Essendon fans left devastated as Bombers booted from finals

UPDATE: ESSENDON fans are devastated their beloved Bombers have been booted from the finals.

How Bombers fans can enjoy finals

ESSENDON fans are devastated their beloved Bombers have been booted from the finals.

But some fear the worst is yet to come, with more damaging punishments still on the table, including a loss of draft picks, as the club and the AFL continue lengthy talks.

Bombers tragic Nick Gentile said it was disappointing his team would not be playing finals this year.

“It’s a bit rough considering the players haven’t been found guilty yet,” the 27-year-old said.

“This is punishing the players when they’re sort of victims.”

Jourdan Canil, 19, said the punishment was “disheartening” and “demoralising”.

“We fought hard all season, especially around all the speculation. We’ve played well enough to deserve a place in the finals,” he said.

“It’s painful (to miss out).

“Hopefully the rest of the punishments are not so harsh.”

Mr Canil said it was “scary” to think James Hird or Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson may be suspended, but losing draft picks across the next two years was his biggest concern.

“There’s a great batch of kids coming through who would be great at Essendon,” he said.

Jenna Webb said she was shocked to hear her team had lost its place in the finals.

“I’m devastated,” the 24-yar-old said.

“I actually wasn’t expecting this to happen. I thought with the players not being charged yet ...

“I don’t blame the players at all, I don’t think they deserve to be punished.”

Fans also flocked to social media to share their anguish at the deal, with ‘Essendon’ swiftie trending on Twitter.

Angry fan Graham Jolly urged his team to “refuse to take the field” for its Round 23 match against Richmond.

“The AFL has botched this up big time,” he posted on Facebook.

“Their (sic) must be a full public hearing to lay all facts out into the open.

“What’s going to happen to my teams players?”

Chris Lopes tweeted: “As an #Essendson supporter I’m devastated, but sadly knew this was coming.”

Some positivity also came amid the disappointment.

Jack Mac tweeted: “Head up boys! Show them next year what we are made of!”

“And after all this, I’m still proud to be an Essendon supporter,” Lukey posted on Twitter, while Chris Worner calmly tweeted, “we’ll be right”.

Passionate fan Georgina McLaren, 22, said her team’s dumping from the finals was a “complete knee-jerk reaction” by the AFL.

“Sanctions such as this should not be imposed before a Essendon has actually been found guilty of anything,” she said.

“It is unfair to players to completely disregard their efforts this season because of past alleged-cheating.”

James Miller, 21, said he expected the finals exit, but didn’t think it would be fair for his club to lose draft picks.

“I’m not happy about losing draft picks – that would be jeopardising the club’s future,” he said.

Fan Marty Smiley was relieved the axe had just fallen on Essendon’s 2013 season, and not next year’s as well.

“I suppose it’s a fair punishment, I don’t know what I would’ve done if #Essendon was excluded from the comp in 2014. A (year without) footy would suck,” he tweeted.

@Faithal83 posted that she was “absolutely shattered” by the penalty.