Fremantle recruit Scott Gumbleton could face a month on the sidelines after injuring his hamstring against the Bulldogs on Wednesday night.
Gumbleton, who joined the Dockers via a trade from Essendon in the off-season, limped from the field during the first quarter before having his hamstring iced. He was subbed out of the match.
ASADA probe complete
The Herald Sun is reporting ‘briefs of evidence are being prepared by anti-doping investigators against footballers’.
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority is said to have indicated ‘players could be issued with notices of action’.
After 13 months, ASADA’s investigations into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the AFL and NRL have been completed, according to outgoing chief Aurora Andruska.
“The next step for us is now the review of the evidence and formation of briefs. We have briefs we are preparing right now, and we will continue to work through that and issue show cause letters and take matters through the Anti-Doping Rule Violation panel, and other tribunals,” Andruska told a Senate committee on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, The Herald Sun’s Mark Robinson is reporting sacked Essendon sports’ scientist Stephen Dank will break his silence on the ‘supplement saga’ at a sportsman’s lunch in March.
Williams decision looms
Collingwood’s Marley Williams faces the possibility of being banned from taking the field in Round 1.
Convicted of grievous bodily harm following an incident outside a nightclub in 2012, the Herald Sun reports Williams is still awaiting a decision from the AFL as to whether he will be allowed to play at the start of the home-and-away season.
AFL Media Manager Patrick Keane says a call on Williams’ plight would be made ‘very soon’.
A level playing field?
An AFL subcommittee formed at the league’s headquarters on Thursday morning to discuss initiatives aimed at leveling the games’ financial playing field, AFL.com.au reports.
Among the proposed equalisation measures is a tax on football department spending, with clubs taxed on every dollar spent over a cap.
Goal-line cameras a possibility
Cameras could be placed in goal-post padding as the AFL looks to bolster its decision review system, The Age’s Peter Hanlon reports.
With an aim to better judge whether a ball has crossed the goal-line before being touched, cameras providing vision directly across the goals are being looked at.
''We think we've come a long way with the technology around score review; being able to watch multiple angles simultaneously and decrease the amount of time it takes to make a decision,'' AFL Football Operations Manager Mark Evans said.
''The next step is, what can we do to beef up the system and make it even better? We think the next way forward would be to introduce goal-line cameras. We're looking to trial that at least during parts of the year.''
