ESSENDON has launched a stinging response to the AFL, with Bombers coach James Hird saying the League is out to damage his reputation.
Only hours after the AFL made public its charges against Essendon and Hird, Mark Thompson, Danny Corcoran and doctor Bruce Reid, the under-fire coach and chairman Paul Little addressed the media.
Click here for full coverage of the Essendon supplements scandal
Hird said the AFL's lawyers informed the club they would be revealing the charge sheet only minutes before they were released on Wednesday afternoon, claiming the League had "continued its trial by media".
"The announcement by ambush confirms the AFL is running an agenda which continues to call into questions its impartiality," Hird said.
"My position is the same today as it was yesterday and in previous weeks. That is, I will contest the charges."
The charge sheet included the full letter written by Reid to Hird and then football manager Paul Hamilton at the start of 2012 expressing his concerns at the supplements program being undertaken at the club.
Hird said the release of the letter was in breach of "due process".
"The letter, released in isolation, is designed to damage my reputation," he said.
"This continues the abuse of process by the AFL by using the media to prosecute a case it seems unwilling to actually prosecute in a tribunal."
He also called on AFL and League boss Andrew Demetriou to recuse himself from the hearing because of a "conflict of interest that has been created by the AFL's involvement in the process".
In a day of drama, Little described the League's actions as "belligerent".
Since AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon laid charges against the club and quartet last week, Little said he was in discussions with the League about the level of information it would release.
He said the charge sheet was a direct response to Tuesday night's reports that the AFL has known since February that anti-obesity drug AOD-9604 was not a prohibited substance.
"That the AFL has known this for six months but let questions hang over the heads of our club, and most unforgivably our players, is reprehensible," Little said.
"This, being exposed by an AFL insider, has prompted this latest PR attack on the club and the individuals concerned.
"The club had sought to prevent these charges being released for one very good reason – we believe a number of the allegations to be outrageous, totally without foundation or substantiation, specifically the assertion that the players were administered prohibited substances."
In calling on AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick to take over the process, Little said he has los "total confidence" in the AFL executive to handle the issue.
Fitzpatrick will address all 18 club presidents at AFL House on Thursday to update them on the situation.
"The AFL is determined to punish the Essendon Football Club – and four individuals personally – as though we were drug cheats," Little said.
"As chairman of this football club and with the unanimous backing of our Board and based on the evidence, I cannot and will not accept that. Like all football fans, we want this matter resolved."
Both Hird and Little referenced ASADA's interim report, with the newly-elected chairman saying it did not make any "positive findings" that Bomber players were injected with specified prohibited substances.
Twitter: @AFL_CalTwomey
Only hours after the AFL made public its charges against Essendon and Hird, Mark Thompson, Danny Corcoran and doctor Bruce Reid, the under-fire coach and chairman Paul Little addressed the media.
Click here for full coverage of the Essendon supplements scandal
Hird said the AFL's lawyers informed the club they would be revealing the charge sheet only minutes before they were released on Wednesday afternoon, claiming the League had "continued its trial by media".
"The announcement by ambush confirms the AFL is running an agenda which continues to call into questions its impartiality," Hird said.
"My position is the same today as it was yesterday and in previous weeks. That is, I will contest the charges."
The charge sheet included the full letter written by Reid to Hird and then football manager Paul Hamilton at the start of 2012 expressing his concerns at the supplements program being undertaken at the club.
Hird said the release of the letter was in breach of "due process".
"The letter, released in isolation, is designed to damage my reputation," he said.
"This continues the abuse of process by the AFL by using the media to prosecute a case it seems unwilling to actually prosecute in a tribunal."
He also called on AFL and League boss Andrew Demetriou to recuse himself from the hearing because of a "conflict of interest that has been created by the AFL's involvement in the process".
In a day of drama, Little described the League's actions as "belligerent".
Since AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon laid charges against the club and quartet last week, Little said he was in discussions with the League about the level of information it would release.
He said the charge sheet was a direct response to Tuesday night's reports that the AFL has known since February that anti-obesity drug AOD-9604 was not a prohibited substance.
"That the AFL has known this for six months but let questions hang over the heads of our club, and most unforgivably our players, is reprehensible," Little said.
"This, being exposed by an AFL insider, has prompted this latest PR attack on the club and the individuals concerned.
"The club had sought to prevent these charges being released for one very good reason – we believe a number of the allegations to be outrageous, totally without foundation or substantiation, specifically the assertion that the players were administered prohibited substances."
In calling on AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick to take over the process, Little said he has los "total confidence" in the AFL executive to handle the issue.
Fitzpatrick will address all 18 club presidents at AFL House on Thursday to update them on the situation.
"The AFL is determined to punish the Essendon Football Club – and four individuals personally – as though we were drug cheats," Little said.
"As chairman of this football club and with the unanimous backing of our Board and based on the evidence, I cannot and will not accept that. Like all football fans, we want this matter resolved."
Both Hird and Little referenced ASADA's interim report, with the newly-elected chairman saying it did not make any "positive findings" that Bomber players were injected with specified prohibited substances.
Twitter: @AFL_CalTwomey
