Essendon Football Club's proud history-from 1872-was forever sullied in 2012 when the club embarked on a fateful supplements programme for its players that brought the club to the brink, resulting in 34 players from the 2012 season being banned, in January, 2016, by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The media focus on the club and players was unrelenting. But what of the fans? They too suffered; they were mercilessly derided in the streets, in cyberspace and at games.