Anguish at never-ending MH370 search

A campaign video has been released promising a whistleblower reward in an attempt to find the truth, the plane and the passengers. Courtesy: YouTube/Sunny Min

THE messages were from a 10-year-old girl's breaking heart.

"Mummy, are you o.k? Mummy, wish you is o.k in MH370 aeroplane. I wish you would come back my home. We are waiting you to come home. Remember to reply me. I am your daughter."

It was 10 days after MH370 vanished completely without trace and Foong Wai Yueng's 10-year-old daughter was desperately missing her mother.

On her equally heartbroken father's mobile phone she sent a series of messages to her mother, begging her to come home.

Hoping against hope, Lee Khim Fatt, also sent his wife, a fight steward, a message three days after the plane went missing: "Dear, what time is ur arrival? Call me when u arrived, I c u at gate 8".

Devoted mum ... MH370 flight steward Foong Wai Yueng and her daughter. Source: Supplied

Sunday marks 100 days since MH370 went missing and Foong and the 238 others on board MH370 have still not come home.

No-one knows where they are, what happened to them or why they, along with the Boeing 777-200 aircraft they were on, disappeared without trace.

Authorities say they are sure the Malaysian Airlines plane plunged into the Southern Indian Ocean, somewhere along a massive arc that covers 60,000 square kilometres of inhospitable and freezing ocean. But, it seems, they have no idea where in that vast section of ocean, the plane is resting with so many souls on board.

MH370: No accident, say authors

Families are now in a dreadful limbo. They can't hold memorial services because they don't know what happened, they are heartbroken and as they reach 100 days of anguish, hoping and waiting they are becoming increasingly angry with authorities. They want answers and they want briefings and most of all they want transparency.

Happy couple ... Foong Wai Yueng and her husband Lee Khim Fatt Source: Supplied

One group of families, fed up with what they say is a lack of transparency, has set up a public fundraising drive to raise $5 million to pay for a whistleblower and an investigator. If authorities can't find anything and won't tell them anything, they will do it themselves, says Sarch Bjac, whose soulmate Philip Wood was a passenger.

Back in April searchers were confident that four pings, detected by an underwater search vehicle, about 1600km off Perth, were coming from the plane's black box and were equally confident they were searching in the right place.

Perth mother of two, Danica Weeks, thought it was only a matter of time, probably weeks, before the plane was found.

She started preparing herself emotionally, sorting through photos and memorabilia, getting things ready to hold a memorial service for her beloved husband, whom she calls Paulie.

Still hopeful ... Danica Weeks is still waiting for physical evidence that her husband, Paul, is gone. Picture: 60 Minutes Source: Supplied

As she readied herself for what would be a heartbreaking day of goodbyes, she was hit by a tonne of bricks — on May 29, 83 days into the search, authorities announced the pings they heard were not from the black box. They were no closer to finding the plane and indeed were further away. The next phase of the intensive undersea search is not due to begin until August.

Mrs Weeks has put plans for the memorial on hold.

"I just can't do it. I am not prepared until they find something," she says. "I wont be moving on until I have something concrete."

And she intends, through her grief, to ensure that authorities keep working to find out the truth. Anything less would disrespect Paul, a mining engineer who was on his way to a job in Mongolia, and all the others on board.

"I am not giving up on him until we have piece of evidence and I won't be going away until they tell the truth, until someone starts talking. At first I thought they were totally incompetent, now I think they are hiding something."

Looking for wreckage ... Co-pilot and Squadron Leader Brett McKenzie of the Royal New Zealand Airforce (RNZAF) helps to look for MH370. Picture: Greg Wood Source: Getty Images

All Ms Weeks and the other families want is some certainty, to know what the investigators know.

They begged for the release of the Inmarsat satellite data, which was used to calculate that the plane continued flying for six hours, after it was last detected on radar, and ended in the southern Indian Ocean.

It was finally released on May 27 but families say it is 47 pages of figures and doesn't include everything they need to have it independently analysed by their own experts.

Malaysia's Defence and acting Transport Minister Hishamuddin Hussein, who has become the public face of the search, did not respond to News Corporation's repeated requests this week for an interview.

No sign ... Malaysia's Minister of Transport Hishamuddin Hussein takes questions about the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner MH370. Picture: Wong Maye-E Source: AP

What is known is that after MH370 took off from Kuala Lumpur airport at 12.41am on Saturday March 8 it flew towards its Beijing destination with 239 on board, from 12 nations, included 12 crew.

At 1.19am, as the plane was leaving Malaysian air space and about to enter that of Vietnam, the last words from the cockpit were "Good night, Malaysian 370."

After this the plane's transponder was turned off or went off and at 1.22am MH370 disappeared from civilian radar. It turned around and flew back across Malaysia and at 2.22am it was detected on military radar, flying northwest of Penang. The Malaysian military classified it as commercial, non-enemy and leaving their airspace and took no further action.

Authorities now believe that after the final radar detection that MH370 continued to fly for a further six hours, way off course, across the top of Indonesia and down into the ocean several thousand kilometres off Perth.

Calculations, which authorities say have been done by Inmarsat itself and separately by UK air safety investigators, show that after disappearing from the military radar, that it was detected by seven "handshakes" with an Inmarsat communications satellite, normally used for telephone and data services.

The handshakes were hourly, along seven arcs, until one at 8.11am and another shortly afterwards at 8.19am. It is believed that at 8.19am the plane's communications equipment automatically powered up, using a turbine, after it ran out of fuel. By 8.19am it is believed to have been descending into the ocean.

But it is impossible to tell exactly where. All authorities can say is that somewhere on the seventh arc, is where the plane probably ran out of fuel and crashed. That arc covers almost 60,000 square kilometres of ocean and will take a year to search.

Enormous task ... Phoenix Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Bluefin-21 is craned over the side of Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Picture: Lt Kelli Lunt/Australia Department of Defence Source: Getty Images

The head of Malaysia's Civil Aviation Department, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, told News Corporation this week in Kuala Lumpur there was "no doubt" the plane was somewhere on that arc.

Families want to know why there is no doubt.

"We are staring down the barrel of 12 months of waiting to see if its there. If you (authorities) are confident (its there) then tell us why, prove to us why you are so confident," Mrs Weeks says.

"I have listened enough and I have trusted enough and now I need to know for myself. Everyone needs to know before they start this new phase of the search that you are confident this is the right place."

Three-year-old Lincoln was his dad's little shadow.

"He knows Dad's gone but there's no more to tell because I don't know. I don't need to burden him with any more at this stage, he is too young to comprehend it all. He helps me (to cope) and I help him."

Jack is only 13 months old. He turned one after his father went missing and is too young to understand his mother's tears.

"I am just a wife looking for a husband. He walked out and that's as far as I know about what's happened to him."

Waiting for daddy ... Danica Weeks with sons Lincoln and Jack. Picture: 60 Minutes Source: Supplied

Back in Kuala Lumpur, spouses want action.

Last week families were promised meetings with the country's Prime Minister Najib Razak "in due time".

Jacquita Gonzales wants to know what does that mean, in due time — is it next week, next month or next year. Or never. She wants a meeting now. Her husband of 29 years was the MH370 In Flight Supervisor — a 34-year veteran of Malaysian Airlines.

The pair was childhood sweethearts, first meeting when she was 12. They married when Jacquita was 22. They have four children.

She knows Patrick would be proud of the stand she has taken. He and the rest of the crew must not be forgotten. Mrs Gonzales and many of the other flight crew families are not happy about their treatment from Malaysian Airlines and the authorities. Most found out the plane was missing from the media, not the airline.

Childhood sweethearts ... Patrick Gomes on his wedding day to Jacquita Gonzales. Source: Supplied

In April, on the spur of the moment, Mrs Gonzales made up a sign on a large piece of cardboard. Then she stood in the blazing sun and later rain, holding it up, waiting for a black car to drive past.

"Barack Obama the most POWERFUL man in the world! PLEASE help me find my husband Patrick Gomes on MH370!"

She stood on the route of Obama's motorcade and as his black car cruised past held it up. She has no idea if Obama, on an official visit to Kuala Lumpur, saw the sign. But she wanted him to feel the family's pain and for the US to do something to help search for MH370.

Then she went to the hotel where Obama was staying in a bid to hold the sign there as well. But Malaysian police took her sign away and moved her on.

"He took my poster away. By that time I started crying, I was so emotional. What can me and my poster do to that car? Then the CIA came up and said I understand what you are trying to do, if you were in my country you would be able to stand here. They refused to give me back my poster," she says now.

After that Mrs Gonzales learned, for the first time, how to use to Twitter and sent a message to the US President's Twitter account, begging him to help find her beloved Patrick.

Plea for help ... Jacquita Gonzales holds a placard for President Obama during his visit to Malaysia. Picture: Joshua Paul Source: News Corp Australia

Three-year-old Raphael is Patrick's only grandchild. The pair was inseparable. Every trip brought treats and gifts for the little boy who was his shadow.

Patrick is due to turn 55 next month and he had already decided to keep working as a flight crew until he was 60 to ensure he could provide for Raphael and his mother, Nicolette, 29.

Raphael, with his shock of curly dark hair, keeps asking why his Granpa is taking so long to come home from this trip.

"I just tell him Granpa has gone on a long flight," Nicolette says now of her son's innocent questions.

Waiting for Granpa ... Raphael and Nicolette Gomes, the grandson and daughter of MH370 in-flight supervisor Patrick Gomes. Source: News Corp Australia

Patrick's seat, at the 12-seater family dining table, has been empty for 100 days. Mrs Gonzales said she and her husband bought the big dining table and each of the couple's four children and partners, had to buy and bring their own chairs.

On his last night, before catching the plane, the family was all there for dinner, sitting in their chairs. Patrick was in his with Raphael on his lap when he got a call that the airline transport was not available to take him to the airport.

"So he bribed us, 'I will pay anyone 120 Ringgit to take me to the airport' and we all said no. So he called a taxi," Mrs Gonzales says, before he voice trails off.

"The would haves, the could have and the should have"

Family man ... Patrick Gomes, with his son Enrique (left) and grandson Raphael. Source: Supplied

That night was like any other night. For their whole married life, Patrick went to work on a plane and always came home with his suitcase laden with goodies for the family. Initially it was for his wife, then when the children came they got the most. Then Raphael got everything.

It would have been the same on this routine trip to Beijing and back again. When he returned Raphael would be standing at the door with toys, or two racquets, begging Patrick to play with him before he was even out of his uniform.

The family hasn't told Raphael what happened but his child's instincts somehow know something is wrong.

"When we say our goodnight prayers he says 'I will pray for Granpa", Mrs Gonzales says.

Fighting for answers ... Raphael and Nicolette Gomes with Jacquita Gonzales. Source: News Corp Australia

Relatives of many of those on board will never stop praying for a miracle, for the safe return of their loved ones.

One of them is Zainab Arifin, the mother of steward Mohd Hazrin Hasnan. He was the only boy among her seven children, a gift from God and she is not ready to let him go just yet.

Last month his wife, Intan Maizura Othaman, gave birth to their son. Her husband, whom she describes as the "best husband and Papa I could ever ask for", was not with her.

Tiny Muhammad will never know his Dad. His sister Iman is four and like all the other children, she too wants to know when Daddy is coming back.

Intan has told her that her Papa's plane had a problem. The day after authorities announced that MH370 had ended in the ocean, Intan wrote to her beloved, telling him she would need to be a "bionic woman" to get through the trial. This week she said she believes she has indeed been a bionic woman.

'Bionic woman' ... Intan Maizura Othaman, wife of steward Mohd Hazrin Hasnan, with their 20-day old son Muhammad. Source: News Corp Australia

Everyone copes in their own way.

Lee Khim Fatt still calls his wife's mobile phone and leaves messages for her. He can't accept yet that she's gone. He sends her Facebook messages telling her how much he loves her.

"I didn't even know that I loved her so much until this happened," Lee says. The tears fall and he sits silently thinking about the love of his life. "Up until now I haven't thought about how to live without her."

Grieving ... Lee Khim Fatt's wife Foong Wai Yueng, was a steward on Flight MH370. Source: News Corp Australia

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Skype’s the limit for WA inmates

Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis is looking to Skype video calls to reduce the number of prisoner visits. Source: News Limited

SKYPE video calls might replace hundreds of inter-prison visits each year, saving taxpayers a fortune in future.

The practice of allowing Perth-based prisoners to visit friends and family members incarcerated in other metropolitan jails is under review.

Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis said there was "a real opportunity to reduce prisoner movement costs" as part of the review, being conducted by his department.

"The department is increasing access to video conferencing, such as Skype, to allow prisoners to have contact with family members in other prisons without the need for them to be moved," Mr Francis said.

The number of inter-prison visits increased from 471 in 2011-12 to 521 in 2012-13. In the last half of 2013 there were 307 such trips. But "non-essential prisoner movements" were stopped after the embarrassing escape of notorious rapist Cameron John Graham at Geraldton Airport on January 3, and only 88 inter-prison visits have occurred since.

Cameron John Graham, 22, who escaped from a prison van in Geraldton. Source: Supplied

WA's Homicide Victims Support Group convener Ellen Rowe, whose husband Bill was bashed to death with a cricket bat on a Geraldton beach in 2007, said she had been unaware of the jail-to-jail visits and questioned why they occurred at all.

"Inter-prison visits are disrespectful to victims in that more effort and resources seem to be directed into solidifying family/social ties of offenders, whereas victims often become isolated from families and friends due to lack of services and support in dealing with trauma as a result of crime," she said.

"Victims of serious interpersonal crime feel continually let down by inadequate recognition and funds to resource much-needed specialist support services.

"Inter-prison visits normalise the situation of criminality within the offender's immediate circle of family and friends, and it could be argued that it facilitates continuation of some criminal associations where those persons would be better off kept separated. Every prisoner transport poses a risk of escape, an experience that is ... very traumatic for victims."

Under the Prisons Act 1981 "a prisoner may be permitted by the designated Superintendent to receive visits from a friend or relation who is confined in another prison".

If prisoners are declined permission they can appeal to the State Ombudsman. The Ombudsman's office would not reveal how many appeals had been considered or upheld. In promotional material, it states it has assisted inmates denied inter-prison visits.

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Doctor fury over chemists’ jab plan

Would you be happy getting an injection in a pharmacy instead of a doctor's? Source: News Limited

WA pharmacists are moving to vaccinate customers under a plan the top doctors group warns would have people immunised next to "jelly beans and sanitary pads".

The Pharmacy Guild of WA has asked Curtin University to make vaccination training part of its undergraduate pharmacy course.

It follows the start of a two-year pharmacy immunisation trial in Queensland and comes amid a national turf war over who should be able to administer the jabs.

Pharmacy Guild of WA branch committee member Paul Rees said the body had held early discussions with the university about launching an accredited training program.

He said a "lack of convenience" was one of the main barriers to immunisation and chemists were well-placed to help improve vaccination rates in WA.

Latest figures show WA has the lowest vaccination rate in the country for children aged 2-5.

Curtin University School of Pharmacy associate professor Lynne Emmerton confirmed the plan was being considered.

"Curtin University has been contacted by the Pharmacy Guild of WA regarding the possible introduction of a program to train pharmacists to administer vaccinations," she said.

Prof Emmerton said no formal agreement had yet been made.

The Australian Medical Association is vehemently opposed to in-pharmacy vaccinations.

"The income of pharmacists is under threat in many ways and they're looking for different ways to do things, but the AMA is concerned this is just not the right location to do it," WA state president Michael Gannon said.

Dr Gannon said a pharmacy shop front was "not a suitable place" for vaccination and pharmacists lacked appropriate training to deal with any adverse reactions.

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Speaker’s $26,000 hospitality bill

WA Parliament Speaker Michael Sutherland. Source: News Limited

WA Parliament's big-spending Speaker, Michael Sutherland, has racked up nearly $26,000 in taxpayer-funded dining costs since he took over the job just over a year ago.

Parliamentary documents show the Liberal MP is spending nearly $500 a week dining other politicians, parliamentary staff and community groups.

Mr Sutherland held 21 morning teas, nine afternoon teas, 23 standard working lunches and nine receptions from April 15 last year to May 21 this year at a cost of $25,857.

Examples of his entertainment costs include:

● A $500 LUNCH for his former colleagues from the City of Perth.

● THREE CHRISTMAS lunches totalling $3626 for Acting Speakers, Former Speakers and for Legislative Assembly staff.

● TWO RECEPTIONS for "discussion with members" totalling $1076.

● $1267 for a "Jewish Community/Montgomery Bible Presentation".

On one October day Mr Sutherland had morning tea with the Church of Latter-Day Saints costing $150 and then another morning tea with his political colleagues costing $33.50. He then had a $74.80 lunch with the "Australasian Safari Group and members".

Mr Sutherland landed the plum $246,000-a-year Speaker's job last April ahead of former police minister Rob Johnson.

He was criticised for organising taxpayer-paid trips for himself and MPs to Japan and South Korea and again for spending $27,000 on new furniture for his office.

He defended the overseas trips at the time as a "longstanding bipartisan practice" of the Speaker.

Martin Drum, a senior lecturer in politics and international relations at Notre Dame University, said Mr Sutherland's spending was not a "good look".

"We accept that you have to spend money on dignitaries, but it has to been in keeping with the overall state of the state's finances," he said. "I think he has to be mindful of the expenses given the loss of the AAA credit rating."

Mr Sutherland is spending more than former Nationals Speaker Grant Woodhams, who retired at the last election.

Parliamentary figures show that in 2009-10, Mr Woodhams spent $12,287.55. In 2010-11, he spent $16,543.30 and in 2011-12 he spent $20,417.65.

You have to go back to 2005-06, when former Labor Speaker Fred Riebeling spent $28,781.55, to find anyone who matched Mr Sutherland's spending.

Mr Sutherland yesterday defended the costs.

"Expenditure under my watch has been at or below the spending levels of a decade ago under a Labor Speaker," he told The Sunday Times.

"Taking into the account the inflationary effect over that time, this means that the current expenditure is lower in real terms than it was a decade ago."

He defended "extending hospitality" to other politicians "from time to time to discuss parliamentary matters".

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Family shock sets in over driveway death

Perth family devastated over death of toddler hit by mothers reversing car

Neighbour Navena Kotur Placing flowers and saying a prayer. Photo: Theo Fakos Source: News Corp Australia

ANDREEA Baliban crawled into bed with her parents on Friday morning. The Perth toddler wanted to cuddle, and told her mother: "I love you."

Hours later, this "little princess" with the cheeky smile and big brown eyes was gone.

The two-year-old had been behind mother Rebeca's car when she reversed it out of the driveway of their Holley Place home in Marangaroo.

Andreea was taken to Joondalup Health Campus but succumbed to critical head injuries soon after the accident.

"Our hearts are shattered and words cannot express what we are going through," Andreea's father Lucian said in a statement released late yesterday. "It'll never be the same again. We wait for the day when we will see our little princess again in heaven.

Andrea Baliban, 2, was struck by the car at the edge of the newly-paved driveway at the Holley Place home. Photo: Nine News Source: Channel 9

"We thank everyone whose hearts and thoughts are with us in this difficult time."

The tragedy has devastated the tight-knit community of the Romanian Pentecostal Church in Balga, which the Balibans attended.

Pastor Benjamin Fitui said Rebeca and Lucian were model parents and devoted to their three daughters.

He spent Friday grieving with them at the hospital, while the older two girls stayed with Lucian's family.

"All she said to me all day was 'It's my fault. I lost my daughter, my wonderful daughter'," Pastor Fitui said.

"She was saying, 'My baby, my baby, I did to you this thing, Mum didn't want to do this, Mum didn't want to do this'."

The family, including daughters Ruth, 7, and Lois, 5, were preparing to travel to Romania tomorrow to visit Rebeca's family. It would have been the first time Andreea had met her maternal grandparents.

Close family friend Emilia Lucaciu said Lucian was trying to support his shattered wife.

"No blame is going on," Mts Lucaciu said. "They are each just trying to help each other as much as they can. We are just in shock."

Andreea is the third WA child to die after being hit by a car reversing out of a driveway in six months. In March a 16-month-old girl was killed when she was hit by a reversing car in Bibra Lake, and in December a 14-month-old boy was killed when he was hit by a car in a drive in the Kimberley.

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Hospital abortion refusal a ‘glitch’

Artists impression of the St John of God Midland Public and Private hospital. Source: Supplied

PREMIER Colin Barnett says he did not know St John of God would not provide abortions at the new Midland Health Campus on religious grounds until the issue became public.

As first revealed by The Sunday Times in December, patients seeking family planning services at Midland Health Campus will be made to use a stand-alone clinic.

Mr Barnett told 6PR this morning it was "a glitch" in State Government planning and policy, saying that public hospitals must provide all services.

As a Catholic health care provider, St John of God refuses to offer pregnancy terminations or any sterilisation and contraception services.

The clinic will be fenced off, with its own car park and entrance away from the main hospital.

Seven months on from the launch of a market sounding exercise, the State Government has yet to find a provider to run the clinic.

"It has been an issue and I guess I felt a little bit behind the game (in) that I didn't know about this particular issue until it became public probably 12 months ago," Mr Barnett said.

"So I'm a little bit disappointed in that because it is a policy issue in terms of public health.

"However, having said that, I think that at the end of the day it will work fine. Big hospitals, like St Vincent's in Melbourne and Sydney, have similar arrangements.

"Most vasectomies and procedures, and even abortions, are done through clinics rather than general hospitals, so while there has been some debate about it, I'm quite confident that at the end of the day it'll be fine."

The Premier said he was more concerned about getting the public health policy right than the extra cost of having a separate clinic.

"We're not getting a lot of kickback from the public. I think it was something that was overlooked, perhaps not in the contract but in terms of Government-thinking about that issue," he said.

"When the hospital is completed and the clinic is up, it will be fine."

The Barnett Government last year awarded St John of God Health Care a $5 billion contract over 23 years to build and run the $360 million Midland Public Hospital.

St John of God Health Care has said it will provide all services outlined in its contract with the State.

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren said the separation of services was "institutionalised discrimination towards women that have the right to choose".

"This state should be providing balanced and safe health care to those that need it, the fact that this facility is now entrenched in discrimination fuelled by religious beliefs will deter many women seeking this service," she said.

"I am outraged that the State Government awarded the health provider contract to a bidder that cannot properly deliver all services. Caving in to these discriminatory demands is an indicator that the Health Minister would rather deliver cheap health services instead of safe, secular health services."

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Police bust ‘truck trailer racket’

POLICE have busted what they say is a multi-million dollar stolen truck trailer rebirthing operation east of Perth.

It is reported a 4000-acre farming property near York, about 100km east of Perth, is allegedly at the centre of the clandestine rebirthing operation. Police estimate the stolen property is worth about $2 million.

Police raided the property on Monday, Seven News reported.

It's alleged some trailers were stolen off the side of the road and some were loaded with mining equipment that was bound for WA's north.

The police operation started earlier this year when an insurance investigator became suspicious and contacted police.

A prime mover seen around several trucking yards was reportedly a big clue for police in their investigation. Wheatbelt police investigating the theft of wool bales came across the alleged rebirthing racket, it was reported.

Two men have been charged with receiving stolen goods and will appear in court later this month.

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Priddis the anointed skipper: poll

Will Matt Priddis be considered as the Eagles' next skipper? Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

TOUGH midfielders Matt Priddis and Scott Selwood are the favourites to takes over as West Coast captain, according to more than 4500 PerthNow readers.

In our PerthNow poll, we took the question on everybody's lips – who will replace Darren Glass as skipper – to the masses.

So far, Priddis leads the field with 36.16 per cent of the vote, followed by Scott Selwood (27.48 per cent), Shannon Hurn (15.57 per cent), Josh Kennedy (10.38 per cent), Nic Naitanui (7.1 per cent) and Luke Shuey (3.31 per cent).

Selwood is heir apparent to Glass, with the 24-year-old is being groomed to be full-time skipper as one of two vice-captains this year along with power forward Josh Kennedy. It had long been anticipated 2014 would be a swansong season for the courageous and highly regarded Glass.

But West Coast heavyweights should immediately implant nuggetty on-ball playmaker Matt Priddis as captain.

Priddis, 29, should be skipper for the rest of this season and through until he retires in two or three years.

West Coast and first-year coach Adam Simpson is in dire need of inspirational leadership on and off the field in the wake of the exit of Glass, who is impeccable in setting required standards of training ethics and cultural formation needed at the highest level.

Another genuine leader around the playing group in the important match-day adherence to operations and rules as well as day-to-day professionalism is tough defender Shannon Hurn.

Hurn, 26, is seldom referred to as a captaincy candidate, but the hard-nut backliner oozes leadership and is highly regarded by his peers and Eagles management for setting impeccable leadership standards.

An ultimate replacement for Glass though points directly to Priddis and Selwood, with Kennedy somewhat of an outside chance.

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It’s war: Essendon to fight drugs blitz

AFL 360 panellists Gerard Whateley and Dermott Brereton discuss the repercussions of the show-cause notices handed to Essendon by ASADA.

Fox Sports AFL correspondent Julian de Stoop discusses the processes involved for Essendon after reports emerged some players had been issued show cause notices by ASADA over the 2012 suuplements scandal.

Essendon players have been issued with show cause notices for doping, according to the Herald Sun, 16 months after the probe into the Bombers 2012 supplements program began.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority served show-cause notices on Essendon players this afternoon over the club's 2012 supplements program. Source: News Limited

AFL boss Gillon Mclachlan is yet to speak about how the AFL intends to respond to the development. Picture: David Caird. Source: News Corp Australia

The Essendon Bombers' season appears in disarray after 34 players - yet were issued with show cause notices over the controversial 2012 drugs scandal. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

ESSENDON will launch a counter-attack against the AFL and ASADA after players were sensationally issued with legal notices on Thursday over football's doping scandal.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority is informing 34 players they have a case to answer over the club's 2012 supplements program.

ASADA notified players by email and texts, detailing that they face "show cause'' notices and will now have to prove why they should not be cited for doping.

The dramatic move, which follows a 16-month probe, throws the AFL season into turmoil.

Essendon sources last night revealed the club will hit back, by seeking a Federal Court declaration that the joint AFL-ASADA investigation was unlawful.

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An application to the court, arguing the joint probe breached disclosure laws, could be launched by the Bombers as early as today. This would aim to stop ASADA's action, and any sanctions against players and club staff, in its tracks.

ASADA's case against the players is believed to centre on the use of the peptide thymosin beta 4, banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Players would face bans of up to two years if they are found guilty of taking prohibited substances. Essendon chairman Paul Little was holding crisis talks with club officials last night. He is believed to be shattered by the latest development in the long-running saga.

The club would not comment.

Bombers legend Tim Watson, the father of club captain and 2012 Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson, said last night the players were "shocked".

Watson also indicated Essendon would launch a legal challenge.

"The new AFL CEO, Gill McLachlan, told the CEOs and presidents only last week that they should start preparing themselves for what could be a very bumpy ride," he said.

"Today's news, though, that the players have received show cause notices, would have been a real shock."

McLachlan told the Herald Sun: "I can't comment."

Any charges against Essendon players and officials will ultimately be heard by an AFL tribunal. Players and their lawyers will have 10 days to respond to the show cause notices.

They would do so by providing reasons why ASADA should not proceed.

ASADA has probed what club-appointed investigator Ziggy Switkowski said was "a disturbing picture of a pharmacologically experimental environment never adequately controlled or challenged or documented within the club".

Essendon has strongly indicated in recent weeks that it could challenge in the Federal Court the legality of ASADA's joint investigation with the AFL.

Co-operation between ASADA and AFL chiefs ceased last year after an interim report was used as the basis for heavy governance sanctions meted out to the club and officials, including suspended coach James Hird.

Little said in a statement on the club's website yesterday, before the show cause notices were issued: "I can confirm we are exploring all legal options for our players in the unlikely event they receive show cause letters from ASADA — we make no apologies for that."

ASADA has already issued a show cause notice to Essendon's former sports scientist, Stephen Dank, and could yet issue them against other support staff.

Essendon's legal challenges could include calling on ASADA to show its evidence supporting a doping violation.

Lawyers could argue a "no fault" or negligence defence, claiming players had no knowledge of substances administered in 2012.

The Essendon scandal erupted on February 5 last year, when the Bombers "self-reported" to the AFL and ASADA and asked to be investigated.

Betting giant TAB last night suspended betting on Essendon playing in the finals.

michael.warner@news.com.au

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Eagles skipper calls time on career

West Coast captain Darren Glass announces his retirement from AFL effectively immediately citing injuries as the reason behind his decision.

Darren Glass with wife Alicia, with children Mila (4), Zara (3) and Nixon (19 months) after announcing his retirement. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia

WEST Coast skipper Darren Glass has played his last AFL game after announcing his immediate retirement.

The four-time All-Australian defender has fronted the media at Patersons Stadium this morning, flanked by the entire playing squad and club staff, to announce the decision.

The 270-game player has battled hip and ankle injuries this season and was unable to be convinced to play a farewell game.

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"I'm not confident of playing any decent footy in the back half of the year," Glass said while sitting alongside coach Adam Simpson.

"With hindsight, I probably played a year too long.

"At the end of last season I was really confident I could play this year out, but it hasn't panned out that way.

"I've probably been chatting to Simmo for four or five weeks maybe, just saying I'm not sure I'm going to see the season out. I'm really comfortable it's the right choice.

"I'm not tempted (to have a farewell game at home). I feel like it's time to step aside and let someone else come in and have a go. That's just the way I feel. I don't sort of want to pinch a game off another player and I think it's time to move on.''

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