Top-secret Eagles report urged AFL to establish independent body to probe misconduct
THE AFL was strongly urged to establish an independent body to deal with serious off-field misconduct as a result of the Eagles drugs scandal.
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THE AFL was strongly urged to establish an independent body to deal with serious off-field misconduct as a result of the Eagles drugs scandal.
But nine years on, the AFL Commission, supported by the league’s integrity unit, remains the game’s ultimate disciplinary authority.
The AFL has faced criticism over its handling of several major investigations — including the Essendon supplements saga, Melbourne tanking affair and Talia brothers leaking probe — since former judge William Gillard completed his secret report in February 2008.
“I think there is much merit in having a separate body, independent of the AFL Commission and the clubs, to deal with serious misconduct,” Gillard concludes in his report.
“It should be chaired by a person who has substantial experience in trial litigation, assisted by a former player and a former administrator.
“There have been a number of criticisms concerning the way clubs, not only the West Coast Eagles ... have dealt with player misconduct in the past,” Gillard writes.
“The first criticism is that players are dealt with differently, depending upon how long the player has been at the club, his ability and the importance of the player to the success of the team.
“It is noted that a more valuable player is usually dealt with more leniently than a less valuable player.
“Putting it bluntly, players at the top enjoy leniency and those at the bottom are given their marching orders.
“The second criticism is that one club may deal with a particular set of misconduct with a certain penalty, and another club will deal with the same form of misconduct differently and with a lesser penalty. This breeds resentment.
“Thirdly, there is always a temptation in every club to cover up, to distort what happened and to put a version to the public which seeks to minimise the gravity of the conduct. Those criticisms are regularly aired and provide good reasons for a change.”
Gillard also calls for a tightening of the AFL’s contentious three-strikes illicit drugs code and heavier fines and suspensions for those caught.
“There are strong and powerful arguments that testing should be 365 days per year and the secrecy of positive readings reduced to the second reading,” Gillard says.
The AFL moved to a two-strikes system last year, but summer hair tests still do not count as strikes. Upon receiving the top-secret report from the retired judge, then AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said the league would consider his recommendations: “We thought the report was thorough and tough.”
But the AFL determined in March 2008 not to release the explosive 87-page report and enforced extraordinary conditions to keep it secret.
Documents obtained by the Herald Sun suggest that the AFL gave only one copy of the report to the club, and demanded the names of all Eagles directors and legal advisers given access to it.
Gillard was appointed as a special investigator in November 2007 — a month after the Eagles sacked star midfielder Ben Cousins.
He completed his probe three months later, having interviewed 47 people.
The extent of the Eagles’ drugs crisis was kept secret from the footy world, including Richmond, which recruited Cousins at the end of 2008.
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AFL’S TOP SECRET EAGLES REPORT SPECIAL:
DRUGS, LIES AND COVER-UPS: WEST COAST SCANDAL EXPOSED
BETRAYAL OF A DUTY OF CARE: WEST COAST CHIEFS LASHED OVER TOXIC CULTURE
AFL URGED TO SET UP INDEPENDENT BODY TO PROBE MISCONDUCT
WHAT BEN COUSINS SAID ABOUT HIS DRUG USE
EAGLES MIDFIELDER CHAD FLETCHER STRAPPED TO LAS VEGAS BED
WEST COAST FAILED ON KERR’S VALIUM SCAM
WEST COAST PREMIERSHIP PLAYER STEVEN ARMSTRONG LIED TO POLICE OVER CAR CRASH
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