Often, if it is in your system on the game day, or you are still affected by the drug, to some extent, it actually is performance enhancing. The previously mentioned Essendon incident really should have had far more extreme consequences, considering it was the club forcing players to use or lose their place on the list. The consequences of having a system designed to protect players and ensure those who speak out/seek help to deal with their addiction. Issues are condemned, and let’s be under now illusions that is exactly what would have been happening, is appalling. It honestly makes me yearn full the early 2000s when I was a naive, kid blissfully, unaware of just how problematic the AFL’s policies were, and are even when compared with other sporting codes approaches to off field issues.
I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but, only fellow Australians will get this once again by the way, Eddie Maguire is right. It isn’t mandatory to play football, but it should be mandatory to play football drug free.