That’s right – as supporters we don’t know very much at all of what goes on in our own club, not to mention other clubs and the AFL constabulary themselves.Eastern wrote:The real facts are that none of us fans would know even 1% of what really is happening.
Let's not forget that a lot of the illicit (I refuse to use the term recreational) drugs are out of your system in 6-8 hours, meaning that occasional users are very unlikely to get caught. It is only the serious users that get caught and that is why the AFL chose the 3 strikes policy.
If the policy gets changed to 2 strikes, what happens with the three guys who are already on 2 strikes (it is alleged that 2 of them have since changed clubs)?
The way I see it; drugs in the AFL is heading down the same path as drugs in society. IT IS GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER
How to deal with it in a balanced manner = VERY DIFFICULT !!
The reason why I use the word ‘recreational’ drugs is to demonstrate the clear difference between them and ‘performance enhancing’ drugs, but of course even many performance enhancing drugs vary greatly from each other and are taken for varying specific outcomes.
My understanding is that traces of some recreational drugs can remain in the system for much longer periods of time than 6 – 8 hours and their effect and longitivity in the system can depend on the bodyweight of the person and individual metabolism. This is general knowledge for young people who have occupations where they are regularly tested, such as in the mines. But six to eight hours would make players very nervous for a player who may have had a substance dropped into 'that wild fruit punch’ the night before, and they feel a bit strange the next morning.
Yes, Drug problems will probably get worse before they get better, if the problems do ever get better in our lifetime. Society is forever changing and as we correct one social problem it appears to trigger another.
I have not thought much about sportspeople and the’ illicit drug problem’ but the more this current saga continues, the more I think that the AFL has got their policy right. Backing down on their three strikes policy won’t change a thing apart from triggering further corruption within the system because there is so much money involved. It will also put some kids through hell and ruin their careers along with further damaging our beloved game, when the purpose of the policy is to send a message to the community that drugs will not be tolerated in AFL, and provide the players with professional support and some time to correct their habits for those already involved.
The three strikes policy should include the players club having some involvement in supporting them in their rehabilitation process and it is my understanding they do have. I believe that the AFL had professional advice from people working in this area before they set the policy in motion, so I would imagine the way they have set it up is considered best practice to support and protect the player, the club and the AFL throughout their rehabilitation process. If they get to the third strike then they get the punishment, end of story.
This process is responsible imo and supports the player and the community in general. If you just kick a player out if they get caught or name them straight away does anyone really think that will help them.
I can now see why the players association are up in arms over the issue of medical records being publicised. All medical records should be locked in very secure places and in my past experience of providing security for medical records is that extra locks are placed on the cabinets to ensure the utmost of security. This betrayal to society by channel 7 will not only effect sporting people, it effectively puts everyone in the community at risk of having their private matters between them and their doctors being made public.
Some players that are making a stand may not be involved in illicit drugs themselves but may know or suspect another player in the system that are or have had a problem or partaken a substance on a night after a terrible loss in a recreational setting when they have had too much to drink - or whatever.
The one good thing that may come out of this extraordinary situation may be that it will provide the community with some thinking about the problems in our community. This should give everyone a better understanding of the illicit drugs issue and the damage the old fashioned hard line sometimes causes. When there is no understanding, compassion and professional support for the people who have been affected by this serious problem, it will never go away.
Not so long ago the AFL needed to take a tough stand on racial vilification too but they did in such a way that it showed some compassion for the offenders and provided suitable educational programs. It appeared to me at the time that the AFL broke through new ground on this issue and consequently other codes followed suit.
The old Peanut isn't a goody-two-shoes or a pro-AFL-puppet by any stretch of the imagination. I am well aware of the serious corruption that has manifested itself throughout many areas of the organisation, but until further information comes to hand I am standing up in support of them and AFLPA on thier current stand regarding this issue.
End of rant
