The AFL needs to sort the Lachie Whitfield mess before they embarrass themselves

THE AFL needs to sort the Lachie Whitfield mess out before they embarrass themselves and the game, writes Mark Robinson.

Lachie Whitfield celebrates after kicking a goal against Sydney.

HYPOTHETICAL No.1: Lachie Whitfield kicks the winning goal in the Grand Final, capping a remarkable rags to riches journey for Greater West Sydney. Whitfield caps a sensational final series by being awarded the Norm Smith Medal.

Hypothetical No.2: Lachie Whitfield did take illicit drugs, they were laced with performance-enhancing drugs. Graeme Allan and Craig Lambert conspired to harbour Whitfield for three nights at Lambert's home.

Hypothetical No.3: Post Grand Final, the AFL finds Allan, Lambert and Whitfield guilty and, under AFL rules, suspended them, just like they suspended Dean Bailey, Chis Connolly, James Hird, Danny Corcoran, Stephen Trigg and Kurt Tippett for bringing the game into disrepute.

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The AFL needs to sort this mess out before they embarrass themselves and the game.

Preferably before the Giants play in the preliminary final. Absolutely before the Grand Final if the Giants make it.

Imagine it, Whitfield wins the Norm Smith Medal and then gets rubbed out — worst case scenario — for four years on an 18-month-old drugs issue.

Lachie Whitfield gets a handball away during the qualifying final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Clearly, the AFL has looked at standing down Whitfield and clearly the evidence isn't strong enough for them to do that.

But it's still smelly enough for the AFL's lawyers to pick at it. And what are they picking at?

The cynical would also be forgiven thinking any decision on Whitfield and Co absolutely will be held over until after the finals series.

Hate to think it's a matter of trying to buy time.

It's odd enough that the AFL announced its investigation had been completed two days after the media revealed the story, but it's extremely odd they have the evidence in front of them, but can't or won't make a decision.

In one aspect, they have their interim report into Whitfield. The last time the AFL used at interim report was in 2013 and back then they didn't take any risk to the integrity of the competition.

They booted Essendon from the finals for fear the sport would be severely tainted if Essendon won the premiership that season.

None of the evidence then had been tested, there was accusations evidence helping Essendon players was omitted and player testimony had been distorted.

But the AFL acted strongly and kicked out the Bombers in what was one of the most stunning decision in the history of the competition.

Lachie Whitfield celebrates a goal against Sydney.

The AFL 's decision looked foolish when it’s own anti-doping tribunal found the Bombers not guilty. But the Court of Arbitration of Sport’s decision ultimately vindicated the AFL, although the AFL’s attempted deals to get the players off blew up in their face.

The players are currently appealing the decision.

Whitfield has the potential to severely embarrass the AFL and it has to be asked: Why he is able to play finals and the Essendon players were not? Please, let it not be about “optics”.

That the AFL investigators and lawyers are still looking at this 18 months after the alleged event suggests the only doubt is whether Whitfield, Allan and Lambert should be punished under the AFL's rules, ASADA's rules or both..

The evidence is there, so why the delay?

ASADA delivered to the AFL an interim report on Essendon's 34 players officials in six months. The AFL investigators and lawyers have taken 18 months on Whitfield, Allan and Lambert and still there’s no answer. Something's not right and it would irresponsible not to ask if there was an attempt at a cover-up.

If the media didn't drop the story — intriguingly as Allan was appointed general manager of football at Collingwood — the Whitfield report might still be in the bottom of a drawer.

And the cynical would also be forgiven for thinking any decision on Whitfield and Co absolutely will be held over until after the finals series. This is a potential bomb for the AFL and, because of it, the integrity of the finals series is once again being challenged.

To borrow a line from Gillon McLachlan, all we want is visibility — and urgently — for the sport’s sake.

Originally published as The AFL needs to sort the Lachie Whitfield mess before they embarrass themselves