Essendon top-ups: Gerard Healy blasts indecisive AFL on rookie replacements

BROWNLOW medallist Gerard Healy has blasted the AFL for failing to provide clubs affected by the Essendon guilty verdict with a timely answer on top-up replacements.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan speaks to the media at AFL House in Melbourne, Tuesday, Jan.12 2016. WADA today found 34 past and present Essendon AFL players guilty of using performance enhancing drugs. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING

BROWNLOW medallist Gerard Healy has blasted the AFL for failing to provide clubs affected by the Essendon guilty verdict with a timely answer on top-up replacements.

St Kilda, Melbourne, Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs are still in limbo on who they can replace their suspended ex-Essendon players with almost one month after the Court of Arbitration for Sport banned the “Dons 34”.

It is understood all four teams are happy to upgrade rookies onto their senior lists, but would prefer to fill their rookie list vacancies with external talent.

The AFL, via its legal counsel Andrew Dillon, has since asked the remaining 13 clubs if the Saints, Demons, Bulldogs and Power should be entitled to top-ups.

Fox Footy understands the response from rival clubs has been lukewarm.

But Healy on Tuesday slammed the AFL for its indecisiveness.

“It’s seems we’ve gone handball happy,” Healy told 3AW radio.

“It’s not their (the clubs) job, Andrew Dillon, it’s yours. Make a decision.”

Andrew Dillon, AFL's GM, legal & business affairs.

BOMBERS MUST PAY: St Kilda pursues compensation from Essendon

As it stands, clubs can promote rookies to replace banned players but cannot replace them with players outside of the AFL system – unlike what has been afforded to Essendon.

“How is it logical that the Bombers - who created the problem - are getting preferential treatment over the others?” he said.

“How is it that the Bombers could have replaced (Jake) Carlisle, (Jake) Melksham et al. if they remained on Essendon’s list, but not if they moved club?”

Submissions from St Kilda, Melbourne, Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs were due by 5pm on Tuesday.

“He (Andrew Dillon) will consider those (submissions),” AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said.

“Then he will make his own decision about what’s right.”

A final call on top-up players will be made by Friday.

@tommorris32

Originally published as Essendon top-ups: Gerard Healy blasts indecisive AFL on rookie replacements