Scott Gumbleton ... forward could make way for returning players on Friday night.Source: DAVID CROSLING / AAP
Essendon forward Scott Gumbleton could face the axe for Friday's clash with Geelong despite being on the hottest streak of his seven-year career.
Coach James Hird has already forecast the return of Michael Hurley (ankle), Dustin Fletcher (groin), Paddy Ryder (suspension), Jake Carlisle (foot) and Jason Winderlich and Dyson Heppell (both rested).
The club has not yet ruled out Brent Stanton after he copped a heavy knock to his groin against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.
Stanton had scans after the game that are believed to have ruled out muscle damage, but he will have to train well today to be considered for the Etihad Stadium clash.
Gumbleton, 24, has kicked 9.3 in three games but, with first-choice forwards in Hurley, Ryder and Stewart Crameri all fit, it may be hard to squeeze him in.
David Hille and Tayte Pears seem likely exclusions for Ryder and Fletcher respectively, while Nick Kommer, Leroy Jetta and Jackson Merrett would be among the contenders to make way.
Essendon will be determined to stretch Geelong's defence and ensure key back Harry Taylor does not push into attack, but a forward line with Hurley, Ryder, Crameri and Gumbleton would surely be too top-heavy.
Hird has already flagged several tough decisions at Thursday's selection meeting.
"We've got a really good squad, a really fit squad, and we've got guys playing good football. We'll have a challenge to pick a team, and there will be some guys who will miss out and be unlucky, but we'll assess that as the week goes on," Hird said.
Geelong expects Paul Chapman (hamstring) to be fit despite a fortnight out of the side.
But while Nathan Vardy kicked six goals for the Cats in the VFL on Saturday, he is likely to need more time before returning to the AFL.
"The plan is to play him for as long as he needs to get match conditioning and I dare say that will be for a few more weeks yet, there's no question about that," Geelong's VFL coach Matthew Knights said.
"Let's hope he keeps being able to string training sessions and games together and in the coming weeks, down the track, he can push for senior selection."
David Evans ... has fronted a media conference to reveal the report findings.Source: Andrew Tauber / News Limited
An internal review into irregular practices at Essendon has not recommended the sacking of any key officials at the AFL club.
The report, chaired by former Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski, centred on governance issues at Essendon relating to last year's controversial supplements program.
Switkowski recommended that any pioneering work with supplements and exotic treatments should be left to the Australian Sports Commission.
"At a club level, this is not an area for risk management but for zero tolerance," said the report.
"A club's pharmacology skills should not normally be independently and secretly developed as a source of competitive advantage.
"And an arms race for the most sophisticated molecules must be prohibited."
The report also found that Essendon's club doctor should be the signing authority for all medicines, supplements, diagnostic tests and therapeutic treatments.
Essendon chairman David Evans did not release the full version of the Switkowski report on Monday, although it will be made available to the AFL, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and the Essendon board.
A parallel review, led by ASADA and the AFL into the nature of supplements administered by Essendon and their level of compliance with anti-doping codes, is ongoing.
"This was a no-go area for this report," read the Switkowski report.
"Questions about the pharmacology of certain supplements, their possible performance-affecting properties, compliance or otherwise with anti-doping codes etc are issues for the AFL and ASADA investigations, which still have some way to go.
"This review and report needed to be conducted in a manner careful not to inadvertently compromise their work." Essendon players are set to be interviewed by ASADA this week.
The release of the report was delayed for a week because of a legal problem with suspended club fitness boss Dean Robinson which has since been resolved.
Essendon CEO Ian Robson and general manager of football operations Danny Corcoran have both been criticised in the wake of the supplements scandal but the report made no recommendations that any staff members be sacked.
The Switkowski report noted that the CEO "must be accountable for everything that happens within his organisation".
"Coaches cannot bypass him, and boards must work through him," the report said.
"If commercial priorities consume his time and attention, steps must be taken to ensure proper oversight of football operations."
It described the football operations role as a particularly difficult one.
"But this is a critical appointment requiring a strong capable individual who has the respect of the football staff and the support of the CEO," said the report.
Evans said he would stay on as Essendon chairman but had brought forward board elections to later this year.
The Bombers take on Geelong in a clash between the AFL's only two undefeated clubs on Friday night at Etihad Stadium
James Hird ... watches on as Essendon Chairman David Evans delivers the findings.Source: DAVID CROSLING / AAP
Not surprisingly, Ziggy Switkowski's report found Essendon to be a basket case last year.
From November 2011 to August 2012, the Bombers were unaccountable in their supplement program, lacklustre in their reporting processes, and too secretive about what was happening.
Those responsible for the debacle came for all corners of the club.
Switkowski's report did not recommend administrative change, but that's not to say it won't happen when the joint ASADA-AFL investigation is completed in several months.
Tellingly, chairman David Evans said on Sunday he couldn't guarantee anyone's future.
That included himself.
Evans, who continuously apologised throughout a robust press conference Monday , revealed he would stand for re-election in November.
It was an interesting strategy, because it's highly unlikely Evans would be voted out.
But at least he took responsibility and his apologies to the players, the families and fans was deeply genuine.
He had reason to apologise.
Letters and emails have emerged as critical to the investigation.
Club doctor Bruce Reid detailed concerns in a letter about the supplement program, led by Dean Robinson and Stephen Dank, but it's unknown where that letter ended up.
It certainly didn't get to the board.
It's at the core of the internal breakdowns.
The Dank email, which he claims came from the World Anti Doping Authority, continues to be a source if intrigue.
Evans refused to discuss Dank today, but that email is also core to the entire investigation.
Dank has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Unbelievably, we learned there was a ''lack of clairty'' about who ran the football department - football manager Paul Hamilton, who is no longer at the club, or Danny Corcoran, who had a liasion type of role between all departments.
The irregular practices Evans had previously alluded were fully detailed.
They included ''rapid diversification into exotic supplements'', an increased number of injections, use of off-site injection rooms, the emergence of ''unfamiliar suppliers'' and the marginalisation of traditional medical staff.
It combined ''to create a disturbing picture of a pharmacologically experimental environment never adequately controlled or challenged or documented within the club''.
In other words, the players were being used as guinea pigs.
Clearly, there was a breakdown in relationship between Dank, Robinson and Reid, with Switkowski believing the new personnel considered Reid and Co as ''yesterday's men''
In the end, whether the players unknowingly took banned substances remains unclear.
Evans said he is increasingly confident they didn't, and Switkowski said in his report that he ''has no basis to form any other view'' that illegal or banned drugs were not given to the players.
Waiting game ... James Hird and the Essendon players.Source:News Limited
Former Telstra chief Ziggy Switkowski expects the key findings of his investigation into "irregular practices" at Essendon to be made public on Monday afternoon.
Dashing Dons ... made emphatic statement against Collingwood.Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited
Essendon left the MCG on Anzac Day with a clear statement: they are serious contenders for the AFL premiership.
2.3 (15)
Q1
1.5 (11)
6.4 (40)
Q2
4.12 (36)
12.8 (80)
Q3
7.14 (56)
18.13 (121)
Q4
10.15 (75)
David Zaharakis
4
Jarryd Blair
2
Jason Winderlich
3
Travis Cloke
2
Tom Bellchambers
2
Tyson Goldsack
2
Alwyn Davey
2
Scott Pendlebury
2
Scott Gumbleton
2
Jamie Elliott
1
Jackson Merrett
2
Steele Sidebottom
1
Jobe Watson
2
Stewart Crameri
1
The Bombers dismantled Collingwood with a 12-goal second half, the final quarter a six-goal to three blitz which came after the Magpies kicked the first two goals of the term.
They were challenged at the end of the first quarter, through the middle of the second and third quarters and at the start of the final quarter.
Each time, they responded with a run of goals, including a run of four in the third quarter, and five to finish the game.
That would be disturbing for Magpies coach Nathan Buckley.
His team was opened up by Hawthorn at the same venue in round three and again on Thursday.
When it happens once it can be an aberration. When it happens twice inside three weeks it is a concerning trend.
Just like the Hawks game, the Pies were overran in the final quarter, which means it is either a fitness issue or they aren't good enough.
Bombers coach James Hird praised the overall team defence, but also singled out a back group which has held steady throughout the five-zip start.
Jake Carlisle contained Travis Cloke (six marks, two goals), Michael Hibberd and Courtenay Dempsey created off the flanks, Mark Baguley subdued Jamie Elliott (nine touches, one goal) and Kyle Hardingham and Cale Hooker were steady enough.
Overall, the Bombers are defensive demons. It is their No.1 improvement from last year to this.
Hird said his midfield needed a ''change of mindset'' and Heath Hocking agreed.
Hocking took Pendlebury and, although beaten, he was part of a midfield which had more depth of contribution than Collingwood.
Hocking, who was restricted last year because of a shoulder injury which needed surgery at the end of the season, epitomises what is required in intensity, while Brent Stanton epitomises how much Essendon have improved.
''I like our team defence,'' Hocking said.
''We've worked on it which was one of the coaches' aims, just be a better accountable footy team which means we can compete with the better sides."
He says his teammates ram home the point at every opportunity.
''Last year there were times when it was not so consistent, but right now it's there, we're red hot. If someone is not manning up, we're tough on them. And it's contagious. If you're mate's doing it, you do it, and it lifts you.''
Brendon Goddard transferred from the one of the most miserly team defences in the history of the game, and when asked how big a difference defence makes, he said: ''It's between winning and losing.
''Everyone's talking about our offence, but not giving us enough credit for our defence. Look at the stats. Look at them.''
For the Pies, Steele Sidebottom had 22 disposals at the half and 31 for the game, and stats show he had Dempsey for much of the first quarter, when he racked up 13.
As the game continued, Pendlebury became Collingwood's most threatening player, while Dane Swan had 30 touches.
The next best mid in terms of numbers was Marty Clarke with 21.
No wonder Pendlebury talked about cheats, because the Essendon midfield was able to run rampant several times.
In the first quarter the Pies laid just four tackles. That improved to 15 in the second quarter, 18 in the third and 13 in the final-quarter capitulation.
A critical period of the game was the first 11 minutes of the third quarter. The Bombers had a 7-0 clearance differential and kicked four goals.
The game might've been tighter, perhaps, if the Bombers big men, Tom Bellchambers and Scott Gumbleton, didn't receive free kicks - and goals - for two contentious decisions late in the third quarter.
As it was, the Bombers had too many winners.
Jason Winderlich kicked three goals and had five score assists and was a menace in the forward line, Alwyn Davey's tackling pressure is first rate, and Bellchambers is far better than anyone ever thought.
On the flipside, Buckley will ask questions about Jordan Russell in defence, and he didn’t get enough out of his three smalls, Dwyer, Blair and Elliott, just to name a few.
Focus ... Essendon players continue to perform under pressure.Source: Andrew Tauber / News Limited
Essendon players have been given access to a range of mental health experts as a leading sports psychologist says they can continue their winning streak during the drugs investigation.
Coach James Hird was interviewed by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority on Tuesday, with investigators to talk to players next week.
The Bombers' unbeaten run will be challenged by two games in five days - against St Kilda on Saturday then Thursday's Anzac Day clash with Collingwood - which bookend ASADA's talks with senior players.
Carlton great Robert Walls is one expert who wonders if Essendon players will eventually be overcome by the burden of playing while under investigation.
Essendon says it continues to offer players a range of counselling programs, with the AFL Players Association also offering its support.
Sports psychologist Noel Blundell said he saw no reason why Essendon's players would become overwhelmed after three straight wins.
"It's amazing when players have to address peer issues off the field, they grow stronger," Blundell said.
"It's a real challenge to the culture of the club, and so far they seem to be handling it all well.
"If Essendon was smart it would have sat down as the process evolved and come up with a clear overall plan."
Bombers football manager Steve Alessio said the players were being encouraged to confront any problems head-on.
"Certainly, that's the case in-house," Alessio said.
"It's not only the psychologists, it's a lot of senior coaches and senior people around the club (who are providing support). If anyone has issues, whoever they feel most comfortable talking to, we want them to raise those issues.
"That's the big challenge with everything going on, to ensure that from the playing group the focus continues to be on the game and so far we can't fault the boys with their focus."
Walls wondered if the players might hit a brick wall this weekend as the investigation took its toll.
"They are in a bubble at the moment," Walls said.
"Confidence is on the upswing but this isn't going away and you just have to wonder how long can they keep this up? I have a feeling, eventually, it will get them down."
ASADA ... The AFL denies a deal to save Essendon players from bans.Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has rubbished claims of a secret deal between Essendon and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.
Fairfax Media alleged on Thursday that ASADA had proposed a deal that would have seen Essendon players escape the doping investigation without sanction, while NRL players copped minimum six-month bans.
But Demetriou said yesterday the report was "complete and utter nonsense".
"It's simply not true," Demetriou told 3AW radio.
"The fact of the matter is, shortly after the (Australian Crime Commission) announcement in Canberra ... we sought an urgent meeting with ASADA and the Federal Government representatives to make sure that we could, one, make public what the issue was in AFL football ... and secondly, we sought to get clarification very quickly about the sanctions that were under the WADA code and in what circumstances could those sanctions be reduced.
"Then we instructed Essendon to co-operate fully. That's being professional, it's being diligent, it's being thorough.
"We don't even know what the investigation is going to find. I'm not quite sure how you do a deal based on what you don't know."
An ASADA spokesman said yesterday: "ASADA has not offered a zero sanction to any athlete or support person."
Essendon coach James Hird said ASADA had not found a positive test during its "exhaustive" investigation of the club.
An AFL sanction seems certain against the club given the revelation of practices including intravenous infusions and off-site injections.
Hird said the investigation had to be exhaustive for the benefit of all parties.
"In terms of speculation about deals, about what supplements were taken, speculation is one thing but the facts are another thing," Hird said.
"Our players right now have not tested positive for one performance-enhancing drug, I think that's important for people to know.
"The NRL and Cronulla have their issues like we have our issues and we'll let them handle those.
"The Essendon Football Club invited ASADA and the AFL to come in and investigate our club and we've been fully co-operative with that investigation."
Encouraging words ... James Hird pays tribute to his "outstanding" Bombers players.Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited
Essendon coach James Hird is confident a traumatic off-season has instilled in his AFL team the resilience they were missing.
Hird has told his players they've climbed into the elite level, which wasn't the case in his previous two years in charge.
And he says it's remarkable they've achieved it while facing an anti-doping investigation, showing tenacity he believes will pay dividends when times get tough this season.
"We've spoken a lot about the resilience of this group and that maybe in the real hard times we haven't had that resilience that we need," Hird said in a speech to his players
"I'm confident that the one element that was missing has been built on and grown.
"That you're ready to take on that challenge and ready to go to the next level and play consistently quarter after quarter after quarter and back up when things don't go your way.
"The mental capacity of you guys to do what you've done over the last six weeks and still come out and perform and train the way you've trained is outstanding."
Hird's speech, given earlier this week, aired on Essendon's show The Hangar on FOX FOOTY on Wednesday night.
So did a speech Bombers chairman David Evans gave to staff.
Evans said the club were confident they would find out whether players were given banned substances and uncover how ``irregular practices'' were allowed to develop at the club.
"Some of our systems, protocols and procedures failed us," Evans said.
"We want to make sure that that never happens again."
He said it was a traumatic time but the Bombers would end up better and stronger for it.
"I think it has galvanised us together and we want to take that into the season," Evans said.
That view was echoed by players.
Midfielder Brent Stanton said there were initial feelings of shock and disbelief when the scandal broke, while captain Jobe Watson admitted players became frightened when the scale of what they were facing hit home.
But they said the crisis had also caused them to stick tightly together as their teammates were the only ones who fully appreciated what each other were experiencing.
Watch the video at the top of the page to get an all-access look at what Hird had to say to his troops.
Sledging ... Brenton Sanderson wants his players to respect Essendon.Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited
Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson wants Crows players and fans to bite their collective tongues about Essendon's drugs investigation in Friday night's AFL season opener.
"I would be disappointed if our players tried to unsettle Essendon with any cheap shots,'' Sanderson told reporters on Tuesday.
"I mean, that is not what footy is about.
"The sides that I would like to coach would be ones that just play the ball hard and not take any cheap shots.
"I don't think I even need to really bring it up, I'm sure our boys will play the game in the respect that it deserves.''
But Adelaide's renowned rabid supporter base is another matter during the AAMI Stadium encounter against the Bombers.
"With emotion and adrenaline and excitement, sometimes you just have to bite your tongue,'' Sanderson said.
"Let's make sure, from the crowd point of view, that we respect the opposition.
"It's important that we showcase this game for what it is - a fantastic launch for the 2013 season.
"We can't control all of our supporters but I would be disappointed not only if our fans but the rest of the AFL supporters - there is an investigation going on, let it takes its course.''
The premiership season opener pits the besieged Bombers against the Crows, who themselves endured a controversial off-season.
Adelaide were fined, and their chief executive and football operations manager suspended, for their role in salary cap rorting and draft tampering involving their ex-forward Kurt Tippett, now at Sydney.
Sanderson said the Tippett saga didn't upset Adelaide's football department.
"There is a fair bit of romance in this game, I guess, externally because both clubs have had their issues in the off-season,'' he said.
"But we will just focus on what we can control and I'm sure Essendon are going to come over and give us one hell of a game.
"Yeah, we have had some off-field issues which we have addressed and been made very public but from a football department point of view and from our team's point of view, our boys are ready to go.''
Message to fans ... Evans and Hird pledge to keep the Bombers afloat.Source: David Caird / News Limited
Chairman David Evans has promised Essendon fans that the AFL club will come through their doping crisis as a stronger organisation.
Evans and coach James Hird made emotional speeches on Monday night at the Bombers' season launch, thanking the players and fans for their support.
The club is under a joint Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and AFL investigation for supplements that the players used last season.
Evans has also announced an independent review of the club as a result of the crisis.
The anti-doping investigation is likely to take months, meaning it will hang over the Bombers for much of the season.
"I understand the way you look at me tonight, looking for reassurance our beautiful place will be okay," Evans said.
"I promise you that it will be.
"The hurt of the past few weeks is still raw, but it is this room that gives me strength - given how you all have stood behind the club in its hour of need.
"We will get through this and we will be a better, stronger organisation."
Evans also apologised for the circumstances that led to the crisis.
"Mistakes have been made and I sincerely apologise that they have occurred," he said.
"We will get to the bottom of what happened, we will make sure those mistakes never happen again.
"While we know some things, there is so much we don't know, and we're continuing to piece together a long and complicated jigsaw puzzle.
"I commit to you that we are making progress."
Hird said it had been humbling to coach the team in the past few weeks, adding the players had stayed focussed and disciplined.
"My family and this football club means everything to me and I will do everything that is in my power to get the club through this difficult time," he said.
"That means being the best coach I can be to this wonderful team of young men who wear our colours so proudly."
Governance ... Essendon Chairman David Evans has revealed the club will undergo a full external independent review of its practices.Source: Tim Carrafa / News Limited
Essendon have commissioned an independent review to get to the bottom of "irregular practices'' at the AFL club.
Bombers chairman David Evans announced the board had signed off on a full external review of the club's governance and processes, which comes as the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) continues to investigate the club for possible illegal performance-enhancing drug use over their supplement program last season.
The review will be headed by former Telstra chief executive Dr Ziggy Switkowski and Evans said it would help the club to provide both members and fans with answers.
"The board and I are now aware of irregular practices by the club that are being investigated by ASADA and the AFL,'' Evans said.
"That is why we have decided to call an independent and external review into the governance and processes that have led to us being in the position we are today.
"In announcing this review, I want to make sure that we are able to give answers to our members about what happened and why, and to put in place any changes needed to ensure that this doesn't happen again.
"Three weeks ago, I asked for the AFL and ASADA's assistance in reviewing the 2012 supplements program of the Essendon Football Club.
"Since then, the principle concern of the board has been to put the interests and welfare of our players first, and to do this we must ensure continued cooperation with the ASADA and AFL investigation.''
Dr Switkowski is currently the chancellor at the Royal melbourne Institute of technology (RMIT), chairman of Suncorp, a board member of the Business Council of Australia, and chair of Opera Australia.
The review will also draw on expert assistance of Dr Andrew Garnham, a specialist sports and exercise physician and senior lecturer at Deakin University.
The Bombers say the review will start with the governance of the club, from board level down.
"The review will also investigate practices in other clubs and other sports, to measure our actions and processes against best practice,'' Evans said.
"Dr Switkowski will be given all the resources he needs to conduct this review, and the board will expect a report and recommendations.
"We cannot commit to a firm timeline.
"We expect it to be completed before the ASADA investigation.''
Evans said when finalised, the report would be sent to the AFL Commission and ASADA, and he expected it to be made public.
"Our members deserve to know what happened, and to have faith that we will take responsibility to fix any problems,'' Evans said.
