Melbourne escapes penalties ahead of next week's draft, but AFL comes down heavily on Crows

This was from the Herald Sun so did CW miss something re Crows?

Most of the article is about Crows and just the start is re Melbourne.

Good news for this year, but this is worrying; does everyone except Melbourne supporters know what's going on? Either the investigators, or some previous Melbourne staff are leaking like a sieve, how does Jon Ralph know we face unprecedented penalties?

The Demons still face unprecedented penalties but investigations into its alleged tanking strategy in 2009 are continuing.

It seems funny that CW on spoke of the Crows in her exclusive but the herald sun had both about Crows facing the AFL on monday and Melbourne , maybe she not getting told everything anymore ??

Good news for this year, but this is worrying; does everyone except Melbourne supporters know what's going on? Either the investigators, or some previous Melbourne staff are leaking like a sieve, how does Jon Ralph know we face unprecedented penalties?

The Demons still face unprecedented penalties but investigations into its alleged tanking strategy in 2009 are continuing.

The penalties, should charges of 'tanking' be proven, will be unprecedented because no club has previously been found guilty of under-performing.

Good news for this year, but this is worrying; does everyone except Melbourne supporters know what's going on? Either the investigators, or some previous Melbourne staff are leaking like a sieve, how does Jon Ralph know we face unprecedented penalties?

The Demons still face unprecedented penalties but investigations into its alleged tanking strategy in 2009 are continuing.

That's journalist speak for 'we don't know what's happening but it might be big'.

If we are found guilty of an offence, the idea that the punishment will be severe is nothing new. It's what everyone's been saying, or at least thinking.

Fact is, he's speculating on what might happen, but as per usual, no one actually knows, so let's all calm down.

Never looked like the investigation would be finalised this side of the draft (turns out it was media hyperbole...are we surprised?) and this without acknowledging that the MFC will want to test the weight of any AFL evidence through the courts. A given since the AFL appear to have lots of innuendo but no evidence?

Adelaide on the other hand have a paper trail and contracts to be hung with!

Good news for this year, but this is worrying; does everyone except Melbourne supporters know what's going on? Either the investigators, or some previous Melbourne staff are leaking like a sieve, how does Jon Ralph know we face unprecedented penalties?

The Demons still face unprecedented penalties but investigations into its alleged tanking strategy in 2009 are continuing.

Talk about guilty before being proven innocent. Where has natural justice gone?

Good news for this year, but this is worrying; does everyone except Melbourne supporters know what's going on? Either the investigators, or some previous Melbourne staff are leaking like a sieve, how does Jon Ralph know we face unprecedented penalties?

The Demons still face unprecedented penalties but investigations into its alleged tanking strategy in 2009 are continuing.

Because there's no precedent for it....

That's journalist speak for 'we don't know what's happening but it might be big'.

If we are found guilty of an offence, the idea that the punishment will be severe is nothing new. It's what everyone's been saying, or at least thinking.

Fact is, he's speculating on what might happen, but as per usual, no one actually knows, so let's all calm down.

Agree - no cause for despair here

Unprecedented = never happened before............might mean penalties for individuals rather than the club.?

The fact that we are clear for this draft is a good start !!

Good news for this year, but this is worrying; does everyone except Melbourne supporters know what's going on? Either the investigators, or some previous Melbourne staff are leaking like a sieve, how does Jon Ralph know we face unprecedented penalties?

The Demons still face unprecedented penalties but investigations into its alleged tanking strategy in 2009 are continuing.

I don't think he does. Watch their headlines gradually change over next few weeks.

How can we face unprecedented charges / penalties, when it's all "alleged"...?

At this point it's a journalist using colourful expressions, with no evidence to support his claim.

Good news for this year, but this is worrying; does everyone except Melbourne supporters know what's going on? Either the investigators, or some previous Melbourne staff are leaking like a sieve, how does Jon Ralph know we face unprecedented penalties?

The Demons still face unprecedented penalties but investigations into its alleged tanking strategy in 2009 are continuing.

Most likely the AFL - remember Misfit / Davey / Neeld?? The huge unacceptable leak that Mr Andrew D Integrity just brushed aside.

But it is stating the bleeding obvious that, were a charge of tanking to be for the first time seriously investigated, and guilt proven beyond reasonable doubt, assuming that an "offence" can be defined, then any penalty, even a one cent penalty, would by necessity be "unprecedented"!!!!!

What level of "proof" has to be met if we are to be found guilty of anything. Is it "beyond reasonable doubt" or "balance of probabilities" or simply in the opinion of the investigators. I have never seen anything which says what the hurdle is.

Or do the AFL just make it up as they go along?

Fcuk yeah.

Great news for us for this year. And what i always suspected would happen because it was simply going to be far too messy for the AFL if they went pre-draft before they had all (any) of their ducks lined up- legal action against any decision was/is almost guaranteed and the AFL didn't want the sh1tstorm that would have followed if a pre-draft ruling was made.

This allows it to go into next year if necessary from an AFL perspective to ensure they have exhausted every angle but also allows sufficient time for a Melbourne response and any subsequent court action.

If it even gets that far of course...

Edited November 12, 201212 yr by Grandson of a gun

Agree - no cause for despair here

Unprecedented = never happened before............might mean penalties for individuals rather than the club.?

The fact that we are clear for this draft is a good start !!

Might mean the other List Managers from other clubs who have, 'cough',,,, List Managed they're way thru a List rebuild,,, haven't been punished... Yet???

Unprecedented!

so we may be penalised for list managing - unprecedented

Caro wrote about Adelaide on the age website and must have spoken about it on sports today on 3aw. The AFL have charged Tippet and Adelaide because they obviously have all the evidence they need. Whereas they probably still have heaps to do with our case. I wonder what Tippet will cop.

But its a relief that we have our draft picks for next week. I did start to feel nervous when stories went around that Viney would be taken off us as well as pick 4.

Interesting that there hasn't been much more said about us. Players must have stopped talking.

What level of "proof" has to be met if we are to be found guilty of anything. Is it "beyond reasonable doubt" or "balance of probabilities" or simply in the opinion of the investigators. I have never seen anything which says what the hurdle is.

Or do the AFL just make it up as they go along?

That's one of the reasons we've already already raised the question of natural justice ................ and why the lawyers are waiting in the wings

Great news to hear that we'll keep pick 4 (hopefully Wines!)

There is a god

Caro wrote about Adelaide on the age website and must have spoken about it on sports today on 3aw. The AFL have charged Tippet and Adelaide because they obviously have all the evidence they need. Whereas they probably still have heaps to do with our case. I wonder what Tippet will cop.

But its a relief that we have our draft picks for next week. I did start to feel nervous when stories went around that Viney would be taken off us as well as pick 4.

Interesting that there hasn't been much more said about us. Players must have stopped talking.

The likes of Ralph, Robinson, Clark, Wilson and Denham have been spruiking most probable sanctions and the most likely event of loss of our first two draft picks this year.

Egg. On. Face.

Sensationalism. Stay tuned for more.

Pretty much what we should be expecting at this point....nothing.

To be followed by more of same.

A lot of chest puffing and articulting of nonsenses still to happen.......then more nothing. That is nothing dressed up as something to sate some of the baying rabble.

un·prec·e·dent·ed/ˌənˈpresəˌdəntid/

Adjective: Never done or known before.

In other words Jon Ralph has got no idea

Pardon me but I don't see how this means we have escaped penalties ahead of this years NAB draft? Didn't Carlton find out they were loosing picks 3 days before?

What this also says is the AFL is running the show and not any trumped up trollops from the media.

Pardon me but I don't see how this means we have escaped penalties ahead of this years NAB draft? Didn't Carlton find out they were loosing picks 3 days before?

Clubs get seven days to respond to charges. No charges yet against Melb, and won't be any before next commission meeting at the earliest. As that's next Monday, no time for us to have our 7 days before the draft.

As above, think this will play out more around Xmas time.

Come on down, Ollie Wines.

Fcs theres some chicken little worry warts amongst us.

Can the MFCSS just grow some