ANGUS Monfries and Paddy Ryder will play for the Power against Fremantle on Sunday after the independent AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal cleared them of allegations they were administered prohibited substances in 2012.
After more than two years of uncertainty surrounding the allegations relating to their time at Essendon in 2012, the Tribunal took just minutes to inform affected 34 players - including then-Bombers Monfries and Ryder - the ASADA investigation had been dismissed.
In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, the tribunal’s chairman David Jones indicated it was “not comfortably satisfied that any player was administered with Thymosin Beta-4”, nor “violated clause 11.2 of the AFL Anti-Doping Code”.
ASADA and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have 21 days to lodge any appeal to Tuesday's decision.
Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas released a statement on Tuesday commending the way Monfries – who joined the Power following the 2012 season – and recent acquisition Ryder had handled the difficulties of the tribunal process.
“Clearly we are pleased for Angus and Paddy,” Thomas said.
“They have been through so much and we are very proud as to how they’ve handled themselves during this difficult time.
“It’s a relief that they have been found not guilty of these breaches and can now focus on their football.”
For Monfries and Ryder, the message to the football world is clear – they’re ready to play.
Free from the burden of the unknown that has clouded their pre-seasons since December, the pair have been told they’ll pull on the Power’s guernsey at Domain Stadium on Sunday.
It will be their first game in the club’s jumper this year, having sat out of the Power’s recent NAB Challenge campaign.
“It’s been a long process over a number of years and to have the result that it was today, it’s just a great feeling to know we’re be able to play this weekend and get on with life,” Monfries told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“Over the whole summer you try to concentrate as much as you can and try to put that [the tribunal] in the back of your mind.”
“It will be great to play footy this weekend and to have [Ryder] across and for him to play his first game as well.
“I’m really just looking forward to playing footy again and pulling that guernsey on.”
The clash against Fremantle in his home state of Western Australia will be Ryder’s first game for the Power.
He will become the 154th player to wear a Port Adelaide jumper in the AFL.
“It’s a massive relief to come in here today and get the news that we all wanted,” Ryder told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“I’m just looking forward now to getting back out there and playing football.
“After getting the decision I walked past most of the boys downstairs and they were all shaking my hand … we’ve done the hard yards this pre-season with the boys and I just want to get out there and show them what I can bring to the team.”
Port Adelaide’s squad to play Fremantle will be released at 5:55pm (ACDT) on Thursday afternoon.
