Watson feels 'let down' by Hird

Daniel Cherny   In a wide-ranging interview, Hird's targets include former AFL chief Andrew Demetriou and current boss Gillon McLachlan.

How the Bomber drug ban will set back one man's dream of helping his people

Michael Gordon   Nathan Lovett-Murray has a job as a youth worker but Essendon ruling stops him talking about football or the dangers of illicit drug use.

Solidarity brought the Dons' house down

Jake Niall   The strength of unity was the players' ultimate weakness and led to their downfall.

CAS decision gives cause for comfort

Tim Lane   The AFL's long-cherished dream of global citizenry is at last a reality. Alas for the Australian game, its first serious appearance on the world stage hasn't occurred in the desired manner.

It's been a big week in art... with Jim Pavlidis

Jim Pavlidis   "Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare." Major Tom did so in 1969 and 47 years later his creator, David Bowie, has done the same.

Banned Lovett-Murray enlists own counsel

Jon Pierik   Disgruntled former Bomber Nathan Lovett-Murray has engaged his own high-profile barrister, as the fight for compensation in wake of a year-long ban intensifies.

Hird says his trust was 'broken'

Former Essendon coach James Hird says his trust was broken and that's why he broke his promise to create a safe environment for his players at Essendon.

AFL, Dons pursue costs against Hal Hunter

Jake Niall   The parents of former Essendon player Hal Hunter are "appalled" that the AFL and Essendon are pursuing court costs against their son after he took legal action arising from the disastrous 2012 injection program.

Banned Bombers meet and continue their fight

Jon Pierik   The shattered 34 past and present Essendon players at the centre of a drugs saga have met together for the first time since they were banned for a year - and have vowed to continue their fight.

Bombers do not rule out signing Crowley

Jon Pierik   As the search for 10 top-up players continues, Essendon have not ruled out reigniting the AFL career of delisted Docker, Ryan Crowley.

It wasn't me: Social media mocks James Hird's excuses

Larissa Nicholson   James Hird's attempt to clear his name has been met with a high degree of scepticism on social media.

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Hird: Dons chose wrong supplements team

Essendon had a "sliding doors" moment when it hired Dean Robinson and Stephen Dank that set the club and 34 AFL players on the path to ruin, former coach James Hird says.

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Ruckman, backs top Essendon's list

Jake Niall   Essendon will place a premium on experienced players when adding the 10 top-up players that are set to be added to the club's playing list.

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Bombers you may not know, but soon will

Rohan Connolly   Essendon will go into the 2016 AFL season with a senior team containing probably fewer players known to the wider football public than any recent rival with the exceptions of the debutant editions of Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney.

WADA square peg in questionable hole

Leaping Larry   The employment of tools is one of the things that separate humans from animals. Another is awards shows. However, use of tools is more in our favour.

Tassie club search for coach after Lonergan ban

Phil Edwards   The Launceston Football Club will begin the search for a replacement senior coach for Sam Lonergan for the 2016 TSL season immediately and hopes to name a replacement within the next couple of weeks.

Goddard all but named Dons captain

Rohan Connolly   Essendon coach John Worsfold has all but anointed Brendon Goddard as the Bombers' captain for 2016 after the suspension of Jobe Watson and 11 other senior list players for the season.

CAS verdict damns players for 'lack of curiosity'

Melissa Coulter Ryan   The Court of Arbitration for Sport's verdict on the Essendon 34 has damned the players for a lack of curiosity about the injections they were given, and their "group decision" to keep the controversial 2012 regime a secret.

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Dons seek appeal loophole

Jake Niall   Bitterly disappointed by season-long suspensions, current and former Essendon players have their lawyers exploring avenues for legal action that might overturn the verdict.

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Saad keen to play for Bombers, Lake rules it out

Larissa Nicholson   Small forward Ahmed Saad has declared his interest in playing for Essendon in 2016.

Koch courting football karma

Rohan Connolly   Port Adelaide chairman David Koch has a huge public platform as a television celebrity with the Seven network.

'Devastated' players explore legal options

Jon Pierik   Essendon captain Jobe Watson talks of the players' devastation at the CAS decision, and foreshadows potential legal action.

Bombers strong enough to withstand 'grenade'

Jon Pierik   A powerful Essendon coterie has declared the Bombers are "robust enough" to withstand the "grenade" thrown by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which has ruined their 2016 campaign and potentially set back the club for years.

Welfare fund could discourage legal action

Jon Pierik   Essendon's potential multimillion-dollar payout to the disgruntled 34 players banned for a year could be mitigated if a welfare fund was established, a leading player agent has claimed.

Bleeding for a club, and hurting teammates

Matthew Lloyd   I was in a state of shock when the news broke that the Essendon players had received such heavy suspensions from the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday.

VFL clubs may seek compensation for pre-season raids

Brent Diamond   While VFL players are hopeful of a dream-come-true upgrade, some VFL clubs are calling for compensation from Essendon or the AFL for potentially losing their signed stars during a pre-season, in what is expected to be a raid upon the competition's elite.

Jobe may give the game away: Tim Watson

Rohan Connolly   Former Bombers champion Tim Watson says he will never accept that his son is now officially branded a "drug cheat", as Jobe considers giving the game away.

'Hoodwinked': Koch speaks out against Dons

Claire Siracusa   Port Adelaide president David Koch has confirmed that his club will look into seeking compensation from Essendon and says that the 17 other AFL clubs wanted Essendon to do a deal to end the long-running supplements saga.

Where the Essendon 34 are now

A list of the 34 banned past and present Essendon players, and where they are now.

Responsibility lay with players: WADA boss

The head of WADA says the 34 current and past Essendon players who received 12-month doping bans were responsible for what went into their bodies.

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Bombers to search for top-up talent

Jon Pierik   A "weakened" Essendon will be allowed to promote rookie-listed players and top up with 10 other players in a bid to be a competitive side in 2016.

Watson could be stripped of Brownlow

Jon Pierik   The decision to find the Essendon 34 guilty of being administered a banned drug could lead to Jobe Watson being stripped of his 2012 Brownlow Medal.

Ban on players 'manifestly unfair', says Tanner

Larissa Nicholson   Stick with us, Essendon chairman Lindsay Tanner urged members, as he slammed the hefty ban on 34 past and present players as "manifestly unfair."

Essendon players to miss season 2016

Jake Niall   Current and former Essendon players have been found guilty of doping offences and will miss the entire 2016 season after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the World Anti-Doping Agency appeal.