from there."
Essendon players feel vindicated after avoiding drugs charges from the AFL.
The besieged coach said he, Reid, Thompson and Corcoran would support each other through the process.
"The four of us are probably identified as (part of) the blackest day in Australian sport now, so we take that very seriously."
HIRD AND THE GAME TAKE A BEATING
The Bombers face being wiped from the finals after the club was charged by the AFL with bringing the game into disrepute.
Hird was also charged with conduct unbecoming over the club's 2011-12 supplements program.
Collingwood president predicts Essendon won't lose any competition points but says the AFL now has the power to come down hard on the parties charged.
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."
HIRD STANDS GROUND NO MATTER WHAT
Reid added: "I am not going to stand aside and let my reputation of 40 years go down the drain. I will fight."
The AFL Commission will hear the charges on August 26.
Fox Sports looks at the toll the Essendon supplements saga has taken on coach James Hird.
Adrian Anderson told 3AW's Neil Mitchell this morning that the hearing should be open to the public.
"When people can scrutinise things and see them for themselves, they better understand the process," Anderson said. "I think it would help add public understanding if this thing was conducted in open.''
THE SCANDAL SO FAR...
Yesterday evening, 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."
The AFL has formally charged Essendon for bringing the game into disrepute in relation to the club's 2011/12 supplements program.
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 DRUGS AT THE CENTRE OF THE SAGA
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.
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.
James Hird talks to the media outside his Toorak house this morning. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
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.
FOOTY'S BIGGEST SCANDALS
"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.
"We have maintained that no player has taken a performance-enhancing substance and that there was no breach of the AFL anti-doping code.
Essendon coach James Hird with assistant Mark Thompson. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
"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."
WE FEEL VINDICATED - WATSON
Club captain Jobe Watson, speaking on the players' behalf, said they felt vindicated.
"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.
"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.
WHY I'M STANDING BY 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 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
I DON'T WANT THIS ON MY TOMBSTONE
"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.
Jon Anderson took your questions on the Essendon scandal this morning. Replay the chat below
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