Carlton coach Mick Malthouse is predicting a shambolic build-up to the AFL’s finals series courtesy of Essendon’s supplements saga.
Seventh-placed Essendon, senior coach James Hird, assistant coach Mark Thompson, football manager Danny Corcoran and club doctor Bruce Reid are due to face the AFL Commission on August 26 after the league announced on Tuesday that they’d been charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
Malthouse’s Blues are ninth on the ladder with a 9-10 win-loss record with three rounds remaining.
West Coast also have nine wins but trail Carlton on percentage while North Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane are on eight wins.
If the Bombers are stripped of premiership points it would open the door for the ninth-placed side to qualify for the finals series starting on September 6.
“It would leave a very poor taste and there would have to be an asterisk to explain why you made the finals,” Malthouse told Radio 3AW on Wednesday.
Malthouse said the likelihood of legal action from the Bombers would have a huge impact on the season.
“It’s going to be a shambles at the end of the year,” he said.
“Anything can be pressed into the court system and it will be delayed and delayed and delayed.
“It’s a shocking thing to be hanging over a code.
“I can understand why the league are trying to get this done before the finals series.
“But Essendon seem just as determined to make sure it’s not.
“It’s going to be who’s got the biggest pockets or the biggest voice or the nerve to carry this right through.
“There’s no doubt the league have been challenged in the past but it has never got to this stage.
“Essendon seem to be strong enough and they’re going to protect their own, to take it to any lengths …”