The brief to Ray Finkelstein QC: what does it mean for the MFC?

[Redleg 41,759]

Anyway I still think we should have rookied him rather than blow pick 126. What was Prendergast thinking?

On BP's track record I would have preferred Finkelstein to have done our drafting.

[picket fence 17,746]

For those who don't know Ray, he is the size of Paul Callery with an intellect the size of Aaron Sandilands.

I think you are compromising Dr. Paul Callery Senior lecturer sports and exercise scientist and well known Humanitarian.

He is a very smart and lucid man.

[dee-luded 2,959]

He is very impressive from this reading ... Judge who set the pace for the law

Has a cavalier bit of mongrel in him, too. I liked this bit ... "There is a blazing streak of defiance about Finkelstein ... of his student years he says, "I was rebellious, I was regarded as the worst kid in the school." ''I hated being told what to do. I hated authority.''

AFL take note.

I like him already.

[DeeZee 7,445]

Any chance we can sue Wilson for defamation?

[dee-luded 2,959]

I hear The Finks have to pay rent on the use of his nickname.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Any chance we can sue Wilson for defamation?

don't shoot the messenger, when you can cook the goose.

[dee-luded 2,959]

hope he's not one of those skinny private school basket-baller types

you may have missed the point of that term daisy

[Frenzy Mckenzie 61]

The old man used to brief him and also opposed him in court a few times, when I told him he was repping the dees he was stoked, says he is a very very clever guy - at least the club is leaving no stone unturned in mounting a defence.

[Carrot Top 947]

Or? How about we get the Catholic Church to run the enquiry?

I don't think that letting them decide the fate of the kids of the 2013 draft is a very good idea.

[P-man 13,366]

I'm all in favour of having someone with his obvious credentials on our side, but it's worth reiterating the dangers of biting the hand that feeds you. We take the AFL to court and this thing turns into a whole new type of cluster f***. The club needs to carefully weigh up the decision and any penalties before beginning to consider legal steps.

Fortunately I think this may be moot. I'm getting the sense the AFL's case is increasingly starting to resemble a block of swiss cheese. Having investigators that allegedly threaten witnesses if they don't talk is the last thing they needed.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

don't shoot the messenger, when you can cook the goose.

Dee-luded- I think this should be posted on the mixed metaphor thread. It's a winner!

[dee-luded 2,959]

I'm all in favour of having someone with his obvious credentials on our side, but it's worth reiterating the dangers of biting the hand that feeds you. We take the AFL to court and this thing turns into a whole new type of cluster f***. The club needs to carefully weigh up the decision and any penalties before beginning to consider legal steps.

Fortunately I think this may be moot. I'm getting the sense the AFL's case is increasingly starting to resemble a block of swiss cheese. Having investigators that allegedly threaten witnesses if they don't talk is the last thing they needed.

do we bow down or do we stand tall, & look to get some representation on the commission itself.

Its time to decide whether we'll be perennial peasants or proud participants.

"Melbourne has to work out what it stands for",,,,,, I seem to remember those words.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Is it Finks?

[Brian Wilson 331]

Mitch's new tattoo.

Gotta say that I'm a bit worried about how the big man has let himself go. Misson will be onto him.

[DeeZee 7,445]

It's time to fight!

On and off the field.

No more nice guys and whipping boys.

I don't care what anyone thinks of us....time to get tough and do some whipping of our own.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I'm all in favour of having someone with his obvious credentials on our side, but it's worth reiterating the dangers of biting the hand that feeds you. We take the AFL to court and this thing turns into a whole new type of cluster f***. The club needs to carefully weigh up the decision and any penalties before beginning to consider legal steps.

Fortunately I think this may be moot. I'm getting the sense the AFL's case is increasingly starting to resemble a block of swiss cheese. Having investigators that allegedly threaten witnesses if they don't talk is the last thing they needed.

More like "don't say what they are told to say".

[Guest José Mourinho]

I just love that his father's name is "Wolf".

[Guest NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

I move that we put him up on the Demonland banner as the straight replacement for Jurrah.

[dee-luded 2,959]

I move that we put him up on the Demonland banner as the straight replacement for Jurrah.

such a placid looking character

[darkhorse72 1,925]

I can just imagine Caroline Wilson reporting "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition"

But beware of the "comfy chair" it always breaks them

[praha 11,240]

If the Fink's grossly dysfunctional recommendations as to new media in the media inquiry earlier this year are anything to go by, the club has nothing to worry about.

[Tassie Devil 28]

Wasn't Vizard one of ours? Could this be the start of further internal turmoil?

[DemonWorshipper 304]

Wasn't Vizard one of ours? Could this be the start of further internal turmoil?

I'm pretty sure Vizard is a Dawks man.

[pitmaster 3,588]

I'm all in favour of having someone with his obvious credentials on our side, but it's worth reiterating the dangers of biting the hand that feeds you. We take the AFL to court and this thing turns into a whole new type of cluster f***. The club needs to carefully weigh up the decision and any penalties before beginning to consider legal steps.

I'd agree with you except that hiring Finklestein is not about going to court. It's about getting a forensic legal mind to assess and unpick the bs case being compiled by the investigators, putting it in context eg: there is equal evidence against Carlton if Caro's standard is taken into account, yet no action taken.

Getting Finklestein is a shot across the bows intended to avoid anything in a courtroom which would be an absolute last resort. That is not how the AFL works. They like their own kangaroo court, thanks very much.

As to the investigators threatening witnesses - or reminding them of their obligations - that's pretty standard conduct. I don't think that undermines their case necessarily, unless witnesses can be shown to have made admissions under duress. But then if those admissions are confirmed elsewhere they are on strong ground.

It's the lack of evidence, the reliance on four year old memory and general lack of specific actions that shows the flimsiness of their case. But being judge jury and executioner, the AFL can still do as it pleases. Does it feel it must be seen to do something because of the toxic environment The Age has created? That's the big unknown.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,950]

I want to see this thing go to trial just so's we can see Finkelstein call Prendergast to the stand. Wouldn't that be something.

I want to see how the Herald Sun put Finkelstein and Prendergast into a single headline. They'll need to go broadsheet.

(Makes me wonder what thy would have done with Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern, too.)