The AFL and the Essendon Bombers will resume negotiations over the club’s penalty for last season’s supplement scandal on Tuesday as Fox Sports reports the club will be banned from participating in the 2013 finals.
No resolution was reached on Monday, however an announcement is expected Tuesday detailing the future of coach James Hird, the club’s immediate penalty relating to the 2013 finals and future draft sanctions.
The Bombers face Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night in the final home and away round of the AFL season, but will be removed from the finals campaign (currently in seventh position) as part of their punishment for charges laid down by the league for bringing the game into disrepute.
In addition to missing out on a finals appearance this season, Fox Sports is reporting the club will receive a record fine of around $2 million while Hird will receive a ban somewhere in the likelihood of six to 12 months.
Still to be decided are the ramifications to impact the Bombers at future AFL drafts. The league allegedly wants to remove the club from the first two rounds of the next two drafts, however Essendon is said to only be willing to part with sanctions associated with this year’s draft.
Hird, chairman Paul Little and chief executive Ray Gunston remained at AFL House with their legal teams well into Monday night, fighting for the club’s future after club doctor Bruce Reid, assistant Mark Thompson and football manager Danny Corcoran were seen leaving AFL HQ at around 7pm.
One club is set to benefit from Essendon’s finals ban. Carlton, Brisbane, North Melbourne, Adelaide and West Coast head into round 23 with a chance of claiming ninth spot on the ladder, a task made far more attractive now that the Dons are set to take no part in finals football.
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Scott Barbour, Getty Images.
