From today's Age:Privately, there has been anger from rival clubs towards Essendon throughout the supplements saga over how the Bombers have chosen to handle the crisis, and there continues to be as the industry awaits a Federal Court decision to resolve the validity of the joint AFL-ASADA investigation into the 2012 supplements program.
Where it relates to Essendon potentially losing key players for nothing because of the "get-out" clause in contracts, it's understood many rival clubs hold no sympathy for the Bombers, believing the situation was of their own making.
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Prominent player agent Peter Jess says clubs should do anything in their power to tempt the best players to join them.
Jess, a player manager for more than 30 years, says list managers from rival clubs were compelled to explore a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to strengthen their lists with ready-made players from Essendon without giving up their own players or draft picks.
Jess, who does not represent any Essendon players, says agents who do have Bomber clients were obliged to seek their player's market value having been presented with an unprecedented environment in which to do so.
Jess said officials from rival clubs and player managers were duty-bound to investigate the possibilities that were available. Several other managers contacted by Fairfax Media agreed with Jess.
"If you are looking at the recruitment landscape, you have a once-in-a-generation chance," Jess said on Sunday.
"As a list manager, you have the opportunity to transfer a player, outside the draft, outside the trade period, because of an alleged fundamental breach in a contract.
"All it would take, if it was found there was a breach - and there is some evidence to suggest there could be - is the right money and the right length of term.
"Then you've got player agents who, if they want to know the true market value of their player given this set of circumstances, it is an ideal chance without committing them to the uncertainties of the draft or trade period."
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendons-brendon-goddard-calls-rival-afl-clubs-unethical-20140914-10gpk1.html
