Merrett poised to sign again

Daniel Merrett is set to sign a deal that will make him a Lion for life. Picture: Darren England Source: The Courier-Mail

BRISBANE vice-captain Daniel Merrett will be a "Lion for life".

The 28-year-old is poised to sign a contract extension with Brisbane that will see the vice-captain finish his career as a one-club player.

The fullback would have been a free agent at the end of this season but he will sign a new deal before this year's competition starts.

"I've got every intention of being a Lion for life. I'm very close to re-signing," Merrett said.

"I'm a Queensland boy and I want to stay in Queensland and be a one-club player.

"This club has a proud history, I love the club and I love the jumper.

"The club has invested a lot into me and I want to repay that. I'm happy where the club is headed and I want to be a part of it."

Merrett has played 135 senior games since his debut in 2005 and at his best is an All-Australian contender.

The Gold Coast junior spent most of last season in the forward line but will return as a full time defender this year.He is a contender for the vacant co-captaincy post but expects the club to give the nod to a youngster.

"We've got a great group of young guys coming through who can step up to the plate. I don't whether or not I take on a mentoring role and allow these young guys to spread their wings and grow as leaders," Merrett said.

Merrett and Lions captain Jonathan Brown visited flood-affected areas of Grantham and Laidley yesterday as part of Brisbane's two-day community camp in Toowoomba.

Brown visited the Grantham State School two years ago, soon after the town was ravaged by flood waters.He said the community had done an "awesome job" of rebuilding.

"The community spirit is incredible. I know, being from a small country town myself, how strong people are in the country," Brown said.

"These people know how to get up after they've been knocked over. You wouldn't have blamed them for leaving but they have rebuilt and stayed strong."

Merrett said it was a humbling experience to see the community triumph over hardship.

"When you see what these people have gone through, it puts things like a bad week on the training track into perspective," he said.

"It's definitely inspiring to see the smiles on faces no matter how tough times have got. We'll probably get more out of this than the kids will."

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Back on, but off the Record

Essendon James Hird gets back to basics ringing the changes as the Bombers go down in a preseason thriller. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

TO THE vast relief of the besieged Essendon Football Club and concerned coach James Hird, the black clouds lifted just a little last night.

By becoming the first team to win a match for the new season, a low-key NAB Cup encounter with the Western Bulldogs, and then failing by only seconds to repeat the feat against Collingwood, the Bombers gave their many fans good reason to believe that, if nothing else, they are not buckling under the extreme pressure of the drugs scandal engulfing this proud old club.

Normally, this would have been an assignment of little consequence - glorified match practice.

But in the current context of uncertainty, if not naked fear, about what lies ahead, a morale boost was desperately required and gratefully received, despite the disappointment of watching the Magpies dramatically snatch a game that had seemed safe.

If there was any extra burden on the usually unflappable Hird, whose own future has a large question mark against it, it wasn't obvious from the grandstands at Etihad Stadium, where 27,000 Essendon, Bulldogs and Magpie supporters soaked up their first footy fix of the year.

Oops, make that their first taste.

Hird went on TV beforehand and repeatedly declined to talk about anything other than the games about to be played.

He eventually handed the microphone back and walked away.

 The AFL, too, appeared to have a "don't mention the war" policy in place.

The Record, its official organ, ran to 124 glossy pages but not one of the 100 or so journalists employed in the league's enormous media department was required to write one word about the issues that have dominated the mainstream media for nearly two weeks.

Two pages headed Ins and Outs of a Busy Off-season stopped in January, before Essendon asked for itself to be investigated and the Crime Commission dropped its "sport's blackest day" bombshell.

Must have been the deadline, the bane of all print media.

The section devoted to Essendon read: "All eyes will be on the talent-laden Bombers as they hope for a better run with injuries in James Hird's third season as coach". Well, that's true enough - there already are a lot of eyes fixed on them, but not necessarily to check out the talent.

There were no banners, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any taunting from rival fans, with one lot sending up Essendon's song - See the Bombers fly up, up - with their provocative version: see the Bombers shoot up, up ... "

Dressed for the 30C heat in club-issue grey shorts and T-shirt, Hird attracted plenty of applause each time he entered and left the arena.

In times of trouble, it is important to keep the faith - and that's exactly what the defiant Dons were doing. They may be required to keep doing it for some time yet.

ron.reed@news.com.au

Twitter: @Reedrw

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Byrnes lights up Dees' trial game

Shannon Byrnes booted five goals today. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: HWT Image Library

CREATIVE forward Shannon Byrnes underlined his value to Melbourne's forward set-up with five goals in an intra-club game at Casey Fields in Cranbourne today.

Byrnes bagged three goals in a lively opening term at his new club in the heat and swirling wind that made it difficult for ball handling.

Demons coach Mark Neeld said later the dual Geelong premiership forward's verbal directions were equally as important as his precise finishing skills.

"Shannon has been really good for us over summer with his leadership and the way he trains. And for him to come out and play pretty well was good,'' Neeld said.

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"He might be short in stature, but in terms of volume, he's pretty loud. And that's good for our young players to hear and see the way that he moves.

"The boys were ripping into him out there. Look, he played well. It's February, but it was a good start. Better than playing poorly.''

David Rodan was another new Demon to find the ball regularly during the simulated match practice over four 20 minutes quarters.

"He's very similar to Shannon in terms of personality. They'll like two little mossies that have been let loose in the change rooms,'' Neeld said.

Jack Watts was steady across half-back, best and fairest winner Nathan Jones racked up plenty of possessions and youngsters Jack Viney and Jimmy Toumpas quickly adjusted to the tempo.

Eddie: Let the Dees off the hook

Co-captain Jack Trengove, key forward Mitch Clark, new goalkicker Chris Dawes and high-leaping forward Jeremy Howe didn't play the Demons first practice match.

Neeld said Dawes and Howe will play next Friday's NAB Cup opening round against North Melbourne and Richmond and he remained hopefully Trengove and Clark, still in rehab from serious foot injuries, may be ready for the AFL season opening round.

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Tippett fires in Swans' intra-club

Kurt Tippett looked the goods. Picture: Tim Hunter Source: HWT Image Library

KURT Tippett showed more than enough in a Sydney intra-club match to confirm he should make a major contributon to the Swans' premiership defence.

The only problem is he will now have to wait until June 22 before entering the fray again.

The former Adelaide ruck-forward fired alongside Sam Reid in the game at Lakeside Oval, earning plenty of praise from coach John Longmire.

The contest was a long way divorced from the rigours of an AFL match but the quality of Tippett's opponents, including Ted Richards and Heath Grundy, was not to be sneered at.

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Longmire said Tippett had ticked all the right boxes during the reigning premiers' pre-season, but that the biggest test would come now - an 11-match suspension for his part in the Crows' salary cap saga.

"It's good to see Kurt Tippett have a really good strong hit-out and have five or six shots at goal - against a quality defence," Longmire said.

Daily Telegraph. The Sydney Swans practice match in Moore Park today. Picture: Tim Hunter Source: HWT Image Library

"He's obviously got to make the most of these opportunities because he doesn't have too many games coming up."

Longmire acknowledged managing his star recruit's workload, and balancing the fact he'll be minus half an AFL season of match fitness, would be a challenge for the club.

"He looked really good today, he looked sharp. He's been doing all the training," he said.

"Obviously we need to make sure he gets enough conditioning and he keeps his conditioning up. We'll work out a program.

"We'll also work through the frustrations that he no doubt will feel at different times during the year when he's not able to play.

"But we're confident he'll be able to round his game off really well in that period, work on some things he needs to work on."

The Swans start their pre-season campaign on Sunday week against Greater Western Sydney and Carlton and at least four premiership players will be sidelined.

Co-captain Adam Goodes (knee), Marty Mattner (hip), Nick Smith (knee) and Shane Mumford (ankle) are likely to be missing, but all are expected to be ready for the season proper.

Longmire said the side's grand final win over Hawthorn was nothing but a memory and counted for nothing now.

"Everyone's on the same number of points at the start of the year and we need to get better.'

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Minson: We want to win

Will Minson says the Dogs want to taste success tomorrow night. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HWT Image Library

IN THE last 242 days Usain Bolt has won three Olympic gold medals, Black Caviar won at Royal Ascot, the world survived December 21, the Pope resigned and Sydney won a premiership.

Not once in the last 243 days has the Western Bulldogs won a game of footy.

That's why tomorrow night's mini-games against Essendon and Collingwood are important.

"Everyone likes winning games of football,'' ruckman Will Minson said this morning.

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"So we're definitely not going to go out there and do just what we're told. If there's a chance to win a game and a chance to win a contest then the natural instincts take over and we'll be going our hardest.

"We're really looking forward to tomorrow night and we can't wait to play some games of footy.''

Dale Morris will play his first competitive game in 18 months having missed all of last season with complications stemming from a broken leg suffered in late 2011.

Minson said he and his teammates take great heart from seeing the defender fit and firing again.

"It's just spectacular, Dale is such a loved member of the Western Bulldogs footy club,'' he said.

"Up until his unfortunate injury I don't think he'd missed too many games since his debut. He's a valuable player and we're really looking forward to watching his progression over the next couple of weeks and getting him back in to the team where we need him each week.

"He's such a ruthless competitor, he's got a never-say-die attitude. Although he's made his name as a back pocket, we'd be happy with him anywhere on the ground.

"If the ball is there to be won or there's an opponent to beat he'll give it his best shot and that's what we love about Dale - he goes about it quietly, puts a bit of gel in his hair and away he goes.''

The Dogs take on Essendon at 6.45pm before backing up against Collingwood at 7.50pm.

This is the third year of the NAB Cup's triangular format and Minson spoke like a man who is a little bit over the concept.

But the most important thing, the ruckman said, is to just play footy again.

"It's extremely different,'' he said.

"You play one set of players for 20 minute halves and then you have a break and play a different team than the one you started against.

"It's a pretty weird format but that's the way the AFL want to do it and so we'll get out there and play.''

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No risks on Ablett, Rischitelli

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett will miss the Suns opening NAB Cup match. Picture: Matt Roberts. Source: Getty Images

GOLD Coast is expected to open its NAB Cup campaign without stars Gary Ablett and Michael Rischitelli.

It's understood both emerged unscathed from today's intra-club hit out despite Rischitelli leaving the track early.

The former Lion was restricted to just 14 games in 2012 battling a string of leg injuries including hamstring tendonitis.

Meanwhile, an injury-free Ablett is being nursed through his 11th preseason – third on the Sunshine Coast -- with the Suns taking no risks on the playmaker.

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Buckley wants the specifics

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says the cloud over players, and the lack of information filtering down to clubs is tarnishing the sport.

Essendon boss Ian Robson responds to calls for heads to roll following Stephen Dank's interview last night.

Clean: Collingwood players are addressed by coach Nathan Buckley on the track yesterday. Picture: Rob Leeson Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley says players' reputations are being tarnished by a "frustrating" lack of detail supporting claims they are using illegal substances.

After reviewing supplement programs back to 2002 yesterday, Collingwood is "very" confident it is clean.

The AFL has confirmed Essendon, and one player from another club, are under investigation by the Australian Sports Anti Doping Authority.

Buckley yesterday said the vagueness of the Australian Crime Commission's findings was damaging football.

"It is yet to be proven about Essendon's situation and we need to wait for the facts to understand that," Buckley said.

"But I wouldn't think it (performance-enhancing drug use) would be wide-spread and I think all of us have seen it watered down as the time has gone on over the last week or so.

"To the point where there is an element of frustration in that, 'OK, if you are going to make those claims, be specific about them because you have tarnished the sport and brought individuals of great quality and reputation into disrepute'.

"That's not good for the code and we need to fix it."

Calls to sack Hird off the mark

Buckley said "as a sports fan, as much as a coach, I want answers" about performance-enhancing drug use in the AFL, but was happy Collingwood's supplement program was clean.

Spotlight moves to the coaches

"We take TGA-approved substances and proteins and carbohydrates ... all that are well-recognised brands that have all got the rubber stamp," he said.

"We are not a club that lives in the grey area. We believe that there is plenty of one-percenters to be found in things that are in our control and that are quite mundane."

A long time friend of Essendon coach James Hird, Buckley yesterday expressed sympathy for his Bombers' counterpart, amid calls for Hird to resign due to the doping authority probe.

"I can't imagine how he would feel," Buckley said.

"I'm sure he would never have contemplated it, even in his darkest times. But I'm sure with his qualities he will navigate the club through."

Geelong coach Chris Scott says the decision-making processes used at the Cats mean they have nothing to worry about, concerning the ACC investigation into drugs and organised crime in sport.

The AFL has also warned clubs about the lurking danger of outlaw bikies mixing with players.

Buckley said clubs must guard against association with the underworld .

"The majority of people who are involved in footy are of good character," he said.

"But when you are as big as we are there are going to be people who take short cuts."

Geelong coach Chris Scott also called for patience.

"As a competition, we've got to suck it up and just ride it out," he said. 

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Academic defends Dank's integrity

Former Essendon sports consultant Stephen Dank at his Ascot Vale home. Picture: Tony Gough Source: Supplied

THE academic supervising Stephen Dank's stalled PhD has defended the integrity of the figure emerging as sports science's fall-guy in the Essendon supplement scandal.

And Bomber great Tim Watson has turned the heat up on the Federal Government to justify the gravity of claims made last week about drugs in sport with evidence and/or criminal or civil charges of individuals.

University of Sydney Associate Dean, Ian Spence, backed his student Dank - the central character in the Essendon drug furore - as a straight shooter with considerable academic talent.

"Academically he is good, knows his stuff but had a lot going on,'' said Spence, referring to Dank's work with NRL and AFL clubs.

"He really knows a lot about sports physiology, has got his head around all of that.''

Spence's assessment contrasts with the portrayal of a man allegedly injecting as yet undetermined substances into Essendon players before leaving the club last December.

"It (sports science) is a bit of a voodoo area and that is why he wanted to do the PhD to try and get one of these products documented,'' he said. ``I never saw anything to do with injectables.''

In an interview with ABC's 7.30 Dank indicated he would be submitting his PhD but Spence said his candidature was suspended last year.

Dank's PhD centred on the use of lactiva - an extract from pine bark that could be used to help rejuvenation. Spence hopes Dank will finish the written stage of the PhD.

"He is a PhD student but is not currently enrolled. I don't know what the future holds. He could come back if he gets it all back together.''

Regardless, Dank has polarised opinion across the sports and academic communities.

Jobe Watson's 2012 Brownlow Medal win has been questioned in light of the Bomber supplement furore.

Jobe's father Tim indicated the joint media conference to announce the Australian Crime Commission's investigation into the integrity of sport on last Thursday may have been elevated in an election year

"I think there has been a bit of political grandstanding that has gone on with all this,'' said Watson adding he would be "flabbergasted'' if players or coaches took banned supplements at Essendon.

Federal Minister for Sport Kate Lundy has been forced to defend the timing of the ACC report finding with the Gillard government languishing in opinion polls.

"The Crime Commission completed their report and handed it to Government and briefed the codes. And it was the Crime Commission's completion of that report that determined the timing," Senator Lundy said.

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Salter ruled out for eight weeks

Port Adelaide's Nick Salter will miss eight weeks. Picture: Simon Cross Source: The Advertiser

PORT Adelaide's worst injury fears for Nick Salter have been realised with the key utility to miss eight weeks with foot stress fractures.

Scans have confirmed the injury which has troubled Salter for several weeks.

The stress fractures are in the opposite foot to the one which has plagued Salter in the past two years, restricting him to just six AFL games and none last year.

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The Power has placed the 25-year-old on its long-term injury list.

"It's really disappointing for Salts given his history (with injury) at this early stage of the year, he can't get a run at it but the reality is that in elite sport setbacks will happen,'' Port director of coaching and strategy Alan Richardson told the club's website.

How did the Power fare in their trial match? Get the full wrap here

"He will just focus on his rehab and once match-fit he'll still have an opportunity to play a significant role for the team given he'll be back early in the season.''

Salter is one of six Power players already ruled out of Sunday's NAB Cup clashes against St Kilda and Adelaide, joining Robbie Gray (knee), John Butcher (hip), Dom Cassisi (calf), Brent Renouf (knee) and Cameron Hitchcock (foot).

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Drug claims tarnish AFL: Buckley

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley says he feels for Essendon and rival coach James Hird. Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley believes football's reputation is suffering from the lack of detail in the Australian Crime Commission's claims about drug use in sport.

Buckley said he had not been made aware any of his players were being investigated or linked to performance enhancing drug use.

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Buckley said he sympathised with Essendon coach James Hird and wanted more specific information about the alleged drug problems which he believed were clouding the AFL playing group's reputation.

"For the 12 hours after the announcement last week, you were wondering 'geez', that's a lot worse than what I expected and what I thought," Buckley said.

"And you would generally think that an individual here and there being apart of it and it is yet to be proven about Essendon's situation and we need to wait for the facts to understand that.

"But I wouldn't think it would be wide-spread and I think all of us have seen it watered down as the time has gone on over the last week or so.

"To the point where there is an element of frustration in that 'OK, if you are going to make those claims, be specific about them because you have tarnished the sport and brought individuals of great quality and reputation into disrepute'."

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SuperCoach DRAFT cheat sheet (v1)

Shane Crawford channels his inner Liam Neeson when he discovers Gary Ablett is 'taken' and tries to organise a swap with one of his mates

You can be part of a SuperCoach draft anywhere, any time. Picture: Mike Keating Source: Herald Sun

NOT sure who to pick when your turn comes in your SuperCoach private league draft? We're here to help.

SuperCoach DRAFT brings a whole new level of excitement and rivalry to the fantasy game we know and love.

Take on your mates in a live draft, just like the AFL clubs, with each player available only once.

But who do you pick with your prized first selection?

>> BELOW: Download our assessed draft order sorted by positions

And, just as important, who do you take when all the stars are already gone?

Don't panic, we're here to help.

Here's our assessment of the draft order, ranked from 1-300 based on last year's SuperCoach average and predicted form.

Print out the attached cheat sheets - an overall list and sheets for each position - and make your own notes, then put them in your back pocket on draft day.

You can thank us when you claim your private league crown.

Follow Al Paton on Twitter: @al_superfooty

SUGGESTED DRAFT ORDERS: (Click to open)

Defenders

Midfielders

Rucks

Forwards

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AFL don't know who's doping

Gill McLachlan, AFL's CEO fronts the press to relay the latest information regarding AFL clubs and players under scrutiny.

The AFL says it is aware of only two specific cases where players or clubs may have breached the league's WADA code.

AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirms Essendon players are being investigated for use of performance enhancing drugs. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

UPDATE: THE AFL has not been told the identity of an alleged rogue drug taker, chief executive Andrew Demetriou revealed today.

The league has been urged to come clean and identify the sole player under investigation for possibly taking performance-enhancing drugs, but Demetriou said that was impossible.

"I do not know the identity of that player," he said today at the launch of the NAB Cup.

Clubs remain frustrated at the anonymity of the case, which threatens the image of most teams.

Confusion reigned last night after AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed multiple Essendon players were being investigated for performance enhancing drug use and revealed an individual player from an unknown second club had been named in the Australian Crime Commission coruption in sport report.

The AFL has sought permission from the Crime Commission to reveal currently classified details from the Operation Aperio report.

The league last night said it was still negotiating with the ACC over what could be released, to whom, and with what conditions.

"We've all just been left hanging because we don't know if it's us," one AFL chief executive said.

"I can't tell you if our club is clean because we haven't been told."

Other club chiefs shared the frustration that while it was known only two clubs had been implicated, the public was open to believe the second club was any one of 17 teams.

Essendon last night said it was "fully co-operating" with an Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation.

"In this case it is possible that players were administered the WADA-prohibited performance enhancing drugs without their knowledge or consent," McLachlan had said earlier.

Former ASADA Chairman Richard Ings says it will be difficult for the organisation to prove clubs and individuals are guilty of doping.

The mystery rogue player may not even still be at the club in question or in the AFL given McLachlan suggested he was confident of a clean 2013 season.

"The AFL is not aware of any issues, potential use of performance enhancing drugs by any players, on AFL lists coming into the 2013 season," McLachlan said.

"There are some potential historical issues that we are investigating, there are vulnerabilities, but at the moment that investigation will take some time and until we get to the bottom of that the season will go ahead until we have futher information."

In other developments yesterday:

JUSTICE Minister Jason Clare said phone taps had been used to help gather information on those believed to be involved in suspect practices.

MCLACHLAN said a resolution to the saga is likely to be months rather than weeks away.

THE AFL revealed approximately 1100 performance enhancing drug tests were conducted on AFL players last season. A similar number is planned for 2013.

THE league said despite the Crime Commission implicating two clubs in doping, it was aware of a wider danger of illicit drug use by players across the competition.

MCLACHLAN stated no AFL game was being investigated for match fixing.The Crime Commission has said one match-fixing inquiry is under way in Australia.

The AFL's statement yesterday leaves an NRL match as the most likely subject of that probe.

Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare admits that players have come forward in relation to doping, following the ACC's damaging report.

While the AFL's net of suspicion was yesterday narrowed to two clubs, the NRL has been told it has six clubs with alleged links to the use of performance enhancing drugs and links with crime syndicates.

Clare said evidence against clubs and individuals specified in the ACC's confidential report had been passed to NSW and Victorian police.

"We're not just talking about evidence that's been collected through coercive hearings, we're talking about documentary evidence that the Crime Commission has got as well as the use of phone taps that corroborate all of the information they've got," Clare told ABC TV.

McLachlan said fans awaiting the investigation's outcome needed to be be patient.

"The reality is it's not going to be as quick as everybody would like," McLachlan said.

"It's not going to be as quick as the club, the players, the AFL, the media, the supporters would like.

"The reality is that the investigators - which ultimately is ASADA in conjunction with the AFL - has to get the right answers and that will take as long as it takes.

"It's more likely to be months rather than weeks."
 

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SA clubs vow: we are clean

South Australian clubs say they are confident their players are not involved in the drugs and betting scandal engulfing Australian sport. Source: Supplied

EVERY major club in South Australia has declared it is 100 per cent confident - or does not suspect - any of its players are involved in the drug and gambling scandal rocking Australian sport.

The Sunday Mail  has spoken to our 17 biggest clubs in the AFL and SANFL, soccer, netball, baseball and basketball, all of whom believe they are safe from the damning findings of the Australian Crime Commission.

The absence of suspicion in SA comes as rumours grow across the eastern states that several NRL and AFL clubs will admit this week to major problems with performance-enhancing drugs and betting.

The Sunday Mail can reveal that six NRL clubs are named in the commission's report and speculation is swirling around at least three AFL clubs. 

Adelaide United yesterday declared itself clean following revelations of a staggering $49 million Asian betting plunge on last year's 4-2 win over Melbourne Victory.

Football Federation Australia chief David Gallop said yesterday the plunge had been investigated but was not suspect.

Adelaide Crows chairman Rob Chapman said "given the significant education, welfare and support that is provided by us to our staff and players we have every confidence that we are compliant".

Port Adelaide boss Keith Thomas said: "As an AFL club, we must aim to set a higher standard than general society in these matters".

Adelaide United interim coach Michael Valkanis said match fixing was a problem overseas "but here, no".

SA Redbacks coach Darren Berry said he would be "shocked and staggered" if drugs were in cricket.

Thunderbirds acting chief executive Clare Harris said Netball SA could confirm no player or staff member "is implicated in these investigations".

Australian Crime Commission chief executive officer John Lawler yesterday warned its allegations about illegal drug use and match fixing in Australian sport "is no beat-up".

Facing a backlash over the refusal to name implicated clubs and players, Mr Lawler said he was working with codes to work out what they could disclose.

Mr Lawler told the Sunday Mail the release of any names of clubs involved in organised crime and drugs in sport would have to be done within the law, which states there cannot be any adverse impact on the club or individual.

While the codes were aware of the clubs involved, they were under strict legal obligations not to release the names publicly. "There is a long way for this to play out yet," he said. "This is no beat-up. We have sworn testimonies, we have corroborated evidence."

Mr Lawler said he was sympathetic to clubs and players who had done the right thing but the purpose of the report was intended to be "an alert" to everyone to improve their safeguards against drug-taking, a point he felt had been missed in the hunt for names.

It also served as a trigger for players, coaches and individuals to come forward to police.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority began quietly stashing the blood samples of AFL and NRL players almost two years ago after becoming increasingly concerned about the use of peptides among athletes.

a major element of the Australian Crime Commission report is focused on a criminal network that sought to extort NRL players who'd been supplied with banned substances.

A source said players had been tricked into taking so called "supplements", later told that they had taken banned substances. Players were later threatened with being outed as drug cheats unless they agreed to fix matches or pay money.

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Dons, one other to be probed: AFL

Gill McLachlan, AFL's CEO fronts the press to relay the latest information regarding AFL clubs and players under scrutiny.

AFL deputy CEO Gillon McLachlan addresses the media on Sunday. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

MULTIPLE players from Essendon and one player from one other AFL club are being investigated for possible performance enhancing drug use.

AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan addressed the media in Melbourne on Sunday and said the Australian Crime Commission report only identified two specific cases where WADA prohibited performance enhancing drugs may have been used in the AFL.

McLachlan confirmed one of those clubs was Essendon - who went to the AFL with concerns over supplement use before the ACC handed down their report on Thursday.

"I think it's reasonable to assume that given the Essendon Football Club has come forward to the AFL and to ASADA and proactively advised us of concerns they have, it's reasonable to talk to them," McLachlan said.

Asked then if Essendon was the club McLachlan had referred to when mentioning "multiple players", the deputy chief said "yeah".

Bookies suspend bets on Bombers

"The AFL is aware of potential multiple breaches at that club."

However McLachlan said he could not comment regarding the identity of an individual player in question and the other potential breach - nor could he confirm which club that player was from.

However McLachlan said the there was no evidence of match fixing in the AFL.

"In terms of identified instances of possible performance-enhancing drug use in the AFL ... the AFL is aware of vulnerabilities to potential performance enhancing drug use across the competition," McLachlan said.

"In terms of identified instances of possible performance-enhancing drug use in the AFL ... the AFL is aware of only two specific cases where WADA-prohibited performance enhancing drugs may have been used in the AFL," he read from a prepared statement
 
"The AFL is aware of one case involving the possibility of WADA-prohibited performance enhancing drug use by one player at one club.

"The AFL is aware that a second case involves the possibility of WADA-prohibited performance-enhancing use by multiple players at another club.

AFL vows to save our game

"In this second case it is possible that players were administered the WADA-prohibited performance enhancing drugs without their knowledge or consent.

"The AFL is not aware of any other specific instances where use of WADA-prohibited performance enhancing drugs may have occurred.

"Nor is the AFL aware of any current or ongoing use of WADA-prohibited performance enhancing drugs in the AFL competition.

"Further, the AFL is not aware of any instance of suspected match fixing in the AFL competition.

"All possible instances of WADA-prohibited performance enhancing drug use identified will be investigated fully in co-operation with ASADA to determine whether in fact there have been any breaches of the AFL's anti-doping code.

Watters confident Saints are clean

"The AFL is also aware of the serious issue around the use of illicit drugs by players around the competition, and this will continued to be addressed through multiple means through the AFL's Illicit Drugs Policy, education and partnership with the relevant key bodies."

- with AAP

The latest comments from stakeholders in the emerging performance enhancing drugs saga gripping national sporting clubs. Sky News

 

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