James Hird looks set to coach against Fremantle after Essendon chairman David Evans offered his support.
LEAKED text messages allegedly reveal James Hird and Stephen Dank boasting about Essendon's drugs supplement program.
The text messages, shown on Channel 9 tonight, have not been verified, but appear to show a close relationship between the Bombers coach and the sports scientist at the centre of the club's controversial injections program.
Hird has declared he will coach Essendon against Fremantle tomorrow night and the club today stood by him after claims emerged he had been injected by Dank with a substance banned for use by players.
Channel 9 says it has six months' worth of text messages between Hird and Dank, including the following exchanges:
Hird: Good work today mate. The boys were up and about. We have lots to work with.
Dank: IV start next week. And Thymosin and Ubiquinone. We will start to see some real effects.
Essendon coach James Hird and captain Jobe Watson leave Windy Hill today.
Dank: Is (player) in your best 22?
Hird: At his best, yes. Why?
Dank: I am just working out his injections for the year. As an older leaner body I might infuse him more particularly for the recovery. I often IV the older bodies.
Dank: I also know that they (a rival club) are trying everything they can in supplements and recovery modes to win this premiership.
Essendon coach James Hird walks to the team bus after landing at Perth Airport. Picture: Daniel Wilkins
Hird: But not as good as us in that area!!!
Earlier today, AFL chief Andrew Demetriou said Hird would be held to account if it is proven he has compromised his duty of care as Essendon coach.
Demetriou said allegations that Hird was injected with a drug were "very serious".
"I can't think of anything more serious," Mr Demetriou said at a press conference this afternoon.
Essendon coach James Hird has arrived at Windy Hill to waiting media eager to get his side of the story. Courtesy Seven News.
Demetriou said speculation over whether Hird would stand down should be put off until the ASADA investigation was complete.
"Notwithistanding that, it is very clear that ... if any coach or official puts a duty of care of their players at risk, then they will be held accountable."
"There is no place for them in our game.
"As a parent, and not just as the CEO of the AFL, the issues as reported surrounding the potential use of various substances is something that is disturbing, very disturbing, particularly when we're talking about the health and welfare of young men."
Essendon coach James Hird leaves Windy Hill to board a flight to Perth.
Hird earlier said allegations that he took a drug, which players are banned from taking, during the 2012 season were "horrifying".
There is no suggestion that the drug is illegal or that Hird would be in breach of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) rules if it is proved he took the drugs.
Dank has claimed he injected Hird with a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Jon Ralph: Drug cloud hangs over Hird
Essendon coach James Hird arrives at Windy Hill this morning. Picture: Andrew Tauber
What James Hird allegedly took
Evans said that the allegations against Hird and other club officials in today's press were "very serious", but he wanted to "urge caution".
"The board will not be making a decision about these allegations today and it is extremely important that James and the others be afforded the opportunity to talk to ASADA and that basic right to natural justice," he said at a press conference.
"James Hird is a person of great respect of this club and indeed the football community, and the board will not be making decisions on the next steps until the process of the review and the investigation take their course."
Evans said there were "complex issues" impacting the club and they were "trying to respond to the facts as they come to hand".
Hird said he would respond to the slurs. Picture: Andrew Tauber
He said the board was aware of irregular practices, which is why it self-reported to ASADA and the AFL.
"And I want to say this: I, as chairman, and the Essendon Football Club under my leadership have and will support ASADA and the AFL in their investigations," Evans said.
"As I said yesterday, the board has made it clear that the health and the safety of the players is paramount and that if anyone at our club has breached the duty of care, the board will act."
Hird and Essendon captain Jobe Watson left Windy Hill without further comment a short time later.
Hird leaves his Toorak home on his way to Windy Hill. Picture: Nicole Garmston
Earlier, Hird said the claims against him were "being made by a person or people who appear determined to destroy my reputation".
"I have at all times fully adhered to, and promoted the WADA code and the AFL rules, and the code of ethics of the Essendon Football Club," he said.
"I would never do anything to put the players of the Essendon Football Club or the club at risk. As I said in February, I am shocked our club is facing this situation.
"I will make no further comment at this stage as I am committed to assisting the ASADA and AFL investigation."
Andrew Bolt: Big shock - Hird allegedly takes legal drug
Watson, speaking on the Matt & Jo Show this morning, said he never witnessed Hird take intravenous substances.
He added: "It's a horrible situation for him to be in, as strong as any person is, and Hirdy is probably one of the strongest people I've met with the highest integrity.
"It affects everyone.
"I'm sure that he's in a very unpleasant space at the moment, and it would mainly be because of the effect that it's having on his family."
And when asked how today's report would impact on the players, Watson responded: "Unfortunately over the last six to eight weeks, we've become quite good at crisis management as a playing group.
"So, I think it is a distraction at the moment … but I think that by the time we get over there, we spend some time with each other and we'll get ready to play and we'll play."
A number of players arriving at Windy Hill gave no comment on the claims against Hird, however some did speak out and state he had the support of the playing group.
Bombers defender Kyle Hardingham said: "Yeah, nah, everyone's behind him (Hird) but we'll leave it up to the club."
Star David Zaharakis also answered "yes" when asked by the media whether the players would back Hird.
A club source told the Herald Sun last night: "James will fight this ... this is not true. James is an honorable person, these people are disreputable and the club will not rest until his name is fully cleared. This is an outrageous allegation."
A former head of ASADA said coaches are not asked to comply with the same rules as their players when it comes to banned substances.
While not commenting directly on the allegations, Richard Ings told 3AW radio this morning that the substances in question were not banned for coaches.
"These substances are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency code for players. If coaches are using such a banned substance it is not banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency code or the AFL anti-doping policy," Mr Ings said.
It is also claimed that Hird was aware of the entire supplements program at Essendon, which included taking players off site for injections, and that the players signed consent forms listing the type of supplements they'd be taking.
It's been reported a number of players took a form of pig's brain peptides, and an anti-obesity drug.
It's believed investigations by the club and ASADA will see the Bombers admit to not doing due diligence on the employment of staff, and "irregular practices".
Dank, who is at the centre of allegations about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in rugby league, made the latest claims in an interview with Fairfax Media.
The Herald Sun can reveal Hird had three stringent rules forming the basis of the supplement program:
THE players' welfare was the No.1 priority.
ALL supplements were to be ticked off by ASADA.
EVERYTHING was to be ticked off by the club doctor. It's understood the third rule was not always adhered to.
Dank continues to maintain none of the substances he gave players was in breach of the world anti-doping code or AFL rules.
"Before I've done anything in any forum, we have always had conversations with WADA or ASADA - or in some cases both," he said.
"They were always well informed of anything we were about to use. Nothing was ever used without asking them first and, in some cases, both parties were asked.
"Never once was anything indicated to me that we would have issues in terms of anything we used."
But he said Hird knew of the supplements program.
"Look, to be perfectly honest, a couple of coaches were using supplements that were a little bit outside the WADA code, but again they were entitled to (do) it, and nothing illegal in those."
Essendon has growing confidence players will be cleared of any link to performance-enhancing drugs.
The club's internal review into "irregular practices" is due in coming weeks.
THE STORY SO FAR
February 12: Former sports scientist Stephen Dank drops new bombshell claims
February 15: Drugs scandal takes huge toll on Essendon chairman
February 17: Essendon drug probe expected to last six months
February 22: Signed forms may save Essendon players
March 20: Essendon could face Senate inquiry
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