I think the out of sight, out of mind argument has some validity. The Egirls have already begun to publicly write off the bloke’s chances of returning to AFL footy. Unlike, say, the long-term injured, Rioli is not at the club everyday. Instead, he’s up in the NT, sitting on his arse and losing years of training/conditioning. Didn’t I hear Simmo on TV recently suggesting that, even in the unlikely event that Rioli is found not guilty, chances are he’d never get back to top level footy again, because too much time has been lost?
Further delays in resolving the case will suit the AFL and the Egirls. They can point the finger at ASADA for ruining the blokes career, instead of having to discuss a club culture where blatant cheating and a casual disrespect for drug testing is condoned.
Besides which, the Egirls have another media hero to fill column inches. Tim Kelly has a new tattoo and The Worst thinks it important enough to mention on the inside front page AND the sports pages.