This post demonstrates everything that's frustrating about this sordid episode. The club is, despite what the media is saying, not guilty of anything. It may or may not be found guilty in the future of something it may or may not be charged with but for the time being the presumption of innocence applies.

And for your information, in the event that some court, tribunal or other body hears charges and makes a finding that the "weight of evidence is not sufficient to prove tanking" then it will be a finding of "not guilty".

This I advise.

My brief fee is £250.

Thank you.

Well done, a posthumous advice.

We don't need to be exonerated. Just no charges laid will do me fine.

I'm with you..an "its all too hard" will do just fine

Roos get a gentle rap over the knuckles for the Hansen thing - a $20,000 fine for not being cooperative. I like the part where: there was..."insufficient evidence to substantiate a breach of the rules in regards to the treatment of Hansen". North have apologised and put processes in place to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Read more: http://www.theage.co...l#ixzz2BhV7hlyA

On this basis, re the MFC related (tanking) investigation, I am expecting (hoping) the AFL will say: '...there was no evidence that Melbourne players were instructed to not try to win games and there was insufficient evidence to conclude that the coach(es) did anything more than list management which all clubs do when no longer in contention for the finals. The rules will now be further tightened to ensure that (tanking) accusations such as these do not recur...' The AFL might apply a fine but not sure what it would be for...face saving maybe.

Can live with a fine even if it is at the high five/low six figure range.

Edited November 9, 201212 yr by Lucifer's Hero

How is she who must be obeyed by the way?

Thank you for asking. She's on life support.

Can live with a fine even if it is at the high five/low six figure range.

Bugger that, the AFL should be paying us for being the media fall guys for their dumb ass rules around the priority pick.

They laid out the bowl of cream, we're just the latest cat to wander by for a taste.

Thank you for asking. She's on life support.

"I will speak daggers to her, but use none". - (Hamlet Quote Act III, Sc. II)

Can live with a fine even if it is at the high five/low six figure range.

this i wouldnt accept personally.. its either their fault...or its their fault.

None of this..."but we need to fine you anyways sh!t!! "

A sport's journalist left both the Herald Sun and The Age in some form of protest about integrity of journalism at both major papers.

That person was Trevor Grant, who reported on AFL, Golf and Cricket. Perhaps he was sacked and made up that story.

Anyone know?

It's gone full circle. Crikey.com has today published the following in its Tips and Rumours section (it's possibly behind a paywall):

"Demon trolls rally against Caro. The Age's chief football scribe Caroline Wilson has gone hard on the off-field troubles of the Melbourne Demons. In the darker reaches of the internet the club's fans are hitting back, opening "The Wilson File" to compile all her apparently unfair criticisms of the club. It's extensive, certainly, but they're getting a little feral ..."

trolls? darker reaches of the internet? a little feral? ...what the...

This is fantastic and surely a sign of better things for the Melbourne Football Club. Forget the sheer ignorance about the meaning of the word "troll". For the first time in my living memory, Demon fans are being looked upon as "ferals" - we've joined the great toothless masses, never again to be looked upon as inhabitants of ski lodges, cigar smoking denizens of the Army & Navy Club and partakers of high tea on Sunday afternoons. We've broken out of the private schoolboy mould and can now proudly join the ranks of the football proletariat, ruffians saying and doing the unspeakable.

Thanks Crikey for liberating us from a lifetime of being recognised only as genteel wimps. We're now officially "ferals" and we're out to get anyone who tries to stand between us and the premiership. Anyone who's been to training lately can see that it's rubbing off on our players too - look at them. No more nancy boys and it's a prerequisite for all in the Demon army to be "feral". Even Jack Watts will be on carry over points in 2013!

This is fantastic and surely a sign of better things for the Melbourne Football Club. Forget the sheer ignorance about the meaning of the word "troll". For the first time in my living memory, Demon fans are being looked upon as "ferals" - we've joined the great toothless masses, never again to be looked upon as inhabitants of ski lodges, cigar smoking denizens of the Army & Navy Club and partakers of high tea on Sunday afternoons. We've broken out of the private schoolboy mould and can now proudly join the ranks of the football proletariat, ruffians saying and doing the unspeakable.

Thanks Crikey for liberating us from a lifetime of being recognised only as genteel wimps. We're now officially "ferals" and we're out to get anyone who tries to stand between us and the premiership. Anyone who's been to training lately can see that it's rubbing off on our players too - look at them. at them. No more nancy boys and it's a prerequisite for all in the Demon army to be "feral". Even Jack Watts will be on carry over points in 2013!

I say....jolly good show eh what !!!

I mean..you f*#ken beaudy !!

I always thought you to be a leader amonst ferals WJ ;-)

Love the work D'Landers

Incidentally, be on the lookout for another tanking inquiry beat up about to hit the news. It's about the strong arm tactics used by the UN investigator running the show warning Melbourne employees who know stuff all about anything much that they had to co-operate with the investigation. Adds nothing at all but fills space for the punters to read about things less morbid than the Aussie bowlers being mauled up at the Gabba.

My take on the use of the strong arm tactics used by the UN investigator is that it's a response to strong arm tactics being employed on the AFL by gambling industry watchdogs.

And while we're at it, can anyone shed some light on this?

Grant Thomas - Wikipedia

In 2007, Thomas was hired as a columnist for The Age and his columns appeared every Sunday until he was sacked on the 19 July 2008 after an argument with the chief of football, Caroline Wilson, because Thomas had accused Wilson of being a liar on radio station SEN 1116. This led to Wilson having Thomas fired.

Why on earth would Grant Thomas call Wilson a liar?

Bugger that, the AFL should be paying us for being the media fall guys for their dumb ass rules around the priority pick.

They laid out the bowl of cream, we're just the latest cat to wander by for a taste.

Love the prose! That is a Cheshire cat I assume!

An innuendo is an Italian supposition.

I think the word you were thinking of is suppository! Which, in the context of the subject of this thread, maybe not entirely inappropriate.

Incidentally, be on the lookout for another tanking inquiry beat up about to hit the news. It's about the strong arm tactics used by the UN investigator running the show warning Melbourne employees who know stuff all about anything much that they had to co-operate with the investigation. Adds nothing at all but fills space for the punters to read about things less morbid than the Aussie bowlers being mauled up at the Gabba.

My take on the use of the strong arm tactics used by the UN investigator is that it's a response to strong arm tactics being employed on the AFL by gambling industry watchdogs.

I like strong arm tactics, reads coercion all the way to dismissal of the case.

PS Probably the same strong arm tactics used on the 'roos. Boy were they shaking.

I'm hoping she's been reined in by the editor, following a flood of emails promising to boycott The Age whilst she remains.

4 of those from me.

Since this effort I have not purchased the Age and I doubt i ever will again

That was a play on the word supposition that was used in reference to the gorgon.

wilson appears to me to be one of those people that you cannot argue with. no matter how much evidence you provide, to the extent of being obviously 100% correct, she will disagree with you and twist everyones words to suit herself. these people are in need of help.

wilson appears to me to be one of those people that you cannot argue with. no matter how much evidence you provide, to the extent of being obviously 100% correct, she will disagree with you and twist everyones words to suit herself. these people are in need of help.

Love to see her going head to head with KB.

wilson appears to me to be one of those people that you cannot argue with. no matter how much evidence you provide, to the extent of being obviously 100% correct, she will disagree with you and twist everyones words to suit herself. these people are in need of help.

Begs the question "how does a person so stubborn become Chief Football Writer"?

Although that title is misleading. When has Wilson ever written about a game?

She prefers to lurk in the offices ...

i decided ages ago that she has obviously never been part of a team - she picks up on stuff and makes a big deal out of things that a team player would shrug their shoulders at.

i dont have an example but as someone who works closely in a team professionally every day and also has played team sports since the age of 8, i wouldnt want her in my team for anything.

Great thread. Love it.

Crikey can get stuffed.

Great thread. Love it.

Crikey can get stuffed.

Is that the sort of language a troll would use? Or a feral? I get so confused. And here in the darker reaches it's hard to tell the difference.

Anyone got a torch?

wilson appears to me to be one of those people that you cannot argue with. no matter how much evidence you provide, to the extent of being obviously 100% correct, she will disagree with you and twist everyones words to suit herself. these people are in need of help.

"Now you're just arguing semantics"

The last roll of the dice for a lost argument.

No Caro, not semantics...Facts...

wilson appears to me to be one of those people that you cannot argue with. no matter how much evidence you provide, to the extent of being obviously 100% correct, she will disagree with you and twist everyones words to suit herself. these people are in need of help.

Kevin Bartlett's sister.