Caroline Wilson's descent into gutter journalism

[titan_uranus 24,755]

Caroline Wilson is reporting that the AFL's investigation into our 2010 season has 'escalated':

Tanking affair darkens for Dees

She says there is 'fresh evidence' and that people are talking about some sort of meeting in 2010.

It just goes on and on.

Edit: She must mean 2009, not 2010. Good one Caro.

[jnrmac 19,911]

Don't need this. Bring on Christmas Eve so the report can be released.....

[biggestred 4,830]

pfffft. 12 wins in 3 years or 13 wins in 3 years. pretty sure they kicked a goal AFTER THE SIREN to win that game.

write about how bad we are for years and years

turn around and say we werent that bad

[PJ_12345 1,098]

It just goes on and on.

Her articles or the tanking allegations?

[H_T 3,032]

THE AFL investigation into the Melbourne tanking affair has escalated with several key witnesses coming forward with fresh evidence, including repeated versions of at least one football meeting in 2010, the season in which the club was trying to win no more than four games.

I find it hard to believe this transpired in 2010. We had 8.5 wins that season.

[whatwhat say what 22,266]

we'll cop a whack for it. i've never doubted that. it's just a matter of how big that whack is going to be. fingers crossed it's not as big as i think it might end up being (excluded from first two rounds of the 2013 draft - that's just a rough guess).

[Mallee Bull 97]

I find it hard to believe this transpired in 2010. We had 8.5 wins that season.

She can't even get the facts or dates right but is still happy to besmirch the name of the MFC. The quality of journalism in this city is truly appalling.

[Adam The God 29,524]

If Melbourne were to cop a whack, Carlton would too. I can't see it happening.

[titan_uranus 24,755]

I find it hard to believe this transpired in 2010. We had 8.5 wins that season.

Well identified HT.

[Mono 455]

If Melbourne were to cop a whack, Carlton would too. I can't see it happening.

And the filth and the hawks......lol

[brey9186 102]

Go back to where the pies got DT and SP..

[angrydee 842]

And Collingwood, West Coast etc

[Frenzy Mckenzie 61]

The evidence certainly seems like its piling up against us in a very Lance Armstrong type of way. I'm still of the belief that the AFL must be seen to be acting, rather than actually imposing any sanctions on us. If they penalised us it would be an admission that the priority pick system itself was flawed and susceptible to 'tanking', something that AD and co have long since dismissed. As the AFL is never in the wrong, I just can't see it happening.

Still stranger things have happened, and I might just eat my words when this issue reaches a culmination!

Also, a question for those that know more than me - is there an actual rule or doctrine in built into the draft system that specifically states that a team must not deliberately loose to further their position in the draft, priority pick included?

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

bugger bugger bugger

[hoopla 418]

Two things are very clear

1. Caro enjoys throwing dirt at the MFC ( especially Cameron Schwab);
   
2. Whatever we did or didn't do in 2009 to help our draft picks - other clubs had done in prior years
   

It would be a stunning injustice if we were singled out for a penalty

Edited October 29, 2012 by hoopla

[snomed1964 9]

McMahon must have been on the payroll too. if he had missed, we would have won!

If we were tanking, then we were not any good at doing even that!

[What 18,810]

Ok so lets say we are found 'guilty'.

The only punishment should be to the people that were responsible - Dean Bailey and whoever else.

They should be terminated from their current position with the league (if they are still employed) and never be allowed to work in the AFL again.

If we are stripped of pick 4, we should sue the AFL into submission.

ps. If I ever run into Brock McLean in the street, he is going to wish he never went On The Couch

Edited October 29, 2012 by hogans_heroes

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

1. Whatever we did or didn't do in 2009 to help our draft picks - other clubs had done in prior years
   

It would be a stunning injustice if we were singled out for a penalty

we all know that is the truth, but in the official proceedings it's not like anyone is going to say 'hey but they did it too! no fair!'

that's like getting arrested for a crime and citing some other case where the guy got away with it

[What 18,810]

we all know that is the truth, but in the official proceedings it's not like anyone is going to say 'hey but they did it too! no fair!'

that's like getting arrested for a crime and citing some other case where the guy got away with it

Not if the guy that got away with it was investigated first

[Rolling Stone 146]

we all know that is the truth, but in the official proceedings it's not like anyone is going to say 'hey but they did it too! no fair!'

that's like getting arrested for a crime and citing some other case where the guy got away with it

That may be so but the AFL allowed precedents to be set by clubs as to the sort of behaviour that was frowned upon and by allowing clubs like Carlton to repeatedly "experiment" in games that led to them losing and picking up better draft picks, it set the standards that applied and therefore defined any improper behaviour in this area.

If Melbourne is guilty of anything as a result of this investigation them the AFL leadership would have to go.

Doubly so for discriminating in this wider investigation against Melbourne and in failing to go after other clubs like Carlton. Where was the investigation after Fevola virtually admitted why he was left out of the Carlton team in the latter stages of 2007 including the disgraceful "Kreuzer Cup".

[Little Goffy 14,087]

Caro missed an 'allegedly'. Technically, I do believe she's sue-able. Particularly in the context of an ongoing campaign to fling mud at our name with basically no new facts being introduced.

[rumpole 514]

The opening paragraph which, of itself suggests that Melbourne is guilty as charged and the faux pas about the year in which the alleged tanking game took place, attests not only to her shoddy journalism but also to the malicious intent behind her article.

It was reported recently that Junior told the inquiry there was no tanking. So what is she saying now? That he wasn't telling the truth to investigators?

Like many clubs before it, Melbourne came into a game late in a season where nothing could be gained by winning or losing and shuffled its team around. Call it what you liked but the experiment would have produced a winning result but for the intervention of a 50 metre kick after the siren from a Richmond player.

Unlike the 2007 fiasco in round 22 which the AFL continues to choose to ignore when Carlton players missed simple shots from 20 metres out and Travis Johnstone was prolific in his possession gathering and went all day untagged.

Give me a break!

[baysidedave 246]

Two things are very clear

1. Caro enjoys throwing dirt at the MFC ( especially Cameron Schwab);
   
2. Whatever we did or didn't do in 2009 to help our draft picks - other clubs had done in prior years
   

It would be a stunning injustice if we were singled out for a penalty

l found out we aren't supposed to have a bad opinion of Schwab, l agree with her about him but this tanking crap is getting tired. lf we go down so do about 5 others teams, and if l see McLean anywhere l'll ask if he was so disgusted why did he go to Carlton who have been the worst and most blatant tankers, he's just a hypocrite.

[Alcho Dee 269]

Caroline Wilson is reporting that the AFL's investigation into our 2010 season has 'escalated':

Tanking affair darkens for Dees

She says there is 'fresh evidence' and that people are talking about some sort of meeting in 2010.

It just goes on and on.

Edit: She must mean 2009, not 2010. Good one Caro.

She is horrid.

[dee-tox 4,835]

The word allegedly won't get you off the hook if you are being sued. Otherwise you could preface any outlandish comment with the word. Truth is the best defence for a journalist.