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Dear Ms Wilson

RE: Essendon's blame game over Paddy Ryder another sign of a club off
the rails - September 5, 2014

I dont think there would be anyone who wasnt genuinely concerned for Paddy Ryder and
his family and you are to be commended for expressing your concern. However, that doesnt
mean you are entitled to trash your obligations under the Australian Press Councils Code of
Conduct / Ethics. You have an obligation to be accurate, fair and balanced. The following
comments are an attack on your writing, not a defence of Essendon. I dont know enough
about what has transpired in the last week to attack or defend Essendon or Ryder or his
manager.
Item 1 (Wilson): Having wasted yet another golden opportunity to put up its hand and take
responsibility for the nightmare it has inflicted upon its footballers, Essendon instead chose
the predictable path on Thursday of playing the man.
My Comment:
1. Essendon doesnt believe its players were administered dangerous WADA banned
substances. As we speak, there is no evidence to the contrary, although your columns for
the last 18 months suggest you have been sitting on the evidence. Its time you put up or
shut up. If you have the evidence your articles suggest you have, its time you produced
it.

2. In contrast to Essendon, the AFL and ASADA believed in late 2011, and all of 2012,
Essendon players may have been taking dangerous, life-threatening banned substances.
Surely, the AFL had a responsibility to run down to Windy Hill to tell the players to stop
taking the substances. It is incomprehensible to me that not only didnt the AFL and
ASADA do anything to stop the program but that you and your colleagues have never
seen the need to question their inaction and lack of duty of care.

3. Despite having no proof of wrong-doing at Essendon, the media has generated thousands
of articles over 18 months which have contributed to the players nightmares.

4. A balanced article would have canvassed the responsibilities of the AFL, ASADA and
Essendon before apportioning blame. Whichever way you cut and slice it, the AFLs
inaction is a thousand times worse than Essendons.

5. A balanced article would also have said Stephen Dank appeared before the Australian
Crime Commission, and under oath, stated that no WADA prohibited substances were
administered at Essendon. Surely, if the ACC had evidence to the contrary, it would have
charged Dank.

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Item 2 (Wilson): The club had two choices after Fairfax Media revealed that Paddy Ryder
could depart the club mid-contract and move to the Brisbane Lions as a delisted free agent.
One was to wrap its arms publicly and privately around Ryder and his disenchanted fiance
Jessica McDonald. The other was to point the finger at his manager.
My Comment:
My understanding is Essendon has wrapped its arms around every player and their families to
comfort them. A balanced article would have at least listed the action Essendon has taken to
comfort its players.
Item 3 (Wilson): The Bombers reverted to type and chose the blame game. It was a crazy
and misguided choice. Not only did Essendon play the man, it played the wrong man.
My Comment:
The issue here is who leaked the story that Ryder may move to Brisbane as a de-listed free
agent. Essendon thinks it was Ryders manager. You not only claim Essendon is wrong but
you know who leaked the story. Surely, to back-up your claim, you have a responsibility to
name that person
Item 4 (Wilson): No one would have been more disappointed than Connors at the timing of
the story. But Essendon misread this. "It is extremely disappointing that Paddy's manager
Paul Connors has chosen to play these matters out in the press on the eve of the club's finals
campaign," read the club's idiotic media statement. Could the club be now seeking the same
advice as the ill-considered mentoring handed to coach James Hird in 2013?
My Comment:
1. Using the term idiotic is a disgrace. If you had done psychology you would know it was
the lowest form of mental retardation even below imbecile and moron. It just reinforces
the hatred you have for Essendon.

2. A decent journalist would have given her readers a clue about what she meant by ill-
considered mentoring handed to James Hird. From where I sit, if Hird had laid down and
accepted the penalties you prescribed for him, we would not have found out that Ms
Gillard, Ms Lundy, Andrew Demetriou, Gillon McLachlan and Brett Clothier tried to
manipulate ASADA and the Interim Report. We now know when the new commission is
appointed McLachlan should be on his bike. We should thank Hird for that.
Item 5 (Wilson): "These actions have put unnecessary pressure on Paddy and his family,"
the statement continued. Surely Essendon knows in its heart of hearts that the pressure on
Ryder and his family was not caused by his manager. If only the club spent as much energy
on working behind the scenes with troubled players and their families as they did on
misguided damage control, they might not find themselves in this situation.

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My Comment:
1. This is factually untrue, which is another breach of the APC code. There have been
thousands of pages written attacking Essendon and only a handful emanating from
Essendon as damage control.

2. Most people, who are not members of the Destroy Essendon Club, are aware that the
Essendon officials have done an enormous amount of work to comfort the players and
their families. A balanced article would have mentioned what the club had done.

3. This is a disingenuous comment. You know the pressure on Ryder refers to the story
breaking days before the elimination final.
Item 6 (Wilson): There are several ways the club could help Ryder and McDonald. One
would be to tell them what drugs the player was given before he impregnated his fiance. But
Essendon cannot do that. The club has chosen the course of denial and delay and to this day
does not know what exact substances were administered, even though chairman Paul Little
continues to blindly insist his belief that nothing banned was involved.
My Comment:
1. A balanced article written by a decent journalist would have outlined Ryders
responsibilities as well as the clubs. Ryder had obligations under Clauses 5.3 (c) (i) to (vi)
and 7.4 of the AFLs anti-doping code to know what substances he took. Clause 7.4 says
Before the commencement of the AFL Competition each Player must advise his Club
Medical Officer in writing of all substances and medications he is taking or using or has
taken or used since the last Match in which the Player participated in the previous year.
The Player must promptly advise his Club Medical Officer in writing of all substances
and medications he subsequently takes or uses during the AFL Competition in that year.
Each Club Medical Officer must maintain and keep a written record in respect of each
player of all substances and medications so advised to him. Such records will be the
property of the Club.

2. If Ryder had fulfilled his obligations he would have known what he took and there would
have been no reason for him to have nightmares.

3. If the AFLPA had done its job and educated the players about Clauses 5.3 and 7.4, Ryder
would have known what he took.

4. If the AFL hadnt been so lazy and apathetic it would have checked on compliance with
Clause 7.4 of the anti-doping code at every club. It would probably have discovered that
no one was complying. Presumably, the AFL would have then introduced severe penalties
to ensure compliance, which would have meant Ryder and every other player in the AFL
would know every substance they were given.

5. Ryder testified that he was told what substances he was given but because they had
weird names he didnt take it in. To comply with Clause 7.4 Ryder knew that he had to
take it in and write down the name of each substance.
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6. If you know Paul Little is incorrect, why not tell us which banned substances were
involved? ASADA only mentions one banned substance but you imply you know there
are more than one. Please put up or shut up.

7. ASADA believes Thymosin Beta-4 was the only banned substance administered at
Essendon. Ryder didnt take either Thymosin Alpha or Thymosin Beta-4 so he shouldnt
have any worries.
Item 7 (Wilson): Suggestions from the club that the Ryder bombshell, which was revealed to
the Bombers in the final weeks of the season, could be financially motivated seem so
insulting. This was a player moved to tears after his confronting interview in 2013 with
ASADA and the AFL investigators. As reported in these pages last year, players were told
that their fertility could be affected, as could the health of their unborn children.
My Comment:
I assume that the players were told last year that if they took a banned substance their
fertility could be affected, as could the health of their unborn children. As we speak, other
than the evidence you imply you have, there doesnt appear to be any evidence that the
players took a banned substance. They therefore shouldnt have any concerns.
Item 8 (Wilson): A more accurate reading of the situation is that Ryder, despite his brilliant
form this season, has not enjoyed the same relationship with Essendon that he enjoyed in the
past. He has not enjoyed the questions about his future, his circumstances, the ongoing media
attention which has resulted in the fall-out of the dangerous drugs program and more recent
show-cause letters. He is seeking an environment less involved in the day-to-day dramas of
the AFL.
My Comment:
Your comments suggest that you have interviewed Ryder and you know everything he thinks
about the whole saga. Your comment would be more believable if you had thrown a few
quotation marks in.
Item 9 (Wilson): There are several acts yet to play out in the Ryder story and while other
managers have publicly discussed the new breach-of-contract clause which could allow
players to move to another club as delisted free agents, there is no clarity yet as to whether
the clause would stand up or whether a manager would take it to its final conclusion.
My Comment:
I knew that if I persevered Id eventually find a sentence of yours that made sense. Id be
surprised if any player tried to trigger the delisted free agency clause because I expect most
players would agree that they contributed to the problem. The players knew they were
supposed to record every substance and medication they were administered. They failed to do
so. Presumably, Essendon would use this to negate any delisting free agency push.
Item 10 (Wilson): Justice Middleton has not reached his decision regarding Essendon's
Federal Court attempt to find last year's investigation illegal. That decision is not likely to
come next week, despite speculation, but more likely the week leading into the preliminary
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finals. Then the position of the players facing suspensions - and Ryder is one of those - will
come to the forefront. This could have happened earlier if the Bombers had truly focused
upon what drugs were given to its players and not delays.
My Comment:
1. Ryder shouldnt be facing suspension because he didnt take any form of Thymosin.

2. If Essendon demanded a hearing last year rather than capitulating to intimidation by the
AFL and the media, the matter would have been resolved last year.

3. Your comment truly focussed upon what drugs were given to its players and not delays
is nonsense. Essendon doesnt believe it took any banned substances. What delays has
Essendon caused. And please dont say they were remiss in requesting to see the
evidence.
Item 11 (Wilson): Paddy Ryder did not ask to be the player who this week has become the
unfortunate symbol of Essendon's irresponsible football program. But once he became that
player, the correct behaviour by Essendon would have been to publicly state its regret that it
had put him and his family in this unfortunate position.
My Comment:
1. This weeks issue is the leaking of the story that Ryder may wish to leave Essendon. His
concern about the program is not what attracted the angst this week.

2. Your comment the correct behaviour by Essendon would have been to publicly state its
regret that it had put him and his family in this unfortunate position is reprehensible and
in breach of the APC code. It implies Essendon has never apologised and has never
sought to comfort Ryder and his family. That is factually untrue and an example of more
unbalanced writing.
Item 12 (Wilson): "We never intended this," the Thursday statement should have read. "And
now we will do all we can to win back his trust. But we will not stand in Paddy's way should
he truly want to leave Essendon. And if we do lose Paddy then we will continue to play a role
in his future health and that of his young son."
My Comment:
1. I assume Essendon detests having to read your garbage in the Age. I think it is extremely
unlikely that Essendon will ever ask you to write for them.

2. My understanding is Essendon has been extremely helpful to all those players who were
involved in 2011 and 2012, who have left the club. It is gutter journalism to imply that
Essendon would not be just as carrying to Ryder as to the others.

Bruce Francis