THE AFL is urgently seeking explanation from Melbourne after the Demons became mired in the AFL's supplement controversy on Thursday night.
The ABC's 7:30 revealed a series of text messages were exchanged between club doctor Dan Bates and Stephen Dank, the man at the centre of the Essendon supplement controversy.
In the alleged text messages, Bates and Dank discuss potential treatments for Melbourne players and organise times for injections to take place.
The messages are alleged to have been sent between August 2012 and February this year. Seven Demons players are named in the messages.
In one message Dank suggests Melbourne players should be injected with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which is being considered by ASADA for prohibition.
The messages also show Dank may have met with Melbourne's sports performance director Neil Craig, another discusses how the Demons can finance the treatment.
None of the substances discussed for possible use on the players are on ASADA's banned list however the link with Dank is unwelcome at a time when the use of drugs in sport is causing major controversy.
The Demons responded to the controversy late on Thursday night and defended the legality of their supplements program.
The AFL was surprised by the developments that came to light via 7:30 and released a statement earlier on Thursday night.
"The AFL was not previously aware of the claims broadcast tonight by the ABC and these will form part of ongoing investigations by ASADA and the AFL," the statement said.
The AFL said it approached Melbourne in February to ascertain the Demons' involvement with Stephen Dank and was provided with an explanation.
However the matter remained open as part of the AFL's broader investigation into Dank's activities with AFL clubs.
The AFL is now urgently seeking further explanation from Melbourne to test the veracity of the claims made on 7:30 and how they reconcile with previous statements from the club made both privately and publicly.
The Demons denied in February that Dank had ever had direct contact with players when the Essendon scandal broke.
However in one of the text messages revealed by 7:30, Dank proposes meeting with a Melbourne player at a pharmacy. The club said at the time Dank merely applied for a position and was knocked back.
The program also alleges Dank was a regular at the Demons' training ground.
Melbourne is currently meeting to determine their response to the issue. The Demons are expected to claim that nothing illegal has occurred however they are continuing to discuss the matter.
Melbourne president Don McLardy also told club members at the Annual General Meeting in February that the club had done a check on its processes following the revelation that ASADA had been invited to investigate Essendon's supplement program and was comfortable with its processes.
Some of the alleged text messages:
Bates to Dank:
"… when can we book guys for the injections. We will need to give them times."
Dank to Bates:
"Saturday is fine. Organise him to meet me at the pharmacy. Yes we can book the guys...we will do the guys Sunday…"
Bates to Dank:
"Mate, what is the final word on the injections. I have players calling me for confirmation."
"Just make it Thursday to save hassle and more cancellations."
Dank to Bates:
"OK. Thursday it is."
Dank to Bates:
"Sorry mate. In a meeting. Spoke to ASADA. No problems. They will confirm by email. No issues their end."
Bates to Dank:
"Excellent"
Dank to Bates:
"I am going to send you some papers on low-dose naltrexone …. We can nebulise naltrexone as well. Great pregame."
