To say that Sharks players have been watching the Jobe Watson development with more than a passing interest would be a massive understatement. Sharks players have been advised to say nothing and their legal team has stopped ASADA in its tracks - a result which may see the body's powers extended - but even if that happens, it is not certain to deliver the drugs watchdog the interviews and information they want. Any move to increase its power will be challenged in court. The Sharks players are stunned Watson has come forward, given all the legal advice they have received. More mystifying than why Watson admitted to using AOD9604 is why he was not stood down by the AFL about two seconds after saying it. If the supplement is banned, as we have been repeatedly told, surely ASADA should have handed him an infraction notice. And a moment after that, the AFL should have been holding a media conference supporting ASADA's move then questioning whether Watson should be allowed to keep his Brownlow. Yet none of this happened. Instead, Watson played footy, was given the biggest razz of all time and cried at full-time. What does this prove? First, that Stephen Dank was not acting as some kind of rogue agent; he was working with the club doctor and other officials, including golden boy James Hird. Watson saying he knew what he was getting and that he'd had it cleared by the club doctor are all issues the Essendon club has been trying to avoid dealing with. This columnist has seen scores of text messages between Dank and Hird and if you think Watson's the only player taking part in the program, you'd be wrong. Which brings me back to Hird. Why is he still in a position of power? None of this makes sense. But then it may explain the true meaning of the team's motto this year: ''Whatever it takes.''
Read more:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/ive-served-my-time-mal-says-dugan-20130629-2p3q1.html#ixzz2XgKXyHgv
