I'm in and out of range ATM but I've now managed to lock.

Please feel free to post on the AFL investigation thread and kindly do so within the guidelines in the C of C.

Now that Caro's back in town and pouring out her usual bile, I've temporarily re-opened this thread to include some updates.

Firstly, this article from Mark Robinson which pours water over her allegations that Cam Schwab was "grim faced or "ashen faced" after the club's 2009 win over Port Adelaide - Melbourne Demons adamant they won't tank

Caro's source was undoubtedly a dud but there's a fair chance the person involved would have volunteered this rubbish as part of an agenda against the club's CEO.

Next, the hysterical lame-duck article that demonstrated the shrew's inability to distinguish between the real issues in tanking and the world of rumour and innuendo in which she lurks - Demons' lame-duck excuses

... and Don McLardy buries the shrew- From the President

Eddie McGuire, a true football person, doesn't appear to be as sanctimonious about the subject -

Eddie Slams 'Stupid' AFL Rule

The bitter backtracker - No draft penalties likely for Melbourne

And a far more nuanced piece from the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph - Demons appear likely to dodge draft ban despite seven-month investigation into tanking claims

I'll be back with more but in the meantime, savour this - CAROWHINE'S HUMILIATION -

http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/sport/video/garry-lyon-and-caroline-wilson-head-to-head-on-footy-classified/

Wilson mucks up but still blames Melbourne.

Muck up to be a stain on Demons

Worming her way around the fact that she gotten things horribly wrong as can be seen by her body language on Footy Classified when confronted by some home truths.

And let's not think this behaviour is confined to her discussions about Melbourne. Look who she cites on the subject of dobbing in drug cheats - AFL players rally around call to start dobbing in drug cheats.

That's right - the former West Coke captain who left them after Carlton conveniently won the Kreuzer Cup in 2007 (surely the AFL will have to investigate that sordid affair now), the Visy ambassador who made pressure points and chicken wings famous.

Fairfax Media - once respected - plummets into a deep hole of shame.

Media bosses critical of paper's miscalculation

Despite Wilson's assurances that the outcome of the tanking fiasco would be known by Friday and her revelations of the details of that outcome, it's Sunday morning and we're none the wiser.

Wilson has done this to death and continues to dig a hole for her sagging reputation as a journalist, so the Age has enlisted a ghost to keep things simmering. It's an old newspaper ploy and poor old Jake Niall drew the short straw so he put this piece together (which tells us nothing new) - Dee great escape

The most interesting thing about the article in the link is the message at the top:

"FOREVER CURIOUS"

with the Age banner underneath.

Trouble is, if you're an Age reader and are curious as to the nuts and bolts of the potential charges the Melbourne Football Club is facing, then you are being kept completely in the dark by Wilson and her friends.

Back on Wednesday, she conceded that the Demons, who have engaged former Federal Court judge Ray Finkelstein to lead their defence, consider they have a very good case and that "perhaps in legal terms they are correct" (but they still should be punished even if legally innocent).

This makes her conclusions about Melbourne's so-called (and supposed) light punishment which has yet to be officially announced so nonsensical that it beggars belief.

It also leads to the question why has there been no analysis in the Age (or anywhere else in the media) of the elements of the offences of which Melbourne, Cameron Schwab, Chris Connolly and Dean Bailey potentially stand accused? After all, if there are sanctions to be imposed, how are the charges to be concocted if the crime did "not exist according to Demetriou" and how do you prevent the ensuing Pandora's box from opening and swallowing up clubs like Carlton, Collingwood, West Coast, Richmond et al who presumably committed similar crimes in the past that previously never existed?

Instead, we are told by the Age that of course, Melbourne is guilty and even if it is not, it must be punished. There is no arm, no hand and no law.

The rival Sunday Sun takes an altogether different tack -

Melbourne legal eagles ready for Demons' tanking fight.

My take is that the matter will be resolved by consensus and very soon but only because it is in the interests of all parties to settle without incurring enormous legal costs and the other burdens associated with protracted litigation. The difficulty in finalising the terms lies with the way in which the terms of settlement are to be set out.

In order to understand this, one needs to have shown more curiosity about the nature of the charges and have done so in the first place, instead of concentrating as the Age has done on the sensational aspects of questionable evidence like the vault story and poor jokes about Zulus and the like. Such things might sell newspapers but in the end they damage reputations.

Away you go ... tell Caro what you really think

(but keep it clean, remember the COC and no bad jokes please)

The most glaring thing looking back was her apparently personally motivated serve on Cameron Schwab, who has now been completely exonerated.

In all the tripe, second guessing, prejudicial reporting and glaring mistruths this is one had the ability (and probably has) damaged our club commercially. CS as the clubs commercial figurehead is responsible obviously for business and sponsorship decisions. His reputation in such is paramount.

I hope some posters on here who fawn over her reportage might now finally see why they need to rethink rather than being lead by their noses or influenced by their own agendas.

Her behavior was PATHETIC & DISGUSTING.

Away you go ... tell Caro what you really think

(but keep it clean, remember the COC and no bad jokes please)

Don't tell me you're expecting good jokes.

It's like trout fishing on a basketball court.

She tanked

She must be Shpewin. Sssssshe washhhh WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sue her for the $500k..

Given what CS copped from her in The Stage, I'm guessing he might like to refer to his legal advisors as to his options. Revenge is a drink best served cold, and all of that

Caro ,

don't hate the player,hate the game.

and mind your language too , tigress.

Somehow in the last 24 hours, she's managed to cobble together something a bit like the final settlement .......... to the point that Harford on SEN wondered how she always seems to "get the story" . So be prepared from some more arrogant self-promotion - which conveniently overlooks all her blatant errors..No one presently at Melbourne will talk to her again - so with a bit of luck tomorrow might be her last last article about Melbourne for several years.

PS I'm meeting the Newspaper Disposal Manager at the recycling depot tomorrow. He's agreed to put aside all copies of Wilson's articles for me. I'm donating the money I save on toilet paper directly to the club.

Away you go ... tell Caro what you really think

(but keep it clean, remember the COC and no bad jokes please)

My perfect world consists of our 13th Premiership Flag and Kero never ever again "writing" an article about the MFC. Good or Bad. Fiction or Non Fiction.

She says we are 'guilty,' so yes, she is apoplectic that the club and Schwab has been spared.

And that is good.

Demons found guilty, fined

"It was that meeting which appears to have provided the best and most damaging evidence of what former Demon Brock McLean declared last year ''Blind Freddie'' could see. That Melbourne had deliberately lost games of football."

Wait, what?

Demons found guilty, fined

"It was that meeting which appears to have provided the best and most damaging evidence of what former Demon Brock McLean declared last year ''Blind Freddie'' could see. That Melbourne had deliberately lost games of football."

Wait, what?

I told you - she is too invested in the investigation. Her leakers were too bombastic and she went too hard, too early - no official AFL statement to the contrary will make her read the findings any other way than the way she believes.

And BTW - the next time you happen to call in the 3AW when she is on, ask about the secret codenamed meeting that never was, and never corrected. She now knows it's BS but never told the general public that, you know, reads her pablum.

Fairfax Media - once respected - plummets into a deep hole of shame.

Media bosses critical of paper's miscalculation

Not defending Fairfax, but Chris Mitchell is a c*** and all News editors are willing signatories to the Murdoch code of ethics.

"Confusing? No more confused than the Melbourne players were when they were victim to some very strange team selections and on-field moves that season."

It is confusing Caro, but not half as confusing as trying to follow your pronouncements and make any sense of them, let alone connect them to reality ...

Demons found guilty, fined

"It was that meeting which appears to have provided the best and most damaging evidence of what former Demon Brock McLean declared last year ''Blind Freddie'' could see. That Melbourne had deliberately lost games of football."

Wait, what?

No more pretence she jut straight out lies now. What say you Fanbob still he best around?

From CW's article:

Or the political context in which this whole saga has been played out. The Demons also fought for Cameron Schwab not to be charged and in the end McLachlan admitted there was not sufficient evidence to do so despite some strong opinion to the contrary.

What a low piece of work she is. Written to imply he said all that, even including the bit in bold! He didn't even say anything about not enough evidence that I can recall. Just said there was NO evidence or somesuch words.

I seriously dislike that woman even more. She calls us rabid well the sarcasm drips throughout her latest effort - with regard to CS she says " that GMc admitted that there was not sufficient evidence to do so despite some strong opinion to the contrary".She could not let it go. Surely CS has ample claim against her.

I think the only other football media "persons" I dislike as much would be dWayne R and Denham.

I'm glad this is over and as our glorious leader Juuliaaa says we can now move forward.

Dear Caro

Demons found innocent, CS cleared, you are irrelevant! Oh the joy

This is what happens when ego clouds one's perception of reality...

To be fair, this does smell of a bit of a political deal. That being said, the final outcome said Melbourne didn't set out to lose in 2009.

I have thought a bit about Caro and her 'form' recently and this entire fiasco has made me change my view of her permanently. I really sympathize with North supporters after reading her diatribes over the last few months. On occasion, she has written quality pieces i.e. Carlton's self destruction at the start of the 00's and more recently, her piece(s) on the lead up to 186. However, for some reason, she gets a 'set' against certain people and will never let go. It's all about ego over objectivity. I'm not sure what is powering it.