Ablett injury scare

Gary Ablett could miss Saturday night's clash against Port Adelaide. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

THE SUNS are counting the cost of their Q Clash loss with skipper Gary Ablett and Charlie Dixon waiting on scans to clear them for Saturday's match against Port Adelaide.

And the Lions will again have to construct a makeshift defence to counter the Kangaroos' three tall forwards with Matt Maguire likely to miss another three weeks with a leg injury.

X-rays cleared Ablett of any broken bones in his right hand but was last night sent for MRI scans to see what is causing the pain and swelling.

The injury was troubling Ablett today but he is not even considering the possibility of missing this week's clash with Port Adelaide, coached by his great mate and mentor Ken Hinkley.

"I'll be right,'' he said.

Dixon has an Achilles injury and is considered less likely to be cleared to play.

Maguire's ongoing absence is a major headache for Brisbane who must find opponents for Drew Petrie, Lachie Hansen and Robbie Tarrant.

It was hoped he would only miss the one game but he has now sat out two weeks and football manager Dean Warren said he may not be available until Rd 6 against Sydney.

"He is probably a couple of weeks away at least,'' Warren said.

"Because he has had a fair few issues there during his career, it is just going to take a little bit longer.''

The Lions have a swag of in form players from Sunday's 110 point NEAFL hiding of the Gold Coast's reserves jostling to take on the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

There will be one forced change with Jared Polec set to miss with an ankle injury.

Warren said the axe was not hovering over veteran Ash McGrath after a slow start to the season but admitted any underperforming players would feel the heat.

"There is pressure on for senior spots,'' he said.

"We have depth, there is a group of guys in the seconds that are playing good consistent footy and pushing for a game.''

One player who is safe as houses is debutant Sam Mayes.

The South Australian product looked right at home at the elite level collecting 21 disposals off a wing while adding two clearances and five inside 50s. He also took 10 marks - all uncontested - to showcase his lauded hard-running ability.

The No.8 draft pick's penetrating right boot also caught the eye in the wet conditions.

"My job was to spread hard and find some space. I was pleased with how I went and hopefully I can keep improving,'' he said.

"It will be a test next week against North Melbourne to back-up from this week and crack in again.''

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Hird confronts drugs investigators

Essendon coach James Hird could be banned by the AFL if found guilty using a banned substance. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

ESSENDON coach James Hird will not be under oath when he faces drugs investigators for the first time today.

But he nevertheless would face tough penalties if found not to have told the truth.

Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority officers are probing claims that players received banned intravenous injections -- one of several concerns raised about the club's sports science regimen last year.

Sports scientist Stephen Dank has said that during his time at Essendon he injected Hird with the performance-enhancing drug Hexarelin, which is banned for players.

The AFL Anti-Doping Code demands players and coaches must:

FULLY co-operate with any investigation.

FULLY and truthfully answer all questions.

PROVIDE documents if requested.

Players and coaches who fail to do this face a minimum $10,000 fine. If a breach of this section is referred to the AFL Tribunal by the league, there is no limit on the sanction that can be applied.

The code prohibits coaches from supplying and administering performance-enhancing drugs, but not from taking them.

The AFL can sanction anyone it believes has brought the game into disrepute.

Evidence gathered by ASADA would ultimately come before the AFL Tribunal if the agency found players or officials had a case to answer.

Former ASADA chief Richard Ings said: "In the infraction notice (from the AFL), it will say ASADA has told the AFL that you have a case to answer for breaching these provisions of the anti-doping rules; the penalty for this breach is a ban, or whatever -- two years, say; you have an opportunity now to either accept the ban, or to request a hearing before the AFL anti-doping panel.

"The hearing, the tribunal, is held by the AFL.

"ASADA would be the counsel prosecuting the case, because they've got the evidence, and the player and his attorney would be the defence."

Hird is expected to be accompanied by a lawyer, or lawyers, today.

Under common ASADA practices:

THE interview would be conducted by two ASADA officials.

AN investigator from the AFL's integrity office could attend and ask questions.

THE interview would be recorded.

Hird is not bound by privacy laws and can share anything from the interview.

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What Hird must answer today

There are questions Bombers coach James Hird must answer today. Source: Herald Sun

Cartoon by David 'Macca' McArthur. Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON coach James Hird will be interviewed by ASADA officials today. Here are the questions he must answer.

1) WHY did you put so much trust in Stephen Dank, and why didn't you, or the club, do due diligence on him? High performance manager Dean Robinson said, when he was appointed, that he'd bring his sports science offsider. It was Dank. The Bombers trusted Robinson. The concerns are: Why didn't the Bombers know about Dank's colourful past, or, if they did, why did the club employ him?

2) WHY did you sack Dank months before the club instigated the ASADA investigation? The Bombers initially said it was because he was a rogue element, poor with time management and had lost trust of his colleagues. Since, we have found out the sports science department was $100,000 over budget, potentially ordered banned substances on the Essendon account, and that he injected players off-site, used separate doctors and a nurse.

3) WHY didn't you take action after club medico Bruce Reid first raised concerns about ``irregular practices'' in January last year? This is difficult. Hird would've had to have known about the letter, given his relationship with Reid, and the letter went through several hands before, we understand, it landed on the desk of chief executive Ian Robson. It's not known whether the board received the letter.

4) WHAT information did Essendon receive for the club to call in ASADA? Sketchy here. The AFL is vehement it did not speak to Essendon, ASADA wouldn't have, so the suspicion is it was the either the Australian Crime Commission or the Victoria Police. What did they tell the Bombers? The same week, on the ``blackest day in Australian sport'' in Canberra, it was revealed criminal elements had infiltrated the AFL and NRL, and that trafficking of drugs had skyrocketed. Dank maintains he's no criminal.

5) WAS there anyone at the club checking what Dank was injecting into players? The Bombers cannot tell the players for sure what they were injected with. Consent forms outlined what the Bombers intended to use, but the club's concern is: Did Dank use anything else? This was Robinson's domain.

6) WHO do you think is to blame for the lack of governance? Heads will roll. That is the one thing for certain to come out of this mess. Football manager Paul Hamilton left, Robinson has been stood down, chief executive Ian Robson is at the head of the chain of command and is the likely big scalp. Danny Corcoran was not at the club from November-January after losing his wife, and was not a major player in the governance of the department. Hird clearly set out strict guidelines, but they were not always followed. And Dank? Essendon blames him for the lot.

7) WHY were you comfortable having young men injected with supplements, and were some players injected up to 40 times in 2012? ASADA deals with the content of the injections, the AFL will deal with the perception. The AFL isn't happy and it seems likely that words such as ``bringing the game into disrepute'' and ``prejudicial to the interest of the AFL'' will be used to whack Essendon.

8) WERE the consent forms to protect the player or protect the club? The club says this was about professionalism and about making sure the players knew what what they were taking, and for what reason. But there's also a feeling that Essendon was protecting itself against rogue elements outside the club. That the club did not tell the AFL Players Association added to the mystery.

9) WHAT about the text messages between you and Dank talking about the supplements program? Well, he is the coach. He helped set it up, he set guidelines, with every supplement to be ticked off and overseen by Reid. Hird will say there is nothing in the texts that discredit him.

10) WERE you injected with a banned substance for 16 weeks last season? This is the bomb. He claimed to have injected Hird with Hexarelin which is on the WADA banned list. Hird denies this, saying on two occasions he was injected with a harmless amino acid and a vitamin.

11) WHY did you got to Dank for injections and not your family doctor and long-time friend, Bruce Reid? Only Hird can answer this.

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New doubt over Dank

Stephen Dank. Picture: ABC Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE director of Australia's peak body for sports scientists, David Bishop, has called into question the qualifications of the man at the centre of the Essendon drugs scandal.

Bishop said Stephen Dank "would not even be eligible for accreditation'' with Exercise & Sports Science Australia, the regulatory body that represents 3500 members, and suggested it was "beyond highly unusual'' for a person in Dank's role to oversee a program of supplement injections.

"From what I can tell he's got a physiology or pharmacology degree,'' Bishop, a research leader at Victoria University, said.

In February Dank told an interview with the ABC's 7.30 that he had a degree in biochemistry from the Queensland University of Technology, and was a PhD candidate (suspended last year) at the University of Sydney for a thesis on antioxidants.

It is believed Dank undertook a Masters degree in sports science at the University of NSW in the mid 1990s, but it is unclear whether he graduated.

"We have searched our system and have not been able to find a record of a Stephen Dank graduating from UNSW,'' a university spokeswoman said yesterday.

One of Dank's lecturers at the University of NSW, Kevin Norton, described him as a likable and intelligent student, but added "I can't say for sure that he qualified for his Masters."

"I'm not sure whether he graduated or not,'' Norton said.

"I know that he passed my courses (advanced exercise physiology), he was a very good student.''

Norton and Dank even published a paper together on anthropometry (body size and shape).

"As a student he was very bright and a likable lad to be around. He told good stories. I actually liked his intellect, he was a pretty smart guy. I didn't suspect any bad element,'' Norton said.

But Norton said there were worrying signs about the career path his student followed in the decade after they parted ways at university.

Norton, now a Professor of Exercise Science at UniSA, has worked extensively as a consultant with the Adelaide Crows and had a game-day role at the club when his good friend Neil Craig was the coach.

It was in that capacity that Norton caught up in 2006 with Dank, who was by then heading up a Sydney-based syndicate offering the Crows genetic testing technology and gimmicky products.

Dank had been conducting $750 DNA tests with rugby league club Manly, searching for particular genetic traits: the "power gene'' and the ``endurance gene''.

"The fact that he got involved in gene technology suggests that he had a salesman edge to him,'' Norton said.

"At that stage it was not very sophisticated ... it obviously didn't progress very far and he got involved in other areas.''

Norton said he recommended that the Crows steered clear of the testing, which involved swabbing a cotton bud on the inside of a footballer's cheek.

"The idea was to use it for talent identification, future selection policy. Ethically that was something I was uncomfortable with and opposed to,'' Norton said.

Norton said he was shocked by a general lack of ``checks and balances'' at AFL clubs.

Bishop agreed, saying a systematic series of injection should have rung alarm bells, regardless of what was injected into the players.

"It's beyond highly unusual, it's extraordinary. It's something that sports scientists at other clubs wouldn't do,'' he said.

"Injecting substances of any type is not a skill that comes with being a sports scientist. To be honest with you, I think the athletes, the coaches, everyone involved in this, the alarm bells really should have been going off once there were injections happening.''

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Tigers dominate Team of the Week

Essendon coach James Hird gets the nod ahead of Power coach Ken Hinkley. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

WITH apologies to Ken Hinkley it was just a little bit hard to overlook James Hird as coach for our Round 3 Team of the Week.

If some of Hird's harshest critics had their was he would be incarcerated rather than organising a meritorious victory over Fremantle in Perth.

So to deal with the pressure aside of an on-going investigation elevates Hird to coach, despite Hinkley revitalising Port Adelaide.

SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE CHAT WITH JON ANDERSON FROM 12NOON

On the field there are a couple of new names in defenders Jake Carlisle and Jacob Brennan although you can expect to see plenty of them in the future.

The Richmond on-ball duo of Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin could easily have been joined by teammate Trent Cotchin in the best 18, while Carlton's Andrew Walker was unlucky to miss a defensive role.

On a mobile device? Click here for a better viewing experience.

BATTLE ON: Essendon's Jake Carlisle and Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich compete for the ball. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

Round 3 Team of the Week

B: Josh Gibson (Hawthorn): So cool when it matters.

Jake Carlisle (Essendon): The 2009 pick 24 looks one out of the box.

Jacob Brennan (West Coast): The son of Michael is going to be a player.

HB: Grant Bitchall (Hawthorn): Has become someone you can almost pen in to this team.

Harry Taylor (Geelong): Is there a better contested mark in the AFL?

Luke Hodge (Hawthorn, captain): His supposed demise was clearly right off the money.

Brad Ebert, Hamish Hartlett and Travis Boak celebrate Port Adelaide's Showdown win. Picture: Simon Cross Source: The Advertiser

C: David Armitage (St Kilda): So important for the Saints that he and Steven regain top form.

Travis Boak (Port Adelaide): We are starting to see what all the fuss was about.

Matthew Stokes (Geelong): From a substitute in Rd 2 to BOG a week later.

HF: Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle): A shining light in a side that lacks X factor.

Jonathan Brown (Brisbane): Back to his best after a slow start to 2013.

Dustin Martin (Richmond): Still trying to work out how he went at Pick 3 in 2009.

Collingwood v Hawthorn, MCG, 3rd term lance franklin goal, Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

F: Travis Cloke (Collingwood): Looks a different player without the contract hassles.

Buddy Franklin (Hawthorn): After an indifferent Rd 1 the Buddy show is back in town.

Daniel Hannebery (Sydney): Sure he didn't play in a forward pocket but he has to be in somewhere

R: Dean Cox (West Coast): Cemented his position as the best ruckman in the game.

Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney): Just a near perfect start to the season.

Chris Judd (Carlton): Did everything to get the Blues up.

Trent Cotchin gets a quick kick. AFL Round 3: Richmond v Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, Docklands. Tim Carrafa Source: Herald Sun

INT:  Trent Cotchin (Richmond): Just another sublime exhibition from the young master.

Callan Ward (GWS): A really honest hard-nut who has been a perfect pick-up.

Brett Deledio (Richmond): A remarkably consistent player who is kicking stunning goals.

Substitute: Farren Ray (St Kilda): Shouldn't be wearing a vest next week.

Coach: James Hird (Essendon): Had a few things on his mind before helping to conquer the west.

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Tiges can sniff September

Dustin Martin was huge with a game-high 150 SuperCoach points.

FIRST came dealing with the competition's easybeats.

Now comes handling the hype.

From the moment Brett Deledio streamed to 50 metres and goaled 10 seconds into yesterday's clash against the Western Bulldogs, victory was assured.

Live HQ: SuperCoach scores, stats and more

The Tigers banked a third season win after a trio of victories against sides that have just two collective wins from nine games between them.

Brett Deledio celebrates first goal. AFL Round 3: Richmond v Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, Docklands. Picture: Carrafa Tim Source:

Yet it was the manner in which Richmond defeated the Dogs that has the Tiger Army gushing and rivals daring to believe this side is finally the real deal.

The Tigers showboated at times, kicked woefully for goal in the first quarter and endured Jack Riewoldt's endearing mix - brilliance and petulance.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 14: Liam Jones of the Bulldogs is tackled by Alex Rance of the Tigers during the round three AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on April 14, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Source:

None of it mattered, because the Tigers' trio of midfield stars and a collective will to smash the Dogs combined for a regulation 67-point win.

Dustin Martin played perhaps his best game in Richmond colours, Trent Cotchin is close to untaggable after seeing off in-form Bulldog Nick Lower, and Brett Deledio (three goals, 27 touches) is headed for another All-Australian nod.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 14: Easton Wood of the Bulldogs comes off the ground after injuring his hamstring during the round three AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on April 14, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Source:

The team defence and back six were both impenetrable, the under-rated Shaun Grigg did a number on Tom Liberatore, and the recent inclusions in Ricky Petterd and Troy Chaplin are both looking inspired recruits.

So that hype?

By next Saturday's clash against Collingwood it will be off the richter scale, because on available evidence from three games, Richmond is on track for September.

In 1995, after its most recent 3-0 start, Richmond eventually went 11-1 before winning through to the preliminary final with that barnstorming Matthew Knights-inspired run.

The Tigers might need just nine more wins from 19 games, and still face Melbourne, the Dogs again, nemesis Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney as well as Brisbane (MCG) and St Kilda again.

The intoxicating sniff of finals would be enough to derail plenty, but former captain and finals virgin Chris Newman says winning is enough right now for a side which had won just two-and-a-half games in Rounds 1-3 in the past five years.

"It's just so good to be winning, but we have got a really good test in Collingwood coming up,'' he said.

"We have lost so many games in the past that it's a great feeling to be winning."

Daniel Jackson, labelled Richmond's best player of the season so far by Damien Hardwick post-match, said Richmond was ready to handle that expectation.

"The best thing is our focus is always about the little things - win contested footy and clearances and then play our running game from there. We have got a very level-headed group here - there are no egos and we want to play together and win together.''

His summary of the match was precise - Richmond won the tackle count despite 110 more possessions, and until a more even final term were nine clearances up and had limited the Dogs to a miserly 21 inside-50s at three-quarter time.

At times as they retain possession and chip the ball around some might believe they run wide of the real action, but that disguises the blue-collar heart of this side.

Despite his antics, Riewoldt would finish five goals - three in junk time - while Luke McGuane (three goals, three score assists) continues to grow in stature.

For the first time this year the Dogs barely gave a yelp, demolished in close and simply unable to get the point back against the pin-point disposal of the Tigers.

Liam Jones beat Alex Rance comprehensively, while the only other bright sparks for Brendan McCartney would be Adam Cooney's run and vigor and perhaps Tom Young and Jordan Roughead in defence.

Now Richmond needs a scalp of real quality, and with Collingwood and Fremantle away in coming weeks, what better chance to show they are made of real substance this year.

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Sliding rule causes chaos

Luke Hodge slides in to Harry O'Brien's legs and umpires award the Hawks skipper a free kick, and report O'Brien.

Harry O, Brien collides with Luke Hodge, Picture: Ludbey Wayne

THE AFL's sliding rule has sparked a mountain of criticism after Harry O'Brien was today placed on report when the new law states he should have instead been awarded a free kick.

Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge slid towards the ball and collided with O'Brien's leg.

VIDEO: See the incident in the video player above

Under the new rule, O'Brien should have been awarded a free kick due to Hodge making dangerous contact below his knees.

Live HQ: Collingwood v Hawthorn

But the umpire instead gave Hodge the ball, much to the confusion of the players, commentators and spectators.

Collingwood v Hawthorn, MCG, Harry O, Brien colides with Luke Hodge, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

The decision sparked immediate backlash on social media.

Bomber Jason Winderlich tweeted the ruling confused him even more, while SuperFooty readers were quick to vent their frustration.

What did you think of the decision? Watch the replay in the video player above and tweet us @SuperFooty, or leave a comment below.
 

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Hodge inspires Hawks' big win

Luke Hodge slides in to Harry O'Brien's legs and umpires award the Hawks skipper a free kick, and report O'Brien.

Luke Hodge was the star for the Hawks. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

LUKE Hodge has the ability to change the ebb and flow of a game.

It is why he is Hawthorn's captain and why he can be employed in any one of several roles, switching to suit during the contest.

Live HQ: SuperCoach scores, stats and more

Hodge displayed all those admirable traits at the MCG, leading by example to set up a stunning second-half turnaround against a defenceless Collingwood.

He showed the Hawks how to rein in the Magpies, who had dominated the first quarter and skipped to a 22-point lead midway through the second term.

Collingwood V Hawthorn at the M.C.G., Josh Gibson spoils Quinten Lynch Picture: Salpigtidis George Source:

Aside from his work in the crucial midfield battles, twice he grabbed the ball at stoppages and, in heavy traffic, found a way through for goals that kick-started Hawthorn's free-scoring second half.

He finished with 31 possessions, almost every one of them a telling touch, capping it off with six tackles and two goals. And those basic stats were only half the story.

Seize the midfield was the pre-game battle cry from coach Alastair Clarkson.

And the Hawks, led by Hodge and the prolific Sam Mitchell, answered the call to wrest the game away from a Magpie unit far too dependent on far too few.

Collingwood V Hawthorn at the M.C.G., Jed Anderson celebrates his goal in the second quarter with his team mates Picture: Salpigtidis George Source:

The warning bells started pealing for the Pies when the Hawks lifted their intensity in the 10 minutes before halftime. And they maintained that relentless pressure from the restart.

Hawthorn grabbed the lead for the first time with a Luke Breust goal two minutes after halftime and was never really challenged, despite the constant threat posed by Pies' key forward, Travis Cloke.

Breust was another example of a Hawk's positive response to turn around the contest. He had just four handpasses to his name at halftime before bagging two goals in the Hawks' third-quarter blitz.

And he slotted another early in the last term that effectively sealed the deal.

Collingwood looked menacing early in the contest with Cloke's height and strength worrying opponent Ryan Schoenmakers and opportunist forward Jamie Elliott off the leash.

Elliott picked up where he left off after his five-goal haul against Carlton in Round 2.

He kicked two in the first 10 minutes and another in the second quarter.

But Clarkson quelled the little Magpie by moving Ben Stratton on to him. And Cloke's supply dried up, too, when Josh Gibson trotted to his side after the Pies powerhouse booted his fifth goal late in the third quarter.

With Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan busy in the midfield duels, Collingwood should have led by far more than 11 points at quarter-time.

Collingwood V Hawthorn at the M.C.G., Cyril Rioli out muscles Dane Swan Picture: Salpigtidis George Source:

Poor finishing came back to bite the Magpies when the defence found itself under siege, particularly with Ben Reid, guardian of Lance Franklin, off the ground for most of the second quarter after wrenching his right knee.

The gallant Reid returned to contain Franklin to three goals but nine teammates joined Buddy on the scoresheet in the second half, while Cloke was virtually the lone target for the Pies.

Franklin put the polish on one of the most exhilarating rebounds by the slick Hawks after Cloke hit the post late in the third quarter.

Brent Guerra barrelled a spiral punt from the kick-off that was marked by Stratton near the centre circle.

Collingwood v Hawthorn, MCG, Lance Franklin, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

When Stratton fell to the turf after handballing to Franklin, the Hawk forward leapt over him and his 80m shot on the run slid through for a spectacular goal.

It told the tale of the day - the Hawks were far more inventive and organised.s than even the 15 goals to six second half to set up a second consecutive 50-plus percentage-booster.

Collingwood v Hawthorn, MCG, Dane Swan, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source:

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Sheedy focused solely on win

GWS coach Kevin Sheedy is only thinking about a win for his team against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday. Source: Getty Images

GREATER Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy doesn't want to get into any discussion whether a Giants' victory at the MCG on Sunday will lead to the dismissal of his Melbourne counterpart Mark Neeld.

All he's worried about is trying to engineer just the third victory in his club's short history.

"I don't want to make any comments on Melbourne this week," Sheedy said last night.

"Enough has been said about Melbourne, and we just have to get ourselves playing better because we haven't had any success this year ourselves."

Neeld and his club will face further fierce scrutiny if the Demons suffer their fourth successive victory following massive defeats in the first three rounds.

Sheedy said the Giants didn't see the Demons as easier than any other clash.

He said they would approach it in the same way as any other game and that meant preparing for a win.

"We are not coming down to Melbourne trying to lose," Sheedy said.

"People don't realise how tough it is to win a game of AFL -- it's unbelievable.

"Go and ask any team and ask them if they would have thought North Melbourne would be minus three."

Sheedy said clubs that had been around for 100 years were finding it hard to win, while his team has been around for "100 seconds".

The veteran coach said the fact he was overlooked for the Melbourne job won't add any extra spice to the clash.

"I don't worry about all that stuff. I'm very fortunate to be in a good position that the AFL has entrusted me with this club.

"At this stage of your life to have a chance to build an AFL club from scratch is just a terrific thing to happen."

Sheedy, who hands over the coaching job at the end of the season to his assistant Leon Cameron, is negotiating with the AFL over a continuing role with the Giants.

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Kelty defends meeting with Hird

James Hird celebrates with players after Friday's win. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

AFL commissioner Bill Kelty has defended his weekend meeting with embattled Essendon coach James Hird.

Mr Kelty revealed he had told the league that he would remove himself from any involvement in any AFL Commission decision it made on the Essendon drugs scandal and Hird.

Mr Kelty, a Bombers supporter, said he had a conflict of interest because of a business association with Essendon president David Evans and his friendship with Hird, whom he visited at his Toorak home on Saturday night.

ASADA to interview Hird on Tuesday

Mark Robinson: Who's right in this astonishing story?

Asked whether it was appropriate for him to visit Hird, Mr Kelty said: "I have already indicated to the AFL that if the matter comes to the AFL for consideration that I would have a conflict of interest arising out of my chairmanship with David Evans and our close friendship."

Andrew Demetriou says Essendon coach James Hird should consider standing down over drug allegations.

Mr Kelty confirmed he spoke to Hird on Saturday night and "went through the issues with him".

"As I said, I have already indicated that I would stand aside from the AFL for this matter if it comes to Essendon," he said.

"It's only on this issue and I said that from the outset. As soon as it came to light I said that because I'm a very close friend of David Evans."

Mr Kelty said he chaired Mr Evans' stockbroking company's advisory committee. He said while he knew Hird, he would not say if he was a close friend.

Premiership teammates and close friends have urged Hird to continue coaching Essendon, despite pressure from the AFL and his looming ASADA interrogation.

AFL commissioner Bill Kelty leaves James Hird's house on Saturday night.

Hird maintains he will not consider standing down as he deals with allegations that he took the WADA-banned Hexarelin and had detailed knowledge of the club's now notorious supplements program.

After the Bombers' win against Fremantle on Friday night, Hird again expressed confidence about proving his innocence.

He is to be interviewed by Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigators tomorrow.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said on Friday that Hird should consider stepping down, but it was understood yesterday the league would not force him to walk away as coach.

The AFL is involved in the ASADA investigation into Essendon's use of supplements and Demetriou spoke last week of knowledge about the inquiry he had obtained from classified briefings.

Essendon coach James Hird is set to reveal he received two injections from sports scientist Stephen Dank for health reasons.

Bulldogs president Peter Gordon said unorthodox supplement programs should be banned, regardless of whether Essendon was found guilty of breaching the performance-enhancing drugs code.

He was also "uncomfortable" with coaches taking drugs.

- with Sam Landsberger

daryl.timms@news.com.au
 

---

THE STORY SO FAR

February 12: Former sports scientist Stephen Dank drops new bombshell claims

February 15: Drugs scandal takes huge toll on Essendon chairman

February 17: Essendon drug probe expected to last six months

February 22: Signed forms may save Essendon players

March 20: Essendon could face Senate inquiry

April 11: Hird will fight drug claim

April 12: Hird to admit: I was injected twice

April 13: Hird vows to stay after fighting win

April 14: ASADA to interview Hird on Tuesday

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