“As you know from recent media, the AFL is currently investigating certain aspects of MFC's on-field performance in the 2009 season,” McLardy said.

“The Board of the MFC is concerned to ensure that the MFC is treated fairly and properly. The board will fully co-operate with an independent, lawful and transparent process. The board has sought an assurance from the AFL that natural justice will be afforded to the MFC, its players, employees and staff through the investigation.

“The board is also concerned to ensure there is minimal impact on our current football department and playing group. Since the significant restructure by the board of our football department in 2011, we have had a clear plan and settled staff, and every effort will be made to ensure they can continue to focus on the upcoming season.”

better than nothing

“As you know from recent media, the AFL is currently investigating certain aspects of MFC's on-field performance in the 2009 season,” McLardy said.

“The Board of the MFC is concerned to ensure that the MFC is treated fairly and properly. The board will fully co-operate with an independent, lawful and transparent process. The board has sought an assurance from the AFL that natural justice will be afforded to the MFC, its players, employees and staff through the investigation.

“The board is also concerned to ensure there is minimal impact on our current football department and playing group. Since the significant restructure by the board of our football department in 2011, we have had a clear plan and settled staff, and every effort will be made to ensure they can continue to focus on the upcoming season.”

Problem is there is damage. Some of the unfounded comments in media especially implicating Jim Stynes are off the mark and unacceptable. Make me feel livid so why can't Lyon jump or any Demon jump in and be a Demon.

The best thing I've heard was from Mitch yesterday.

Sounds like he knows we're screwed and is hoping to punish individuals rather than the team.

Is the sky falling? No. But I have grave concerns for the future of the MFC. All will depend on the consequences handed down by the AFL in my opinion (if we are found guilty).

What can G Lyon say?

He knows as well as everyone else that we tanked and so did pleny of other clubs, but we are the dummies to have provided proof LOL. Or so it is alledged anyway...

This means they are preparing for a punishment. All but assured. Prepare. Game over for Schwab I'd assume.

Sounds like he knows we're screwed and is hoping to punish individuals rather than the team.

Is the sky falling? No. But I have grave concerns for the future of the MFC. All will depend on the consequences handed down by the AFL in my opinion (if we are found guilty).

Didnt come across that way to me at all. He admits nothing nor should he. He's at pains to be heard that Melbourne will only deal with legal and fair interrogation and that we will maintain our right to defend anything leveled against us.

I see it as carefully crafted and to the point.

Why do we have to plead AFL, for what they created?

So is this mean we can guess what sort of punishments we are going to get?

That's it BB.

What else does anyone expect him to say??

We're covering ourselves & preparing for the worst.

Saying as little as possible, but enough to give the supporters something.

Im not sure, it sounds like they are preparing for the worst but nothing has come yet. I dont know, I think the AFL would be silly to light the fuse on this. It would be best outcome for everyone if the AFL we has a system in place that created the idea of tanking, we have removed it and measure have been put in place so that it wont happen again.

Didnt come across that way to me at all. He admits nothing nor should he. He's at pains to be heard that Melbourne will only deal with legal and fair interrogation and that we will maintain our right to defend anything leveled against us.

I see it as carefully crafted and to the point.

Agree.

I'm basing my opinion on the last paragraph that WYL posted. Lookks to me that DMc is saying "if we are guilty, don't punish the club, as the current FD were not involved in 2009".

That's my opinion, we'll all come up with our own!

No point penalizing MFC, if they penalize us financially we'll need the AFL to support us financially later on and they'd just give it back.

Sames goes for draft picks, if we are penalized, we ll stay at the bottom and in turn just get more better picks later on back from the AFL.

It will achieve nothing. The AFL cant remove the MFC either as they need 18 teams to have 9 matches per weekend to satisfy their end of the Tv rights contract.

Only way is to target the individuals involved here.

Every word has a wig on it

“The Board of the MFC is concerned to ensure that the MFC is treated fairly and properly. The board will fully co-operate with an independent, lawful and transparent process."

Good statement

I just get the impression the MFC are preparing to take this to court..

Every word has a wig on it

“The Board of the MFC is concerned to ensure that the MFC is treated fairly and properly. The board will fully co-operate with an independent, lawful and transparent process."

Good statement

yep.... saw it that way too

No point penalizing MFC, if they penalize us financially we'll need the AFL to support us financially later on and they'd just give it back.

Sames goes for draft picks, if we are penalized, we ll stay at the bottom and in turn just get more better picks later on back from the AFL.

It will achieve nothing. The AFL cant remove the MFC either as they need 18 teams to have 9 matches per weekend to satisfy their end of the Tv rights contract.

Only way is to target the individuals involved here.

I hope that this is the case

Fining or penalizing the MFC will be the same as fining or penalizing a bum.

They ll end up getting it back in welfare payments and charities anyway.

Well said by Don. If Schwabby gets the arse as a result of this, Brian Cook would be very nice thanks.

Every word has a wig on it

“The Board of the MFC is concerned to ensure that the MFC is treated fairly and properly. The board will fully co-operate with an independent, lawful and transparent process."

Good statement

That's exactly how i read it as well - a veiled threat of of legal action should we be shafted. Hence the need for the AFL to have something more black and white than a bunch of testimony from ex employees with axes to grind - searching for an email trail being an example of this need.

I think it was a statement that the club wouldn't have a trial by media as much as anything.

Satisfied now McLardy has made another statement. Best left for now.

I see the statement as soothing the nerves of the supporters that have been calling for this from the club. The final paragraph was, in my opinion, there to let the supporters know it wasn't affecting the playing group and was purely and administrative matter.

I agree it had wig written all over it and I cannot for the life of me see anything in there that indicates we are preparing for the worst.

Well said by Don. If Schwabby gets the arse as a result of this, Brian Cook would be very nice thanks.

I think one or two many meals at Icebergs off Bondi NSW with the AFL may have swayed Cook to join North Melbourne with a lucrative deal.

I agree it had wig written all over it and I cannot for the life of me see anything in there that indicates we are preparing for the worst.

Me either. It seems to be the MFCSS people (expecting the worst) plus the anti-Schwab/Connolly brigade (wanting the worst). As supporters all we can really do is let it take its course then react if anything happens.

Mods - can we now merge all the handwringing, judas-searching, soul-wrenching posts and close now......the statement says to me the days of MFC taking [censored] from anybody are over......let's wait for the AFL to move