Now that the finals position is allowed to be changed by North, as sanctioned by the AFL, in total breach of the AFL Rules, Melbourne should seek a full exoneration, refund of fine money paid, exoneration of Bailey and Connolly and an apology for the misery the whole saga brought to us, together with full compensation. How many sponsors did we lose? How many members, etc ?

Perhaps a PP or 5 to make up for the damage the whole saga caused would be acceptable to the Club and full exoneration of everyone concerned.

Clearly the North Officials have discussed the resting of players and the effect it would have on the finals and where they are played and against who. That is all the AFL found we did, not Tank but discuss not playing our best team. Everyone agrees the players did their best on the day. Connolly and Bailey were vilified as a result, Connolly was run out of the game and Bailey died with a stain on his character, the club was tarnished and suffered untold damage.

The AFL says all that is now legal.

We need compensation for that damage, from the party who caused it, the AFL. Clearly we did nothing wrong and were cleared of tanking anyway.

Pretend we are a strong club and stand up for ourselves. At the very least leak the idea to the media, that we are considering it.

Cue Damian Barrett with the 'exclusive.'

We were found not guilty remember...

We were found not guilty remember...

Of tanking, but were found guilty of discussing it.

yeah nah.. let's not dredge up our disgraceful past again

we clearly did tank

we clearly were one of the worst sides ever

we clearly institued a loser's culture through this

we clearly screwed up the advantage of the high picks anyway

would rather not remind everybody about that lovely little period in our history from which we are still struggling to recover

Now that the finals position is allowed to be changed by North, as sanctioned by the AFL, in total breach of the AFL Rules, Melbourne should seek a full exoneration, refund of fine money paid, exoneration of Bailey and Connolly and an apology for the misery the whole saga brought to us, together with full compensation. How many sponsors did we lose? How many members, etc ?

Perhaps a PP or 5 to make up for the damage the whole saga caused would be acceptable to the Club and full exoneration of everyone concerned.

Clearly the North Officials have discussed the resting of players and the effect it would have on the finals and where they are played and against who. That is all the AFL found we did, not Tank but discuss not playing our best team. Everyone agrees the players did their best on the day. Connolly and Bailey were vilified as a result, Connolly was run out of the game and Bailey died with a stain on his character, the club was tarnished and suffered untold damage.

The AFL says all that is now legal.

We need compensation for that damage, from the party who caused it, the AFL. Clearly we did nothing wrong and were cleared of tanking anyway.

Pretend we are a strong club and stand up for ourselves. At the very least leak the idea to the media, that we are considering it.

Let it go Red. Nobody cares anymore other than a few Demon supporters I reckon.

Surely we are smart enough to see the difference of this to what the MFC did, even if they weren't found "guilty".

Freo and North are resting players so they are fit and firing for huge finals next week, not deliberately throwing games.

I sat there and watched Brad Miller ruck for half a game, Paul Johnson stand Nathan Brown deep in defence, and numerous other questionable coaching moves.

Let's just let it go, even if the AFL's rules and motives are questionable.

Let it go FFS.

Of tanking, but were found guilty of discussing it.

It's a fine and important point. When I saw the thread title I just thought 'sour grapes thread', but when looked at from the position that our penalties and humiliation came because of conversations had about the desirability of not winning, there's something that sticks.

What chance a few Freo players or coaches have read Titus O'Reiley's article 'Boss gives half of staff week off, sends rest to Adelaide', and made it a little running joke? Calling the players who do get sent over 'the Punishment Battallion'.

What are the chances that the property steward and travel planner at North started asking about what might needed for the potential trip to Adelaide, and there were a few jokes about 'oh, I don't think you'll need to worry about that'.

It's a funny thing, but Richmond have now been the 'victim' of an opponent tanking several times. I think each of Collingwood, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Carlton and now North have 'failed to fully compete' against Richmond. Coincidentally, Richmond are the only club of the 5-game-line era (other than Melbourne following the Kreuzer Cup) which have missed out on a top priority pick by just 1 game. I'm sure it is just a statistical blip and that tanking was not a normal occurrance...

we clearly did tank

we clearly were one of the worst sides ever

Cant have it both ways

Cant have it both ways

oh we managed it, we're Melbourne

They (Norf and Freo) are setting themselves up to win a final next week.

We set ourselves up to win a better draft pick.

I trust most can see the difference, and why the suggestions in the OP are a tad silly.

They (Norf and Freo) are setting themselves up to win a final next week.

We set ourselves up to win a better draft pick.

I trust most can see the difference, and why the suggestions in the OP are a tad silly.

Whether or not the suggestions in the OP are a tad silly, tongue in cheek or a reasonable grumble, the difference you point to is irrelevant to that. One is an attempt to improve winning chances in the short term, the other in the long term. The former makes sense for a top team, the latter for a bottom team. Both should be discouraged by the AFL.

We were pilloried for talking about doing something (which we were doing along with several other teams). Perhaps we should have asked the AFL for permission in advance.

And no, I won't get over it. I will be [censored] off with the AFL for the rest of my life. Sorry for that un-Christian attitude. And I'm happy to live with the risk to my mental hygiene by doing so.

They (Norf and Freo) are setting themselves up to win a final next week.

We set ourselves up to win a better draft pick.

I trust most can see the difference, and why the suggestions in the OP are a tad silly.

Wouldn't it just be fantastic, though, if North and Freo bowed out of the finals quickly?

(Note: Until the "resting" matter arose, I would have been happy for any one of the Bulldogs, North Melbourne or Fremantle to win the premiership. Now there's only one team I want to win it.)

Whether or not the suggestions in the OP are a tad silly, tongue in cheek or a reasonable grumble, the difference you point to is irrelevant to that. One is an attempt to improve winning chances in the short term, the other in the long term. The former makes sense for a top team, the latter for a bottom team. Both should be discouraged by the AFL.

We were pilloried for talking about doing something (which we were doing along with several other teams). Perhaps we should have asked the AFL for permission in advance.

And no, I won't get over it. I will be [censored] off with the AFL for the rest of my life. Sorry for that un-Christian attitude. And I'm happy to live with the risk to my mental hygiene by doing so.

It was the additional "bonus" of losing a certain amount of games that created the issues for us, as it meant we had to tailor games, rather than "a" game.

I'm not upset with the AFL because we got "caught", I'm upset with them because there were other cases that didn't get investigated to the degree we did. I'm more upset with CC for being such a loose-mouthed [censored].

And in regards to a team truly bottoming out over consecutive years to receive the best draft picks they can, as an attempt for long term success, it's a rubbish reason. Many clubs have proven that the need for such a drastic reaction isn't necessary, but ironically, the most recent of clubs to do it are both still crud. We took the easy way out to look for a saviour.

It was the additional "bonus" of losing a certain amount of games that created the issues for us, as it meant we had to tailor games, rather than "a" game.

I'm not upset with the AFL because we got "caught", I'm upset with them because there were other cases that didn't get investigated to the degree we did. I'm more upset with CC for being such a loose-mouthed [censored].

And in regards to a team truly bottoming out over consecutive years to receive the best draft picks they can, as an attempt for long term success, it's a rubbish reason. Many clubs have proven that the need for such a drastic reaction isn't necessary, but ironically, the most recent of clubs to do it are both still crud. We took the easy way out to look for a saviour.

I don't disagree with anything you said there (except I don't really care about CC particularly and there was a case of "a" game - K-Cup.) But none of that diminishes my disrespect for the AFL (to put it mildly) which is now compounded by the Freo/North decisions.

They (Norf and Freo) are setting themselves up to win a final next week.

We set ourselves up to win a better draft pick.

I trust most can see the difference, and why the suggestions in the OP are a tad silly.

We were setting ourselves up to win a flag in the coming years, they are doing it to win a flag this year. There is no real difference.

we clearly did tank

we clearly were one of the worst sides ever

I reckon those two lines are a contradiction. How can you tank if you're the worlds worst basketcase ever....Impossible really. Despite the 'joke' lol

What I do know is the AFL reputation and integrity is even lower than what it has been the last 2 years...and I thought they couldn't get any lower. The interest is dropping off at the right time for opposition codes to take advantage.

Whether or not the suggestions in the OP are a tad silly, tongue in cheek or a reasonable grumble, the difference you point to is irrelevant to that. One is an attempt to improve winning chances in the short term, the other in the long term. The former makes sense for a top team, the latter for a bottom team. Both should be discouraged by the AFL.

We were pilloried for talking about doing something (which we were doing along with several other teams). Perhaps we should have asked the AFL for permission in advance.

And no, I won't get over it. I will be [censored] off with the AFL for the rest of my life. Sorry for that un-Christian attitude. And I'm happy to live with the risk to my mental hygiene by doing so.

Absolutley spot on Sue.

And ya know what ..... I'm sure Demetriou gave Schwab the go ahead.

He knew what was going on ,the whole footy word did because that's what half a dozen clubs had done before us.

I reckon those two lines are a contradiction. How can you tank if you're the worlds worst basketcase ever....Impossible really. Despite the 'joke' lol

This is my beef.

West coast for eg played off in 2 grandfinals in 2005-06.

2 years later they're on the bottom with us scooping up Nik Nat.

Now thats tanking.

Now that the finals position is allowed to be changed by North, as sanctioned by the AFL, in total breach of the AFL Rules, Melbourne should seek a full exoneration, refund of fine money paid, exoneration of Bailey and Connolly and an apology for the misery the whole saga brought to us, together with full compensation. How many sponsors did we lose? How many members, etc ?

Perhaps a PP or 5 to make up for the damage the whole saga caused would be acceptable to the Club and full exoneration of everyone concerned.

Clearly the North Officials have discussed the resting of players and the effect it would have on the finals and where they are played and against who. That is all the AFL found we did, not Tank but discuss not playing our best team. Everyone agrees the players did their best on the day. Connolly and Bailey were vilified as a result, Connolly was run out of the game and Bailey died with a stain on his character, the club was tarnished and suffered untold damage.

The AFL says all that is now legal.

We need compensation for that damage, from the party who caused it, the AFL. Clearly we did nothing wrong and were cleared of tanking anyway.

Pretend we are a strong club and stand up for ourselves. At the very least leak the idea to the media, that we are considering it.

G'day Redleg,

Whilst I agree with you in principle, I'm reminded of the picture in your avatar and I'm wondering if that's the same dead horse you're flogging since there's no way we're going to get the $500k back because the AFL never admits to being wrong..

I sat there and watched Brad Miller ruck for half a game, Paul Johnson stand Nathan Brown deep in defence, and numerous other questionable coaching moves.

We won that game

Like North, MFC followed the rules that were in place at the time.

The AFL have now done a back flip and given their blessing to a club not doing their best to win.

We won't get our $500k.

But, I would like to see MFC publicly exonerated to clear the good name of Dean Bailey.

Even posthumously, it would mean a lot to his family and friends.

I've got a big month of work coming up in October. Have to be at my best then.... many challenges ahead. Might take the rest of September off to make sure I have re-charged the batteries and I'm ready to go, come 1 October. Are you OK with that boss?. ..................... What do you mean no effing way? Pretty unreasonable for the bloke that pays my wages to think that way don't you think?

Like North, MFC followed the rules that were in place at the time.

The AFL have now done a backflip and given their blessing to a club not doing their best to win.

We won't get our $500k.

But, I would like to see MFC publicly exonerated to clear the good name of Dean Bailey.

Even posthumously, it would mean a lot to his family and friends.

careful, the trigger happy nervous nelly that closed the last Bailey thread will strike again