How the Essendon drug saga is still having an effect on the Bombers

There are those within the Essendon Football Club who believe the supplement saga is still impacting the club, according to Channel Nine's Tom Morris.

The Bombers are staring down the barrel of yet another failed season, with Brad Scott’s men facing an uphill battle to qualify for finals after losing four of their last five games and bottling a position in the top eight.

One of the biggest scandals in AFL history, Morris says there’s a view within the club that there is still lingering effects of this incident and it’s having an impact on the way the club is being run and the decisions being made.

“There is a view within Essendon that there is still a hangover from the drug saga,” Morris told SEN's Crunch Time.

“At the time, the drug saga broke apart the football club so everyone since then has been safe. They’re worried, they’re concerned, they’re anxious and they’re not playing with freedom as they’re not backing themselves.

“That view is being articulated by Brad Scott saying, ‘we’re not mentally there and we’re not in the game’.

“Deep in the DNA of the football club it has been a difficult period since the drug saga and it’s not necessarily tangible either.

“It’s a view that is held within the club.”

Responding to Morris’ comments, Luke Hodge was in disbelief that there’s still a lingering effect 11 years on and that those still effected should leave the football club.

“Anyone who says that that still has an effect on the players should leave the club,” Hodge said.

“If you’re saying that and you’re still apart of the club and saying that it’s apart of the DNA of what the effects were 12 years ago – leave the club because you’re apart of that DNA then.

“Clear that out because the players shouldn’t have any effects from that.”

The Bombers will look to answer back on Sunday against Fremantle at the MCG.