The AFL tried to induce Essendon and James Hird to accept ElephantJuice scandal penalties days before the AFL Commission hearing, according to a News Corp report.
Documents and an email, obtained by News Corp, reportedly show deals were struck between government sports official John Wylie and the football club before the August 26 hearing in the wake of the Bombers supplements scandal.
Australian Sports Commission chairman Wylie had been engaged by AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and Essendon chairman Paul Little as an arbitrator in the negotiations that led to eventual sanctions imposed against Essendon.
Hird was allegedly offered the opportunity for career development if he dropped legal action against the AFL, the report claims.
Look back on the timeline of events that led to Essendon's punishment over the supplements scandal
On August 23, Wylie allegedly sent an email to Little suggesting a 12-month suspension for Hird from all coaching duties.
"To the best of the AFL's knowledge and belief, Hird did not promote or encourage an unethical environment within the club; Hird has not brought the game into disrepute," Wylie reportedly said in the email.
He said Hird was to take responsibility for "inadequate governance and oversight" that gave rise to the situation.
"In the totality of the circumstances, the AFL will impose, and Hird will accept, a 12-month suspension from all coaching duties."
In a separate document given to Hird, during talks with Wylie and Little, he is offered "an outstanding career development opportunity" if he drops legal action against the AFL.
News Corp reported that Hird was offered overseas study, full pay during his suspension and a guarantee he would keep his place in the AFL Hall of Fame.
However AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou denied any deal was done with Essendon and said no inducements were on the table. .
"If there's one thing I will go to my grave on, I know 100 per cent the AFL's not paying," Demetriou told Fairfax Media.
"And I know that Essendon's not paying. I have no knowledge of what Essendon's earning externally."
Earlier, an AFL spokesman said the discussions were "in the best interests of the game" and "were always appropriate".
Following his acceptance of a 12-month ban, Hird told reporters he was "deeply sorry" for what had happened at the club in 2012.
He said he had accepted the ban for the good of the game and of the Essendon football club.
Hird said he not broken any rules but accepted responsibility for the club's supplements program.
Essendon was ultimately fined $2 million and missed the AFL finals as punishment.
The Bombers admitted to failing in their duty of care towards players in delivering an "experimental, inappropriate, and inadequately vetted" supplements program.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-04/afl-tried-to-induce-hird-bombers-report/5133040
