AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick must intervene in Essendon and League stand-off

THE time has come for AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick to step in and take charge of the crisis.

Mike Fitzpatrick

THE time has come for AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick to step in and take charge of the crisis.

The truth in the Essendon drugs scandal is being hijacked by the threat and fear of legal action, agendas and self-interests.

After seven months, the sport is on its knees begging for a resolution. This debacle needs strong leadership, calmness and clear thinking.

What we are seeing is a vicious stand-off laced with poisonous legal letters.

It needs the head of the AFL - Fitzpatrick - to sit down with the head of Essendon - chairman Paul Little - to thrash out an outcome that will satisfy everyone.

Nothing else has worked.

Clearly, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and his second in charge, Gillon McLachlan, have lost control of the situation, and Essendon and its key quartet, led by coach James Hird, are not in control, either.

Both sides say they want justice, but neither is close to finding it.

Demetriou, despite his denials, is being accused by Essendon people of polluting the process and leaking information.

So, too, McLachlan. He is accused of having had blood on his hands from the start, which he denies, and has tried to make more deals than Jerry Maguire.

Essendon, despite denials, has been charged with bringing the game into disrepute. It is accused of administering illegal drugs to players, and not caring, and using players as pin cushions.

Don't worry about due process - the whole process is a fiasco.

Hird despises Demetriou. Demetriou despises Hird. Bruce Reid, Danny Corcoran and Mark Thompson are being hunted from one side, Demetriou and McLachlan from the other. There are charges, deals and failed compromises. The players are confused. Parents are scared. Fans are angy. And clubs are furious.

Enter Mr Fitzpatrick.

The truth, of course, is always a casualty in conflict, and what he is seeing must sicken and frighten him.

There is every possibility Demetriou and McLachlan and former Essendon chairman David Evans will be in the witness box of the Supreme Court. Hird, Stephen Dank, Dean Robinson and about 100 others will follow.

Perhaps Fitzaptrick and Little can avoid this. The AFL and Essendon remain in negotiations, so there's hope. And that hope must be paramount, a beacon for Fitzpatrick and Little to strive for together and never lose sight of.

But that is easier said than done.

Both sides must give ground to find the solution.

From afar, the most difficult situation for Fitzpatrick and Little is the relationship between Demetriou and Hird.

But as we speak, there is little hope of salvaging that. Or is there, Mr Fitzpatrick?