Big questions asked of Bombers

Essendon coach James Hird was stunned by this week's drug revelations. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Herald Sun

UNQUESTIONABLY, James Hird would have asked himself in recent days whether he should resign as Essendon coach.

The answer is no. Resign for what?

That Hird even contemplated the question tells us the weight of responsibility he feels.

No one who knows this iconic Essendon figure, a champion player and budding coach, would believe Hird knowingly was involved in the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Right now, we do not know what was used, and that will be played out over the next several months as the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigates Essendon's 2012 season.

If human growth hormones are found to have been used - and for everyone's sake, let's hope they were not - then character references from the Pope himself will not save anyone, including Hird.

The world doping body says it's two years, nick off, end of story. And Essendon would forever be known as dirty, stinking drug cheats.

If evidence of banned drugs is not found - as the Bombers expect and the AFL hopes - there will be sighs of relief.

But, clearly, the Bombers have an exhaustive in-house series of questions to be answered.

The simplest: How did it get to this?

If cleared, then what exactly are Hird and club officials guilty of?

Already, the Pharmacist (Steve Danks) is a casualty and the Weapon (Dean Robinson) appears mortally wounded. But who is in the gun next?

Obviously, in-house systems of communication, processes and reporting procedures must be evaluated.

Hird, with the backing of assistant coach Mark Thompson, hired Robinson, who hired Danks. Robinson and Danks have proved to be disastrous.

They are thought by some to have run their sports science department as cowboys and, as we speak, one has been sacked and the other suspended.

Hird would argue he demanded professionalism from the pair, but at the same time a haphazardness in their duties was evident. He would not make the same decision again, for sure. But does one horrible decision cost him his job?

Thompson, meanwhile, has one main problem in that he was the referee for Robinson.

Rather than looking at Essendon chairman David Evans as a scapegoat, it is more important to consider his future role in this.

He didn't know of any weird practices, or different supplement programs, or perhaps any signing of consent forms.

But he will from now on.

And that leaves chief executive Ian Robson.

The board of management, led by Evans, will want a detailed explanation from Robson soon enough, starting with that same simple query.

Robson is in charge of the total management of the club.

He signs the cheques and he demands clarity in processes, communication and an adherence to procedures. He might have nothing to answer for, as might all of Essendon.

But right now Robson faces that one question: How did it get to this?
 

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