Caroline Wilson's descent into gutter journalism

[DEMON FROM WITHIN 46]

The integrity of the AFL is in question due to this tanking issue which raises a huge problem in the form of sportsbetting which has grown into a huge ugly monster.

If the AFL use Melbourne as a scape goat to show other teams and other codes it upholds its world best practice idealogy we are in big trouble.

[John Crow Batty 8,852]

Apparently we've got pick 1 and 2. Will come as a surprise to GWS.

Also according to this article we delisted Gysberts, which will be news to North.

It's not to say that the main event of the article isn't correct but I find it hard not to think she's embellishing it a bit.

Says Gysberts was traded. No mention of 1 and 2 picks.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,588]

mentions picsk 1 and 2 and says we would lose viney which is bullsh!t unless we lose ALL our picks. This is the biggest witch hunt of all time.

[Gippsland Dee 367]

Apparently we've got pick 1 and 2. Will come as a surprise to GWS.

Also according to this article we delisted Gysberts, which will be news to North.

It's not to say that the main event of the article isn't correct but I find it hard not to think she's embellishing it a bit.

It does seem that way but all they would mean is our 1st 2 picks in the draft.

[Supermercado 2,797]

Says Gysberts was traded. No mention of 1 and 2 picks.

Gysberts line has been edited since the article was first posted. Still says this:

Should the club be sanctioned before the draft and lose picks one and two, it would lose Todd Viney's son, Jack

I know what it means, but what shitful writing.

Also I fail to see how we can lose Viney, because even if they take pick 27 off us it doesn't mean we still can't bid for him with our following pick - which means they'd have to re-do the father/son bidding, which means they'd have to unwind trade period to the original draft order.

Edited October 31, 2012 by Supermercado

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,588]

The integrity of the AFL is in question due to this tanking issue which raises a huge problem in the form of sportsbetting which has grown into a huge ugly monster.

If the AFL use Melbourne as a scape goat to show other teams and other codes it upholds its world best practice idealogy we are in big trouble.

If they do its a disgrace and I will have no hesitation in turning my back on it permanently.

[Sir Why You Little 36,859]

This is the latest article where she comments on things of interest in this thread. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/we-tried-to-stop-tanking-20121031-28kea.html

news to me that Brad Green was disalusioned when he retired.

Pushing this one Caro. Nothing new here.

[Lucifers Hero 39,274]

This quote from the article is both reassuring (MFC on the front foot) and very disturbing (staff are being heavily coerced):

"The Melbourne board has continued to mount a defence, which is being led at board level by director and respected lawyer Guy Jalland. Directors remain concerned past and present staff who have given evidence to the AFL's investigators were heavily coerced."

[Kiss of Death 745]

Three things i'm really sick of - firstly, the ability for these online articles to change their wording on a minute by minute basis. Writing is a dead art, get the articles right first time instead of revising them on a hourly basis to get the facts in there. Secondly, stop publishing the same material under a different heading. Drives me crazy saying "i've already read this".

Finally and most importantly, for the love of God, stop publishing photos of meathead McLean in a Melbourne guernsey. Every time i see him now i think of burnouts, parents with AIDS, a truckload of pimples, and a sour taste in my mouth. I'd rather not think that way while looking at the Red and the Blue.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I hate how journalists these days can put in throw away lines without and accountability. The line about Brand Green for example, no substance behind it whatsoever and her continual reference to the "vault".

[titan_uranus 24,959]

Caro is wrong about Viney.

From the AFL's own website:

'If a bid is made, the club that nominated the father-son player must use its next available selection if it wishes to retain its hold on that player'

Thus, if we are stripped of 27, we will just use our next available selection.

Go away Caro.

Edited October 31, 2012 by titan_uranus

[45HG 1,539]

Brad Green was so disillusioned with football after 2009 that he had a near All-Australian, B and F season in 2010 and was subsequently made captain.

[titan_uranus 24,959]

She also used the phrase 'deliberate losses'. That has not been proven, and potentially is not even alleged.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Just read the article. Caroline Wilson cannot write.

That former players were cut in recent years does not in any way support her argument. I, for one, was very disappointed that Junior was let go at the end of 2011, but I did understand the reasons underlying that decision. And they weren't in any way to do with tanking.

I have to say I don't know with certainty what is fact and what is not fact in relation to the so-called 'vault' meeting.

But one fact I do know with absolute certainty is this. She is ugly.

[PaulRB 6,320]

She's not the story, the MFC are.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

She also used the phrase 'deliberate losses'. That has not been proven, and potentially is not even alleged.

That's what annoys me, if Melbourne are cleared of any wrongdoing then she should be held accountable for making false and damaging claims.

[beelzebub 23,306]

Actually im inclined to think that its not the mfc thats the story as much as some once connected to it.

However my contempt for her grows by the hour.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,588]

Open revolt at 3 quarter time. remember the game quite well and you can check youtube - I am utterly convinced this is a lie.

[Redleg 40,769]

An interesting thought. What if most of the club Presidents share Eddie's view and ask the Commission to let the MFC off, to keep the lid on Pandora's Box and they refuse. Could they then with a 75% vote remove the Commission?

Unlikely of course but within their power.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,588]

listen to the commentary in the last 2 minutes or so:

'If anyone thinks these teams werent trying they need to go and watch this last quarter'

[timD 994]

This is starting to make more sense of our recent history, including 186 the player schism and issues with CC and CS...

Perhaps this is part the cancerous culture that we need to fully address and eradicate from the club in order to move on.

Is Caro taking us on a cathartic journey deep into the heart of the MFC?

It's not the whole story but it helps to understand just how potentially disillusioned and alienated the players were before and after 186. It also demonstrates how concerning the board were and are. They had no idea, or worse, knew about it and did nothing effective. They kept connolly and schwab and sacked bailey in a distasteful way. They kept blokes that the playing group saw as poisonous and fired the player's mate. And they did so in a way that was humiliating - for someone who knew waaaay too much about previous years.

The next year the entire learship group gets it in the neck and the new coach has a thinly veiled contempt for the group. After years of losing, being coached against and then effectively betrayed by the stand in president and board. No wonder the leaders found this year a bridge too far.

I think I owe that group a big apology. No, not think. I really do owe that group a big apology.

Something has been stinking at the mfc for a long long time.

[Hannibal 5,814]

No I'm presuming it is

Terrific. Now stop making absolute statements.

[Blinkybill 276]

She also used the phrase 'deliberate losses'. That has not been proven, and potentially is not even alleged.

Oh come off it. Everybody in the universe knows there were deliberate losses. The only question (and it's a crucial one) is whether the players were complicit.

[Kiss of Death 745]

Damaging is right.

This is probably having a huge impact on Melbourne on a commercial basis. How many potential future sponsors and supporters are now walking away or getting cold feet based on this? Sad to see a sporting code like the AFL (which changes it's rules on a yearly basis) now so up in arms about the way clubs work 'within the rules'.

We have a room at work known as "the Coffin". Sometimes we have meetings in there too, maybe I should submit an article.

[rjay 24,778]

By saying he has millstone around his neck I mean the current administration. I believe Neeld has been thrust into a very difficult situation and his inexperience as a senior coach does not help. He may have been briefed to see things their way on his appointment. Some of his early media performances were quite cringeworthy and some of his tactics on the field are indeed puzzling. I'm sure he himself would say he could have approached and done some things differently in hindsight. He is not the unbreakable superman who some here seem to think he is. Thats why I abstained from that silly RangeRover poll. I'd like to see him coach unencumbered by the ongoing politics to see if he can really coach or not. And I agree we need an impartial administrator to come in to help get this club on its feet and in the meantime to help sort out this unholy mess.

I think he is his own man 'cali' and would have made his own calls. Of course he has made mistakes, it's just part of the human condition particularly when you are striving to do something worthwhile and also a first year coach but they are not hanging offences.

He deserves to do his job without the millstone around his neck and then after a couple of years at the helm we will see if he can coach. I'm with him at the moment until he proves different, I just don't think he has been given a clear run.