ahmed saad decision will be today

[SaintPav]

Because their not pieces of meat.. It's a human being and there looking after him as good clubs should.

You are right. They should not be treated like pieces of meat but the reality is that they are treated like chattel. Under our system, clubs will always do what is "best" for the club. St Kilda is no different.

It's a business decision and nothing personal.

This is why we should never get upset when players leave us because they would be cut in a second if the club thought they could not meet required standards for whatever reason.

[Devilhead]

Reports saying 18 months backdated to August 20th which means he will miss pre season next year but will be available to play the 2015 season

[SuperDuper]

The saints/Saad did the right thing by missing the last couple of rounds... Means they can give him a 1 season ban wrapped up as an 18 month ban...
Greatly increases the chances of the whole thing being sanctioned .. a 12 month ban most likely would not have gone through while a 2 year ban would just about end any chance Saad has..

Rookie him next year, IMO..

[saintbrat]

St Kilda FC‏@stkildafc42s
The Saints can confirm Ahmed Saad has today received an 18 month suspension from the AFL Tribunal. More here: http://stk.lt/19ZbyVR

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2013-11-26/article
The St Kilda Football Club can confirm that Ahmed Saad has today received an 18 month suspension from the AFL Tribunal after he inadvertently took a substance on the AFL Anti-Doping prohibited list.

Following acceptance of a provisional suspension that commenced on 20 August this year, Ahmed’s period of ineligibility will expire of 20 February 2015.

The Club will continue to provide the appropriate welfare support and assistance to Ahmed.

[Jarred]

do you think we should pick him up after the ban lifts?

[Jarred]

It's a saad day

[saintly]

St Kilda FC‏@stkildafc42s
The Saints can confirm Ahmed Saad has today received an 18 month suspension from the AFL Tribunal. More here: http://stk.lt/19ZbyVR

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2013-11-26/article
The St Kilda Football Club can confirm that Ahmed Saad has today received an 18 month suspension from the AFL Tribunal after he inadvertently took a substance on the AFL Anti-Doping prohibited list.

Following acceptance of a provisional suspension that commenced on 20 August this year, Ahmed’s period of ineligibility will expire of 20 February 2015.

The Club will continue to provide the appropriate welfare support and assistance to Ahmed.

I wonder wether they can put him on the senior list or rookie him next year.

[saintbrat]

there is still the cahnce that WADA will review and ask for more....

[remboy]

Any reasons why he didn't get 2 years. Not that I'm wishing it on him but how did they come up with 18 months?

[perfectionist]

Life.

[saintbrat]

Any reasons why he didn't get 2 years. Not that I'm wishing it on him but how did they come up with 18 months?

H-S journos have made some suppositions on why it's 18 months
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl ... 6769021358

[happy feet]

And not one single Essendon player has been brought to account. Typical.

[SuperDuper]

The AFL gave as little as they possibly thought they could get away with... i.e. 1 season wrapped up as 18 months... far more likely to avoid an ASADA appeal than if they gave 12 months...

As a side note, I really think St. Kilda has handled all aspects of this case very well

[8856brother]

Assuming Jobe and his merry men got life while I was away last week then. Can't find an article anywhere.

[SemperFidelis]

The AFL gave as little as they possibly thought they could get away with... i.e. 1 season wrapped up as 18 months... far more likely to avoid an ASADA appeal than if they gave 12 months...

As a side note, I really think St. Kilda has handled all aspects of this case very well

I wholeheartedly agree. There was no upside to this at all, just a really unfortunate situation for everyone concerned, and if we can make the backdated 18mths stick, then we should all be relieved. I hope we can rookie Saady at the appropriate time, because his is a story worth continuing.

And I hope our SS Essendope thread will eventually find some legs!

[bobmurray]

Now that officially he has an 18 month suspension would The Saints be allowed to Rookie a suspended player ?

[Jacks Back]

The AFL gave as little as they possibly thought they could get away with... i.e. 1 season wrapped up as 18 months... far more likely to avoid an ASADA appeal than if they gave 12 months...

As a side note, I really think St. Kilda has handled all aspects of this case very well

I wholeheartedly agree. There was no upside to this at all, just a really unfortunate situation for everyone concerned, and if we can make the backdated 18mths stick, then we should all be relieved. I hope we can rookie Saady at the appropriate time, because his is a story worth continuing.

And I hope our SS Essendope thread will eventually find some legs!

But why did SW play him that one match?? He would have come back earlier if he didn't play that game (actually probably only a couple of weeks).

[Hallalj#3]

Because their not pieces of meat.. It's a human being and there looking after him as good clubs should.

You are right. They should not be treated like pieces of meat but the reality is that they are treated like chattel. Under our system, clubs will always do what is "best" for the club. St Kilda is no different.

It's a business decision and nothing personal.

This is why we should never get upset when players leave us because they would be cut in a second if the club thought they could not meet required standards for whatever reason.

Agree, but this is an exceptional circumstances in my opinion. You have a young man who made an honest mistake and from all reports is a outstanding young man, if it all works out And we can get him in 2015 then that's all good. But if he's allowed to still be apart of the club in 2014 I think the pros out weigh the Cons quite considerably.

[Richter]

Surely we could pick him up next year on the senior list as a delisted free agent?

[saintbrat]

Now that officially he has an 18 month suspension would The Saints be allowed to Rookie a suspended player ?

No- he cannot be on the saints List untill that date in 2015 is my understanding :
we await any announcment on how the saints can support him but

He had apparently been hoping to be rookie-listed by the Saints, but given they cannot pay him and he cannot train at the club that now seems unlikely.

this from the above article is correct.
as explained by a saints board member and Olympian- Danni Roche
a suspension like this means NO contact with the club- or ANY sporting organisation.- unless attending or giving Drug awareness sessions.

will be interesting to see what the AFL PA have to say in way of their support-

[8856brother]

Tony Sheehan on twatter his caused a bit of a stir.

[Teflon]

If he is only allowed at club when providing drug awareness surely he can do that while running laps with the boys?

Makes me sick that still nothing about Essenscum

[GrumpyOne]

Suspect that he will not be rookied this year, and probably rookied at the end of 2014.

[BackFromUSA]

I think that this will mean:

2014 out all together

Ineligible for draft periods in 2014 so will not get onto an AFL list.

Will be available to play VFL only in 2015 with firsat contact with his club on Feb 20 2015

[ace]

When a track and field athlete gets rubbed out for 18 months, they stay may take a break but then start training again KNOWING that they can resume their careers where they left off.
But for an AFL footballer who gets delisted they can not just walk back through the doors of an AFL club and resume playing.
They first must be drafted onto a numerically restricted list.

Saad's 18 months is likely to be a life sentence.