Loyalty helped Bombers to pay $20m bill
ESSENDON’S bill from the performance-enhancing drugs scandal topped $20m – but only five stars walked out on the club that betrayed their trust.
On the 10th anniversary of the saga that gutted the Bombers, the club is still trying to move away from the fallout.
In 2017, Nathan LovettMurray was preparing to launch a $1m Supreme Court damages claim against Essendon. He was one of multiple players – Jake Carlisle was another – seeking compensation.
The $20m drugs bill consisted of those unforeseen costs and loss of revenue. The club’s debt peaked at $12.5m that year but has since been wiped after stunning loyalty from most players and members saved it after an investigation by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Heath Hocking’s three-year recommitment in 2016 – the year 12 Bombers were banned – was the catalyst for others to remain at the club.
“Sometimes you just need someone to jump off and everyone follow,” Hocking said on Monday.
“I was always going to (stay) because of the passion I had for the footy club, so it was a nobrainer. I don’t know if catalyst is the right word, but maybe it just started the ball rolling.”
Slowly, 10 teammates replicated Hocking’s loyalty while suspended – right up to captain Jobe Watson. Only Michael Hibberd walked out in 2016.
List manager Adrian Dodoro admitted he had to overpay players from 2013-2016 in order to keep them.
Stewart Crameri was the first to request a trade after the supplements saga made headlines in 2013. Essendon’s 2011-2013 leading goalkicker, he said reuniting with Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney was “the main driver” for his trade request – but not the only one.
“That year, we had the media at most training sessions,” Crameri said. “Some days that would get to me.”
Jake Melksham’s pen was poised to re-sign at Essendon deep in the 2015 season. The problem was, there was nothing to sign.
“By chance, I went to (Melbourne coach) Simon Goodwin’s house for dinner. By the time Essendon came back to me, I’d already made my decision,” he said.