Tanked against the Tiges

[beelzebub 22,225]

well im holidaying up here in qld and watched it on telly.. for me teh funniest aspect of the game...besides Baileys 'inspired' moves was teh commentary on 7. They deftly skirted around any comments re tanking. Just the occasional thats "a strange match up !! " Talk about elephants in teh room.. ffs..was hilarious :D. Buts as Vlad has spoken..and tanking doesnt exist...then how can anyone talk about it..lol

[dee-luded 2,958]

We wouldn't have put ourselves in this embarrassing position if we had managed our team selection against the Port Power a few weeks back.

I said then that this will cause us embarrassment down the track, well, it aint finished yet.

[dee-luded 2,958]

well im holidaying up here in qld and watched it on telly.. for me teh funniest aspect of the game...besides Baileys 'inspired' moves was teh commentary on 7. They deftly skirted around any comments re tanking. Just the occasional thats "a strange match up !! " Talk about elephants in teh room.. ffs..was hilarious :D . Buts as Vlad has spoken..and tanking doesnt exist...then how can anyone talk about it..lol

It was actually very entertaining,,,,, & with high anticipation, & for mine the mark taken by McMahon was clearly a moment Before the siren.

It was right in front of me.

Then, we all had the anticipation of the Kick for goal.

I left my position where we all were happy, Tigers & Dees supporters feeling like winners.

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

We lost to a goal after the siren...

Only because, as has been noted above, that Richmond was that bad. I just hope we don't get in trouble for what we are doing.

[Real Demon 232]

Short term pain for long term gain.

Tanking hasn't hurt the Blues none..........sure we hate them with a passion, but we are a club with little resentment from opposition supporters, so I can live with us being unpopular!

I hate the fact I wanted us to lose, but love the fact we may end up with two potential gamebreaking stars in our club.

When Scully is on the "G" putting another team to the sword in the famous red and blue, the bleak end to this season will be a distant memory, and the losses just another irrelevant stat in the history of football.

I would argue that the club is showing a far greater passion for winning and success by what took place today, than had it won a meaningless game against a hack team.

18 months into a total rebuild, this is absolutely the right course of action for the future of the club.

[Sir Why You Little 34,443]

Demetriou, get your head out your a*se! The AFL has sunk to an all time low today.

Bailey should be sacked, he done all he could to lose us the game today when the players were putting in 100%. How can he command respect when he criticises players for not putting in effort week in week out and then make management decisions like he did. I don't know how he could even face the guys in the dressing room after the game.

He has done more damage today than good.

Like i have said to other Posters. If we win the first two games next year you will be back on board. Have some Patience & realize what the 2 new teams are going to do to Recruitment from next year.

I don't want to be a side like richmond who win 8-9 games in the second Half of the season, it proves nothing. except they are flat track runners year after year.

[Rogue 585]

I didn't see the game so I can't comment directly, however if Bailey was moving players around and the result was almost a win, I would like to see more changes and more creativity like this in the future.

Good luck finding opponents as bad as Richmond.

The game was atrocious.

There were definately suspect positional moves being made today, but the sinister connotations aside can't trying players in different players in a variety of roles be benficial?

Is Miller the next Ablett or Judd?

Our forward line for the last quarter:

Frawley Jetta Davey

Bartram Warnock Jones

That's better than any "tank team" we came up with during the week.

PJ fb, Warnock full forward the whole third quarter.

Our middle in the last quarter

Spencer, Grimes, Miller and Bate.

I feel so dirty.

I was going to make note of the same positional moves.

Valenti was also deep in defence (along with PJ) at one stage!

Oh, and when we kicked one of our last two goals guess who was in our goal square - Warnock and Wheels...

PS. Same...

[w00dy 146]

I was in Perth, and only saw the last quarter on TV... was it just me, or did Warnock actually present reasonably well as a forward? His kicking was atrocious, but I thought he actually lead and hit the contest up well...

[Grand New Flag 3,226]

Nothing wrong giving our backline experience in the forward line to aid their development in the dying games of a dead season.

But seriously Richmond were awful.

If they had played anywhere near as well as they did last week they would have beaten us easily.

We can't get into any trouble for tanking. After all we were in front when the siren went. Further the players were clearly upset with the loss and no one could suggest they were not giving their all.

Yesterday may be a pivotal moment for this club. Its not just Scully and pick 2 its also pick one in the preseason draft. It is essentially 2 and a half top players we are better off.

What we did yesterday was inside the rules of the game and inside the precedents already set by a number of clubs over the last decade. Well done to DB and the football department.

[Vipercrunch 2,804]

Freak stays clueless.

The only way you can get away with calling someone else clueless is if you publically state you were joking with you hissy fit about Sylvia playing for Casey. I *think* you were joking, but if you are going to have a crack at Freak, then perhaps you better come clean.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Yep. I've unhappily resigned myself to the fact that the MFC has a losing plan but do they have to be so bloody obvious about it? Can't this club do anything professionally?

The whole argument of the anti tanking critics rests on the outcome of the game. If McMahon had missed the shot, MFC would have won a game after being nearly 2 goals down coming into time on. There could be no sustainable argument formed.

McMahon kicks a goal after the siren after he misses two easy shots earlier in the game to claw back the game and bizarrely MFC are so "bloody obvious about" tanking!!

Its beggars belief. Given you're on to something here, how does a Club "professionally" tank?

[BennytheJet 15]

The whole argument of the anti tanking critics rests on the outcome of the game. If McMahon had missed the shot, MFC would have won a game after being nearly 2 goals down coming into time on. There could be no sustainable argument formed.

McMahon kicks a goal after the siren after he misses two easy shots earlier in the game to claw back the game and bizarrely MFC are so "bloody obvious about" tanking!!

Its beggar belief. Given you're on to something here, how does a Club "professionally" tank?

I dont know if its been said yet, but newton lining up on deledio on a wing for the majority of the 3rd and 4th quarter was a winner

Yesterday was farcical, and I refuse to watch another MFC game this year.

This scully and whoever kid better be worth it

[Ungarie boy 233]

The whole argument of the anti tanking critics rests on the outcome of the game. If McMahon had missed the shot, MFC would have won a game after being nearly 2 goals down coming into time on. There could be no sustainable argument formed.

McMahon kicks a goal after the siren after he misses two easy shots earlier in the game to claw back the game and bizarrely MFC are so "bloody obvious about" tanking!!

Its beggars belief. Given you're on to something here, how does a Club "professionally" tank?

Agreed!!!!

We should be out supporting Baily and the MFC:

Has anyone thought that Baily may have been trying to win the game!!!! Warnock in the forwards was responsible for 1 goal assist late in the last quarter, whilst Petterd in the midfield kicked the goal that put the Demons in front. How many goals did Riewoldt kick on Johnson??? If melbourne had of won (with little to no bench) we would be saying Baily is a genius!!!!

We should not be adding to the tanking debate and embarassing us!!!!

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Has anyone thought that Baily may have been trying to win the game!!!! Warnock in the forwards was responsible for 1 goal assist late in the last quarter, whilst Petterd in the midfield kicked the goal that put the Demons in front. How many goals did Riewoldt kick on Johnson??? If melbourne had of won (with little to no bench) we would be saying Baily is a genius!!!!

I doubt Bailey was trying to win the game. If MFC had won there would have been a nashing of teeth because of the complications that it causes.

The issue I was putting forward the whole tanking debate is such an unproveable "crime" particularly in regard to MFC that its becoming one of the great "storms in a a teacup". For the record, Carlton were far more obvious in 2007 and the AFL (Vlad) does not want to know about.

I cant wait until this season is over. This 2nd half of the season is showcasing all the things I dont enjoy about AFL.

[CarnTheDees 52]

Yesterday was farcical, and I refuse to watch another MFC game this year.

Agree. Might have a look on TV but no way I'll be bothered going to any more games. And I suspect that plenty of others who were there yesterday will do the same. Prepare for some tiny crowds for the remainder of the games.

[Hannabal 4]

For the record, Carlton were far more obvious in 2007 and the AFL (Vlad) does not want to know about.

You reckon ?

They must have been good, because yesterday was the greatest display of tanking I've ever seen. It was so blatant it was extraordinary.

I couldn't go to the game as I had my Boy in a Lightning Premiership in East Bentleigh, so I watched the second half live on TV. When Petterd kicked the running goal in the last you could almost see the disappointment on Bailey's face. I felt the same way. And when he left the box with 20 seconds to go no-one looked happy in there.

Warnock, Frawley and Bartram as forwards in the last when we're up at 3/4 time. Johnson in the backline on Brown. Jones resting on a forward flank. Miller in the ruck. Newton up on the wing. Grimes sent to the bench when he was blitzing. Etc, etc.

EDIT: also letting their best midfielder in Cousins (their best player last week) run free.

If Carlton were far more obvious in 07 I take my hat off to them.

Edited August 2, 2009 by Hannibal

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

You reckon ?

If Carlton were far more obvious in 07 I take my hat off to them.

Look its obvious what MFC were doing but its no greater and I think less than Carlton. Carlton were doing all of what MFC had done plus benching their best players at the time for long periods at critical times of the game where Carlton seemed to "disappear" from good winning positions.

If Vlad did not want to investigate tanking then, he wont want to do it now.

The look in the MFC box after Petterd kicked that goal was deathly indeed.

[Hannabal 4]

Look its obvious what MFC were doing but its no greater and I think less than Carlton.

You said Carlton were far more obvious. I don't agree. I think Bailey just won the gold medal.

[beelzebub 22,225]

You said Carlton were far more obvious. I don't agree. I think Bailey just won the gold medal.

try Platinum !!! oustanding effort....all with a straight face too

[Grand New Flag 3,226]

Agree. Might have a look on TV but no way I'll be bothered going to any more games. And I suspect that plenty of others who were there yesterday will do the same. Prepare for some tiny crowds for the remainder of the games.

I doubt it CarnTheDees,

People will still turn up. The experiment with players and positions combined with the tanking debate has actually increased my interest in the end of the season. Normally by this stage of an awful season my interest has dropped. Not so this season.

Even if crowds did drop as a result of our experimentation tactics this would be a small price to pay for increased interest and memberships in following years if this Scully kid or for that matter any other player turns into a superstar. Not to mention the increase in attendance once we start becoming a good team again, the higher sponsorship, increase tv audience which leads to better fixtures of Friday night games and Saturday games against the big clubs, which leads to higher demand for sponsorship again and increased sales of merchandise and improves the overall profitability of the club. Maybe we can even get off AFL welfare.

Just have a look at Carlton. They seem to have a Friday night game every week and will make the 8. A far cry from just two seasons ago. Look at their increase in membership, their increase in merchandise sales (in particular number 5 guernseys), sponsors falling over themselves trying to get involved with that club and look at the fixture they are given. Carlton have become a rich club again................. any why. Because they experimented with their list and made sure they did not win 5 games in 2007.

If its good enough for Carlton and so many other clubs over the last decade its good enough for the MFC. The precedent has already been set.

As I have said before football is a game of opportunity on every level both on and off the field. We must take this opportunity if we are to become a top four side. Football is not a gentlemen’s sport, I could not care if other clubs hate us or like us. The truth is that its far better for the club to be hated by other clubs rather than liked. It brings people to the game.

Well done to DB, finally someone is ruthless in our club.Just what the doctor ordered! Extend his contract at once.

[Devoted Demon 0]

Good luck finding opponents as bad as Richmond.

The game was atrocious.

Is Miller the next Ablett or Judd?

I was going to make note of the same positional moves.

Valenti was also deep in defence (along with PJ) at one stage!

Oh, and when we kicked one of our last two goals guess who was in our goal square - Warnock and Wheels...

PS. Same...

Only thing I can say about one of the funniest games ive watched....to DB's defense Wheels has been playing up forward for Casey and kicked a few goals.

Loved the game mixed feelings would have loved the win but apreciated the loss.

[dees189227 10,764]

Yesterday's game was just laughable. The mistakes in the 3rd quarter were pathetic. I was sitting there at the game wondering how the tigers beat essendon the week before. I admit that game was not worth winning to lose a draft pick. Even my parents who hate me talking about losing walked out of the game saying im not annoyed we lost.

It was interesting to see players play in different positions. I liked Warnock up foward. he led well. Paul Johnson has been played in the backline before so thats nothing new. Bate in the middle was a good idea. Anyway we didn't really tank because we were winning in the last minute and that siren had sounded before that mark was taken. The richmond supporter next to me couldn't believe mcmahon was paid the mark. He also said there was no way in hell he'd kick it.

On another not I thought the crowd figure was really good.

Lastly Jack Grimes is slowly becoming my favourite player. Loved the mark he took in the final quarter and then played on and kicked the goal. He is also a very good kick.

[TonyMelb 7]

Yesterday's game was just laughable. The mistakes in the 3rd quarter were pathetic. I was sitting there at the game wondering how the tigers beat essendon the week before. I admit that game was not worth winning to lose a draft pick. Even my parents who hate me talking about losing walked out of the game saying im not annoyed we lost.

It was interesting to see players play in different positions. I liked Warnock up foward. he led well. Paul Johnson has been played in the backline before so thats nothing new. Bate in the middle was a good idea. Anyway we didn't really tank because we were winning in the last minute and that siren had sounded before that mark was taken. The richmond supporter next to me couldn't believe mcmahon was paid the mark. He also said there was no way in hell he'd kick it.

On another not I thought the crowd figure was really good.

Lastly Jack Grimes is slowly becoming my favourite player. Loved the mark he took in the final quarter and then played on and kicked the goal. He is also a very good kick.

Also sat through the 2nd half and amazed how bad Tigers were!! Dees unable to play that badly now. Much brighter future for MFC!

Clearly MFC tanked yesterday but there is no way any blame or dissatisfaction can be levelled at DB or the FD.

It was uncomfortable for all of us to watch in two minds as to whether we wanted to team to win or not! Had to applaud efforts like Junior's all day and great goals like Pettard's last and Miller's from the boundary (what the hell is 2.0 for the day!!).

The MFC did not make the PP rules and we have suffered the pain of 2 years of very few wins! We have suffered from rules like the centre circle which stiffled Jeff White in the middle but didnt affect any other AFL side as much so why should MFC be shy about taking the advantage of 2 of the first 3 picks in this years draft when it os on offer! Come September it will be 45 years since our last premiership!!!!

As noted on SEN after the game. there is no penalty for tanking and as the AFL (Vlad) has decreed that tanking does not exist impossible to take any action against us!

So whilst the negativity surrounding tanking is sad and refelects badly on the AFL it would be much sadder for MFC not to boost its stock via the PP to ensure we do not go 50 years without a premiership.

[rpfc 27,450]

Demetriou, get your head out your a*se! The AFL has sunk to an all time low today.

Bailey should be sacked, he done all he could to lose us the game today when the players were putting in 100%. How can he command respect when he criticises players for not putting in effort week in week out and then make management decisions like he did. I don't know how he could even face the guys in the dressing room after the game.

He has done more damage today than good.

Boy, am I glad the MFC aren't as shortsighted as you.

His title isn't Match Day Coach of the MFC. He's coaching in the best intersets of the club.

Oh, and we have been using the tactics of tanking throughout the last two years...

So nuts to what you think...

[Vipercrunch 2,804]

One thing that does concern me with all the tanking talk and the events of yesterday is how the playing group feel. If they are getting told internally that we are playing to win, but because of the public attention and the "player management" going on begin to question things, can there be a respect issue with the coach. The players were either great actors, or were totally devastated by the loss yesterday. Could they now feel that Bailey isn't on their side and that he deliberately manufactured the loss? Can this cause long term trust issues?

Some will say the players aren't paid to think etc etc, but I think that is a little bit simplistic.