Stuart Crameri was one of 34 Essendon players caught up in the infamous supplements saga that rocked the AFL. In this raw and revealing chat, the former Bomber opens up about the highs and lows of his career, including the supplements scandal that derailed the Bombers and the heartbreak of watching his Bulldogs teammates win the 2016 flag while he was sidelined.

Crameri takes us inside the Bombers’ supplements program, revealing he and his teammates “didn’t blink an eye” when told to take injections and didn’t realize the trouble it would cause. He talks about the constant “groundhog day” of having to face the media scrutiny, Jobe Watson’s incredible leadership through the crisis, and the “devastation” of ultimately being banned for a year.

The big-hearted country boy also shares the setbacks and rejections he faced early in his career, moving to Melbourne and staying in a “terrible” hostel to chase his AFL dream, his special bond with coach Brendan McCartney, and how he managed to still perform on the field despite the mental toll of the saga.

Crameri’s story is one of resilience and perspective. This is an insightful look into one of footy’s most tumultuous chapters.

[00:02:30] Early career rejections and persistence to make the AFL
[00:08:00] Arrival of James Hird lifts standards at Essendon
[00:15:30] Breakout season in 2011 after move to forward line
[00:23:00] Supplements saga begins to unfold
[00:33:00] Dealing with constant media scrutiny during 2013 season
[00:40:30] Shifting to Western Bulldogs for a fresh start
[00:50:00] Devastation of 12-month suspension ruling in 2016
[01:03:00] Watching the Bulldogs win the flag from sidelines 
[01:10:00] Life after footy and key takeaways

Crameri’s story is one of resilience in the face of adversity. Be sure to listen to the full episode to get an insight into one of the AFL’s most challenging chapters.