Kevin Sheedy says the AFL should apologise to Essendon over the league’s handling of the supplements saga

Essendon’s greatest coach has slammed the AFL for its handling of the drugs saga, saying the club, officials and players were treated ‘disgracefully’.

James Hird was the face of the Essendon drug saga. Picture: Getty Images

Essendon’s greatest coach Kevin Sheedy says the AFL should apologise to the club, players and fans for how it handled the infamous supplements saga.

On the eve of the club’s 150th celebrations, Sheedy took aim at the AFL and the Federal Government for contributing to having the players suspended for 12 months without a positive drug test.

“The AFL should apologise … and they probably wouldn’t have the courage to apologise to Essendon,” Sheedy said.

“They were pathetic decisions of the past.

“I would think, when you look back, the AFL didn’t handle it very smartly.

“We were controlled by the government.’’

In one of the biggest scandals in Australian sporting history, 34 Essendon players were suspended for 12 months in 2016 after they were found guilty on appeal of taking performance enhancing drugs.

Senior football staff, including then coach James Hird, were also encouraged to stand down by the AFL, while Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson was forced to return his medal.

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James Hird speaking to the media after stepping down as Essendon coach. Picture: AAP Images

Hird will return to the Bombers for the first time in an official capacity on Friday night to play a role in the pre-game festivities before the clash against Carlton.

Sheedy said the club, officials and players were treated “disgracefully’’ by the AFL — which was led by Andrew Demetriou and Gillon McLachlan, and commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick.

“There wasn’t one positive drug test out of that whole drug saga and hasn’t been for 10 years,’’ Sheedy said.

“All those players and everyone involved through that period suffered a penalty of suspicion.

“They were never found guilty in the eyes of positive tests.

“It’s 10 years. What do I have to do, wait for another 10 years until I get to 85-years-old until they get exonerated? It’s disgraceful.’’

Now a board member at the Bombers, Sheedy said he was not afraid of backlash.

“I’m on the board and I probably shouldn’t say it, but I am,’’ he said.

“I wasn’t there at the time and I’ve watched the 10 years since and I get asked every time I do a public speaking exercise, which is every week … It gets brought up every week and it drives me insane.

Kevin Sheedy has demanded the AFL apologise. Picture: AAP Images

“That’s why I am making that comment now.’’

The return of Hird, who agreed to stand down in 2014 for 12 months after pressure from the league and who finally quit as Bombers coach in 2015, would be welcomed by Bombers fans, Sheedy said.

“James suffered an enormous amount because he was the coach at that time,’’ Sheedy said.

“It will be absolutely fantastic for our fans to see Hird back at the club.

“He’s been an incredible player for our club and unfortunately he coached the team through the supplement saga era.’’

Sheedy is tipping 80,000 fans to attend the game.

“Because Carlton will come, they will want to beat the hell out of Essendon,’’ he said.

“This is a war, and some people at our club don’t realise it, but it’s a war every seven days. That’s the only way to play and coach. That’s the way it is.

“This is Carlton and Essendon and Carlton is where we want to be and we’re not.’’