Four Corners: March 21

This week Four Corners looks at one former Essendon player’s battle to find out just what was in the supplements he was directed to take by the club.

“Whatever It Takes​” is reported by Quentin McDermott and presented by Sarah Ferguson.

The rookie versus the club in the Essendon supplement scandal.

“We can beat anyone, as long as we do whatever it takes.” Essendon Football Club Advertisement

As muscular sporting slogans go, it’s a beauty. But for Essendon Football Club, it’s become memorable for all the wrong reasons, symbolising the attitude that brought the Club undone. It was their motto as they prepared for the 2013 AFL season, just as the story of the Club’s supplements program broke open, kicking off the biggest sports drug scandal in Australian history.

Three years on, despite numerous reviews, investigations and court hearings, there are still questions the club has not answered. To this day, the players still don’t know exactly what they were given.

“If I don’t get this information and I don’t get the answers to the questions I’m asking, it’s never going to go away.” Hal Hunter, former Essendon Football Club player

This week Four Corners takes you inside one former Essendon player’s battle to find out just what was in the supplements he was directed to take.

“They’re not even willing to tell him what (the supplement) is, they’re not even willing to tell him that they don’t know.” Lawyer

As a rookie with the club, Hal Hunter joined the other more senior players in the supplements program. He gives an eye witness account of what it was like to be part of the regime and what went on once the scandal broke.

“Now (they’re) trying to make him pay for the privilege of finding out.” Lawyer

He describes how the Club has stonewalled his attempts to obtain his medical records prompting him to take action in court, the first Essendon player to do so.

Hal Hunter’s case gives an insight into the oversight of the club and its approach to the duty of care it owed all its players.

“ I don’t understand how an employer can treat an employee in that way.” Player Agent

Monday 21st March at 8.30pm