Sydney Swans captains Barry Hall and Barry Round question West Coast Grand Final win

SYDNEY premiership captain Barry Hall has labelled the 2006 Grand Final against West Coast tainted following a secret AFL report which confirmed unchecked illicit drug use.

SYDNEY hardman Barry Hall has led a chorus of anger over the West Coast Eagles’ 2006 premiership triumph.

The Swans’ 2005 premiership captain, whose team lost by a point to the Eagles in a Grand Final rematch the following year, says that season will be forever “tarnished”.

His comments follow the unearthing of a top-secret report from retired Supreme Court judge William Gillard to the AFL, which concludes that Eagles club leaders allowed a toxic culture to fester, covering up years of illicit drug abuse.

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“It was the worst kept secret in the AFL,” Hall said.

“Everyone knew what they were doing but no one wanted to acknowledge it or do anything about it. But there are no positive tests and what effect any drugs may have had on game day is unproven. Were they performance enhancing? I don’t know.”

“Unfortunately it’s just a tarnished year that you almost write off. It would be very hollow to think we deserve something from 06’. They can hand the cup over if they want.”

Ben Cousins and Chris Judd hold up the 2006 premiership cup.

Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett declared: “After reading judge Gillard’s report today I’m taking away the asterisk and putting in a black line through that flag.”

Daniel Chick, who played in the 2006 flag and has since revealed a long battle with drug addiction, said: “Finally, (for) those untouchables, the truth is catching up with them.”

The report, kept secret by the AFL for the last nine years, is highly critical of current Essendon coach John Worsfold and Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett.

But Worsfold night disputed Gillard’s conclusion that he and other Eagles officials ignored evidence of misconduct, saying: “I still think that I dealt with the things as they were presented to me ... When somebody implies something, but with absolutely no evidence other than they think something. I really do still battle to say: ‘How do you act on that?’”

Hall expressed his shock at Worsfold’s return to coaching, saying: “If John Worsfold knew what was going on then I am surprised he got the Essendon job.

“The fact that the AFL knew about it and allowed this thing to go forward is also hard to understand.”

Barry Hall and Leo Barry sit as the West Coast Eagles celebrate.

Former Swans captain Barry Round said of the Grand Final: “You see West Coast blokes bent over one minute and then running the length of the ground the next. In the last quarter the Swans players were stuffed and they were still doing somersaults.

“It certainly is tainted ... If it had been a level playing field we know who would have won.”

Worsfold hit back at Bartlett, saying: “I think that he’s just making an emotional comment on part of the information that he’s elected to believe. He doesn’t know the full story by a long shot.”

Eagles premiership skipper Chris Judd said: “The premiership was built on hard work and certainly my proudest moment in AFL footy.

“In footy there’s thousands of opinions on different issues, but there’s no suggestion anybody used performance-enhancing drugs which obviously would have tainted the premiership.

“I’ve heard it before, but from my perspective, I was there, I noticed how hard we trained for it and what everyone put into it and just what a great achievement it was.”

Originally published as Sydney Swans captains Barry Hall and Barry Round question West Coast Grand Final win