Banned Bombers to meet in Croatia

A group of Essendon players suspended for an anti-doping breach will meet in Croatia this week to discuss their plans for 2017.

Dons offer new deal to defender

One of Essendon's good news stories in 2016 is on track to continue beyond this season, with the Bombers offering key defender Michael Hartley a new two-year contract.

Player agents fear compo claims against Dons will drag into 2017

Player agents fear the compensation claims against Essendon over the 2012 injecting program will drag on into 2017 - although the Bombers insist they will be finalised in a "timely manner".

Mid-year report: Essendon failing, but trying hard

There was no precedent for the situation the Bombers found themselves in this season. With the core of their senior team suspended by WADA Essendon was tipped for the wooden spoon.

Stanton leaning towards playing on in 2017

Brent Stanton says he is "leaning towards" returning to football in 2017 and hasn't given much thought to the prospect of leaving Essendon.

Roos defends Dees' Hibberd interest

Melbourne coach Paul Roos says he sympathises with Essendon counterpart John Worsfold, but insists the Demons have not broken any rules in approaching contracted Bomber Michael Hibberd.

Dons chief hits back at Koch

Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell has questioned the professionalism of Port Adelaide chairman David Koch - who suggested last week that it was "not a great look" for the Bombers to receive the No. 1 draft pick this year.

Players deserve some blame for bans: Ryder

Paddy Ryder has conceded that Essendon players deserve some of the blame for the suspensions that wiped them out of football this year.

Tom Bellchambers the latest Bomber to recommit

Ruckman Tom Bellchambers, one of a dozen suspended current Essendon players, has confirmed he will remain with the club.

Hird's father joins fight to save Watson's Brownlow

The father of former Essendon coach James Hird has joined the fight for Jobe Watson to retain his Brownlow Medal.

Banned Dons set to undergo independent health checks

Past and present Essendon players seeking compensation from the club as a result of anti-doping bans are preparing to undergo independent mental and physical checks.

Essendon saga: senator lodges FOI request for ASADA legal advice

The fight for the release of secret documents linked to the Essendon supplements saga has taken a twist, with independent senator John Madigan lodging a Freedom of Information request.

Worsfold's warning to Watson

Essendon coach John Worsfold says he warned Jobe Watson not to return to the Bombers next year unless the captain can give his "full heart and soul" to the game.

Banned Dons asked to release secret documents

Thirty-two past and current Essendon players have been asked to release secret documents detailing why they were initially cleared of an anti-doping breach by an AFL tribunal.

Heppell sticking with Dons

Essendon star Dyson Heppell says he is "super excited" after becoming the fifth of the banned Bombers to re-commit to the club for 2017.

Tanner defends David Evans' legacy

Essendon chairman Lindsay Tanner has leapt to the defence of his predecessor David Evans, after Evans was publicly criticised by former board member Beverly Knight for taking the club backwards whilst he was in the role.

Essendon saga: Hird hits out at ASADA chief and government

The father of former Essendon coach James Hird has described anti-doping chief Ben McDevitt as a "hypocrite" and says the decision to not allow the release of secret documents relating to the supplements saga as "disingenuous".

McLachlan lobbying for release of tribunal report

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan is lobbying 32 of the 34 banned current and former Essendon players to approve the public release of the AFL anti-doping tribunal's full report.

Why ASADA chief refused to release documents

Ben McDevitt has been pitched into the role of firefighter these days, detouring him from the responsibility as chief executive of ASADA, the government body responsible for combating drugs in sport.

Essendon board was divided, Evans was impatient: ex-director

Former Essendon director Beverly Knight says the board she stepped down from was a backroom recipe for disaster – a divided board led by a chairman impatient for a premiership while seemingly en route to the AFL Commission.

How much has the Essendon saga cost?

James Hird's latest defeat in court – this time being slugged with a bill for $660,000 – is another chapter in a saga that could eventually cost more than $35 million.

Ryder a 'bit lost' as doping suspension takes toll

Banned Port Adelaide star Paddy Ryder has been struggling to deal with his year-long anti-doping suspension but took comfort from being welcomed back for a night into the Power fold.

Watson won't play for another club

Tim Watson says his son, Jobe, won't play at a club other than Essendon in 2017.

Madigan gets secret Essendon documents released

Independent Victorian senator John Madigan has won his bid to secure the release of secret documents relating to the Essendon injecting program.

'Significant' proof needed to take Watson's Brownlow

Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell says the burden of proof required to potentially strip Jobe Watson of his Brownlow medal would be "significant".

Worsfold's Essendon revolution is well under way

 Essendon  will not get many wins on the field in 2016, but off the field - remarkably - the wins keep on coming.  

Madigan to call for Senate inquiry into Essendon saga

Independent Victorian senator John Madigan will seek two motions in the Senate on Monday, calling for an inquiry into the handling of the Essendon drugs saga and for key documents relating to the case to be released.

Silvagni joins list of Blues' legends

While Carlton has high hopes for their latest generation of Silvagni, the Blues had good reason to toast an earlier variety on Friday night.

How the Bombers drug ban could impact the Sharapova case

• 1h ago

The Court of Arbitration for Sport's verdict in the Essendon drug case could act as an important precedent in Maria Sharapova's bid for clemency after her positive Australian Open test for meldonium, Tennis Australia president Steve Healy believes. 

Cats say Robinson tenure nothing to worry about

Geelong president Colin Carter says a forensic audit of the club's accounts stretching back a decade found the Cats had nothing to worry about from Dean Robinson's tenure.

Banned Dons will have to go to grievance tribunal to quit club

The Essendon players suspended for an anti-doping offence will have to take their case to the AFL grievance tribunal if they seek to quit the club for a breach of contract.

Will Dyson Heppell return to Essendon?

The uncertainty over the future of Essendon's elite suspended talent continues to grow, with Dyson Heppell among those still deliberating whether to return to the club next year.

Why Watson's compensation claim could be biggest by far

Suffering unparalleled reputational and commercial losses, Jobe Watson stands to earn substantially more than any other banned Essendon player with a compensation claim estimated to be worth multiple millions.

Culture of silence in footy? Bomber Thompson's take suggests yes

Omertà. Everyone in road cycling knows what it means. Anyone who has paid even passing attention to that sport in recent years does too.