I wasn't referring to you or I would have been able to spell reining-in correctly. Sorry 55 to deflate your tyres.

Sorry to rain on your parade Sue, but I'm the only poster to refer to the club reining Chris Connolly in, so some recollection issues seem to be reigning your mind.

Yeah, because a bunch of half wits over at bigfooty think we're getting off lightly we should just accept punishment.

Keyboard warrior is defeatist roll-over in the real world. Lol who woulda thunk it?

Sorry to rain on your parade Sue, but I'm the only poster to refer to the club reining Chris Connolly in, so some recollection issues seem to be reigning your mind.

Sorry to rain on your parade Sue, but I'm the only poster to refer to the club reining Chris Connolly in, so some recollection issues seem to be reigning your mind.

Gosh, I didn't know it was possible to patent the word reining. How much do I owe you for usage rights? I just hope you are joking.

Wow, first time I have ventured over to Bigfooty and I thought here got willing sometimes. That place is brutal. Don't think I'll wander back anytime soon

That's what I was trying to explain to Sue and others. This is a tremendous outcome for the club. It's not the best outcome, but we're not privy to all of the evidence. It's certainly not worth going to court over.

I'm not sure why I get mentioned. I haven't said go to court. I just raised some issues about putting your faith in Bigfooty as a guage of public perceptions. I recall you yourself mocked posters here as being unrepresentative of wider Demonic opinion. Surprised that Bigfooty is more reliable.

I repeat, potential sponsors are likely to do their own research on public perceptions of MFC.

That's what I was trying to explain to Sue and others. This is a tremendous outcome for the club. It's not the best outcome, but we're not privy to all of the evidence. It's certainly not worth going to court over.

Wrong, this outcome has the potential to destroy the Club. It's gaming licences for the pokey machines at The Bentleigh Club and Oakleigh are the foundation of it's financial future. It has inherited a $5mill debt on The Bentleigh Club which is ok for the value of the site with the pokies. This debt is being serviced by the pokies. If the Club is held to have been guilty of tanking which is regarded as match fixing by the gaming authorities it can be stripped of its licences. This will cut off the financial viability of the Club going forward but more seriously it will have a huge impact on the value of the Bentleigh Club. I don't know how much but it will be worthless to the Club without the pokey machines.

The commercial damage to the Club probably can't even be estimated. What sponsors are going to want to be associated with a Club found guilty of match fixing. It could wipe out sponsorship now and in the future for the Club. McLardy in his earlier statement mentioned how much damage the investigation has already been to the Club. Caroline Wilson understand this is to sponsorships etc.

I don't believe if these are the consequences that the Club has any choice but to take it to the Courts. It's not about the $500,000, it's about the potential existence of the Club. It might be over $10million. The Directors can't allow the Club to continue if it isn't financially viable or they can be personally liable for it's debts. They have indicated that their legal advice is the charges won't stand up in court and I have little doubt about that.

Let's hope some sanity from the AFL prevails here and they realise these issues. It would be their responsibility if they leave the Club with no choice but to have to go to court.

If they are found guilty I wonder if we are going to hear anything from C Wilson about CarlTank, WestToast, Pies, Saints etc. If she has any credibility as a journalist she should be impartial which means bring it on for everyone.

Wow, first time I have ventured over to Bigfooty and I thought here got willing sometimes. That place is brutal. Don't think I'll wander back anytime soon

Better keep away from bumberblitz too - apparently totally un-moderated and crawling with monosyllabic neanderthals - LOL

CW is full of sh!t, again another article which says nothing concrete

Lots of we understand/it is likely/ appears to all code for I have NFI. This is another of The Age's rumours masquerading as breaking news. Chuck in a couple of informed guesses and rehash points that have already been written and voila. Lucky they covered themselves by saying "allegedly" isn't it, seem their legal team is switched on.

Wrong, this outcome has the potential to destroy the Club. It's gaming licences for the pokey machines at The Bentleigh Club and Oakleigh are the foundation of it's financial future. It has inherited a $5mill debt on The Bentleigh Club which is ok for the value of the site with the pokies. This debt is being serviced by the pokies. If the Club is held to have been guilty of tanking which is regarded as match fixing by the gaming authorities it can be stripped of its licences. This will cut off the financial viability of the Club going forward but more seriously it will have a huge impact on the value of the Bentleigh Club. I don't know how much but it will be worthless to the Club without the pokey machines.

The commercial damage to the Club probably can't even be estimated. What sponsors are going to want to be associated with a Club found guilty of match fixing. It could wipe out sponsorship now and in the future for the Club. McLardy in his earlier statement mentioned how much damage the investigation has already been to the Club. Caroline Wilson understand this is to sponsorships etc.

I don't believe if these are the consequences that the Club has any choice but to take it to the Courts. It's not about the $500,000, it's about the potential existence of the Club. It might be over $10million. The Directors can't allow the Club to continue if it isn't financially viable or they can be personally liable for it's debts.

The clubs not getting charged with match fixing, CC and DB are facing seperate charges, match fixing is players deliberatley throwing games, that didnt happen.

I'm not sure why I get mentioned. I haven't said go to court. I just raised some issues about putting your faith in Bigfooty as a guage of public perceptions. I recall you yourself mocked posters here as being unrepresentative of wider Demonic opinion. Surprised that Bigfooty is more reliable.

I repeat, potential sponsors are likely to do their own research on public perceptions of MFC.

Because I said that most other supporters would think we'd been kissed on the dick and you wanted to know why I was interested in their views. It was to provide balance and show many here what the broader footy populace thinks.

Whether people want to belittle Bigfooty, or not, it gives a very good perspective of what many opposing supporters think. It's a microcosm of the fanatical supporter. However, I will agree that the fanatical supporter makes up a small population of the general football loving public, which is why I think this will blow over reasonably quickly.

Btw, I see that people are no longer talking about Demetriou and his role in this. I stated tens of pages ago that he made it clear that he was at arms length with regards to this and was told that wouldn't be right.

Clearly it was.

The clubs not getting charged with match fixing, CC and DB are facing seperate charges, match fixing is players deliberatley throwing games, that didnt happen.

Surely match fixing can be done by other means than the players deliberately throwing a game.

What actual charge do you think DB might be facing?

Bringing the game into disrepute? What can he have done to bring the game into disrepute other than doing things to deliberately lose games?

Wrong, this outcome has the potential to destroy the Club. It's gaming licences for the pokey machines at The Bentleigh Club and Oakleigh are the foundation of it's financial future. It has inherited a $5mill debt on The Bentleigh Club which is ok for the value of the site with the pokies. This debt is being serviced by the pokies. If the Club is held to have been guilty of tanking which is regarded as match fixing by the gaming authorities it can be stripped of its licences. This will cut off the financial viability of the Club going forward but more seriously it will have a huge impact on the value of the Bentleigh Club. I don't know how much but it will be worthless to the Club without the pokey machines.

The commercial damage to the Club probably can't even be estimated. What sponsors are going to want to be associated with a Club found guilty of match fixing. It could wipe out sponsorship now and in the future for the Club. McLardy in his earlier statement mentioned how much damage the investigation has already been to the Club. Caroline Wilson understand this is to sponsorships etc.

I don't believe if these are the consequences that the Club has any choice but to take it to the Courts. It's not about the $500,000, it's about the potential existence of the Club. It might be over $10million. The Directors can't allow the Club to continue if it isn't financially viable or they can be personally liable for it's debts. They have indicated that their legal advice is the charges won't stand up in court and I have little doubt about that.

Let's hope some sanity from the AFL prevails here and they realise these issues. It would be their responsibility if they leave the Club with no choice but to have to go to court.

If they are found guilty I wonder if we are going to hear anything from C Wilson about CarlTank, WestToast, Pies, Saints etc. If she has any credibility as a journalist she should be impartial which means bring it on for everyone.

It's my understanding that the Bentleigh Club debt was around $1.9m not $5m.

Anyway we haven't been given any official ruling on this, only Wilson's watered down wish list.

Surely match fixing can be done by other means than the players deliberately throwing a game.

What actual charge do you think DB might be facing?

Bringing the game into disrepute? What can he have done to bring the game into disrepute other than doing things to deliberately lose games?

I was told that DB is facing a charge of disrepute for not reporting CC comments, the Afl has a thin line on match fixing, its players losing games on purpose,you cant charge people with match fixing if the players went out to win, i think Dm explained it well in his statement the other night, they were never getting investigated for match fixing.

Wrong, this outcome has the potential to destroy the Club. It's gaming licences for the pokey machines at The Bentleigh Club and Oakleigh are the foundation of it's financial future. It has inherited a $5mill debt on The Bentleigh Club which is ok for the value of the site with the pokies. This debt is being serviced by the pokies. If the Club is held to have been guilty of tanking which is regarded as match fixing by the gaming authorities it can be stripped of its licences. This will cut off the financial viability of the Club going forward but more seriously it will have a huge impact on the value of the Bentleigh Club. I don't know how much but it will be worthless to the Club without the pokey machines.

The commercial damage to the Club probably can't even be estimated. What sponsors are going to want to be associated with a Club found guilty of match fixing. It could wipe out sponsorship now and in the future for the Club. McLardy in his earlier statement mentioned how much damage the investigation has already been to the Club. Caroline Wilson understand this is to sponsorships etc.

I don't believe if these are the consequences that the Club has any choice but to take it to the Courts. It's not about the $500,000, it's about the potential existence of the Club. It might be over $10million. The Directors can't allow the Club to continue if it isn't financially viable or they can be personally liable for it's debts. They have indicated that their legal advice is the charges won't stand up in court and I have little doubt about that.

Let's hope some sanity from the AFL prevails here and they realise these issues. It would be their responsibility if they leave the Club with no choice but to have to go to court.

If they are found guilty I wonder if we are going to hear anything from C Wilson about CarlTank, WestToast, Pies, Saints etc. If she has any credibility as a journalist she should be impartial which means bring it on for everyone.

I'm certain the club will negotiate an outcome where their assets won't be put at risk. Or do you think that they wouldn't have thought about all that ?

That's what I was trying to explain to Sue and others. This is a tremendous outcome for the club. It's not the best outcome, but we're not privy to all of the evidence. It's certainly not worth going to court over.

This is my only concern, however if the AFL have pulled back to the charge and punishment position that's being put forward now, it is most likely because the MFC have taken a hard line & legal approach.

If the AFL's position will not be supported in a court of law (and that seems to be the consensus from those who should know) then I don't see why we wouldn't go to court. I said in an earlier post, I would rather spend $500,000 on an open & shut legal argument than pay a fine to those ass-hats at the AFL.

CW and others say that we tanked because there is a large part of the footy public that think so, and we only won four games and we lost one game by playing players out of position.

I would say that you should never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

The clubs not getting charged with match fixing, CC and DB are facing seperate charges, match fixing is players deliberatley throwing games, that didnt happen.

That's what must be sorted with the AFL, with full recourse back to them for loss of income should the sanctions/penalties, whatever, end up in a far bigger league and subsequently effecting our future cash flows and our ability to earn income.

So

"Let's hope some sanity from the AFL prevails here and they realise these issues. It would be their responsibility if they leave the Club with no choice but to have to go to court."

Well, we haven't seen it yet from the AFL, but the jury is still out and its Gillon's first time up at bat

I was told that DB is facing a charge of disrepute for not reporting CC comments, the Afl has a thin line on match fixing, its players losing games on purpose,you cant charge people with match fixing if the players went out to win, i think Dm explained it well in his statement the other night, they were never getting investigated for match fixing.

I agree we probably aren't going to get charged with match fixing. I'd have thought not reporting illegal behaviour should be covered by some specific rule. Bringing the game into disrepute is a very broad thing - the tool of dictators. Surely everyone with an official position in one of the many rooms where CC is alleged to have sad naughty things would also have to be charged if DB is.

Wow, first time I have ventured over to Bigfooty and I thought here got willing sometimes. That place is brutal. Don't think I'll wander back anytime soon

You're talking about Neanderthals who mostly have no idea of the facts or issues. If you want a definition of groupthink, it's all there.

If there was any shred of evidence that we had breached rule 19(A5) or whatever it is, Caro would have been all over it and the AFL would have had our slacks down long ago. Basically, the negotiations may have gone like this condensed version:

AFL: "We don't like what you did in 2009, here are some draft and monetary penalties."

MFC: "On the basis of what evidence?"

AFL: "Chris Connolly's lame joke book".

MFC: "We'll see you in court. You do realise, you can't win this case in a court of law don't you?"

AFL: "Monetary penalties then, and some slaps for some clowns we don't like. Don't worry, we'll give you the money back at the next handout".

MFC: "We want complete exoneration. This whole thing is a farce. We can't lose this in court."

AFL: "How would you enjoy the nice surrounds of Darwin on Queens Birthday weekend, and two games against the top five every year for the next twenty years?"

MFC: "We'll take the cash thanks."

Surely whatever is officially handed down next week is done with MFC approval after lengthy negotiation.

You're talking about Neanderthals who mostly have no idea of the facts or issues. If you want a definition of groupthink, it's all there.

They're simply a microcosm of society and fanatical footy supporters.

.............we haven't been given any official ruling on this, only Wilson's watered down wish list.

This the whole point: 99% of coverage/opinion/reporting on this issue has been by CW.

Jon Ralph gives a very different slant on things. VERY different indeed.

They're simply a microcosm of society and fanatical footy supporters.

make that a picrocosm and i'll agree. if they are a microcosm, forget global warming, we are doomed

This the whole point: 99% of coverage/opinion/reporting on this issue has been by CW.

Jon Ralph gives a very different slant on things. VERY different indeed.

really? as for charges/punishment say much the same, albeit without the vitriol

i suspect he cherry picked his version direct from kero's copy

really? as for charges/punishment say much the same, albeit without the vitriol

i suspect he cherry picked his version direct from kero's copy

I tend to agree with that, it seems that all the rest of the sloppy journalists are just cutting and pasting with a few embellishments here and there.

"There's today's column and I haven't had to leave the bedroom".