Essendon players at their 'worst point', says Matthew Lloyd Jon Pierik
The Age
March 11, 2014Just days out from the start of the AFL season, Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has revealed Bombers' players involved in the supplements saga are mentally at their "worst point".
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency has said the investigation into what went on at the club through 2012 is complete but retired Federal Court judge Garry Downe is now reviewing the briefs.
This means officials and players, including at least 10 still at the club who believed they were administered either Thymosin, of which there are legal and illegal varieties, the banned anti-obesity drug AOD-9604 or both, face a nervous wait.
Lloyd said the well-being of players has also been impacted by the decision of News Corp newspapers to publish the names of 14 players, including two who are now at other AFL clubs and two who are no longer in the elite system, who suspect they may have been injected with illegal drugs.
The former champion forward and captain said, in terms of mental well-being, players and their families were at "their worst point".
"No doubt. Guys that I have seen as laid-back guys within football and life, I have never seen them so worked up," Lloyd said.
"Players have been linked to things that they took that they are unsure whether they actually took themselves. I think what they are upset about - it's been 14 months since this first broke.
"When is the AFL and ASADA actually going to take responsibility for the mental health of these players?"
Asked by Garry Lyon on Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night whether he was "fearful for any of these players", Lloyd replied: "I am - or a family member. I am not saying the actual players but I am just thinking: 'When do you think about these players who put trust in things and look to wrap these things up?' Fourteen months, that's too long."
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-players-at-their-worst-point-says-matthew-lloyd-20140311-hvh9b.html#ixzz2vd4mv1NJ