Jump to content

Discussion on recent allegations about the use of illicit drugs in football is forbidden
  • IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

    Posting unsubstantiated rumours on this website is strictly forbidden.

    Demonland has made the difficult decision to not permit this platform to be used to discuss & debate the off-field issues relating to the Melbourne Football Club including matters currently being litigated between the Club & former Board members, board elections, the issue of illicit drugs in footy, the culture at the club & the personal issues & allegations against some of our players & officials ...

    We do not take these issues & this decision lightly & of course we believe that these serious matters affecting the club we love & are so passionate about are worthy of discussion & debate & I wish we could provide a place where these matters can be discussed in a civil & respectful manner.

    However these discussions unfortunately invariably devolve into areas that may be defamatory, libelous, spread unsubstantiated rumours & can effect the mental health of those involved. Even discussion & debate of known facts or media reports can lead to finger pointing, blame & personal attacks.

    The repercussion is that these discussions can open this website, it’s owners & it’s users to legal action & may result in this website being forced to shutdown.

    Our moderating team are all volunteers & cannot moderate the forum 24/7 & as a consequence problematic content that contravenes our rules & standards may go unnoticed for some time before it can be removed.

    We reserve the right to delete posts that offend against our above policy & indeed, to ban posters who are repeat offenders or who breach our code of conduct.

    WE HAVE BUILT A FANTASTIC ONLINE COMMUNITY AT DEMONLAND OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS & WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE CLUB WE LOVE & ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.

    Thank you for your continued support & understanding. Go Dees.


Tanking scandal documents



Recommended Posts

Feel sorry for all concerned here.

The AFL obviously threatened all MFC staff with potential life bans from the game.  With that hanging over their heads, of course they spilled the beans on each other.  Also, those giving evidence would have been assured of confidentiality of their evidence.

Who was the biggest crook?  IMO, Demetriou and daylight second.

Demetriou was in denial.  The biggest carrot was dangling and it was too good.  The footy world knew it.  Tanking wasn't invented the year Melbourne did it.  Fault here is completely with the architects of the rules.  The footy world might be all shock horror, but decent people would definitely has contemplated it....even in hindsight.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Garbo said:

The bigger story is how Melbourne was not found guilty of tanking and simply bringing the game into disrepute given the evidence at hand which the AFL had the whole time. Clearly there was and are bigger things at play. If they lied on this you can just imagine what went on with the Essendon drugs saga 

Jake Niall's article above states the reasons:

  • the parlous state of the club
  • Melbourne lawyered up and disputed the charges. Their resistance, which ended in negotiation, discouraged a "tanking'' conviction, which isn't as easy to prove as the all-purpose, "bringing the game into disrepute''.
  • the problem of the AFL's and Melbourne's relationship with gambling. Arguably, a conviction for tanking would cause fall-out with betting agencies, with whom the AFL was increasingly enmeshed.
  • could impact on Melbourne's own lucrative gaming operations
  • there was a widespread view that the Demons weren't the only club that had tied one hand behind their back in an effort to minimise victories

Glad someone printed the last item.  That article should be sent to Warner so he can see how to present the facts and write a balanced story.

Edited by Lucifer's Hero
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

No.  That's my point - they couldn't GAF because they have the silverware.

And my point is further supported by the amount of times in this thread alone that there is mention of these clubs doing it themselves, which helped lead to premierships.

The amount of top end picks that we had should've seen us have a team of champions.  Instead, we picked Watts, Scully and Trengove.  FMD. 

correction: morton, grimes, watts, maric, blease, strauss, $cully, trengove, gysberts, tapscott

ten top 30 picks in three years - not a genuine star among em!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, TGR said:

Feel sorry for all concerned here.

The AFL obviously threatened all MFC staff with potential life bans from the game.  With that hanging over their heads, of course they spilled the beans on each other.  Also, those giving evidence would have been assured of confidentiality of their evidence.

Who was the biggest crook?  IMO, Demetriou and daylight second.

Demetriou was in denial.  The biggest carrot was dangling and it was too good.  The footy world knew it.  Tanking wasn't invented the year Melbourne did it.  Fault here is completely with the architects of the rules.  The footy world might be all shock horror, but decent people would definitely has contemplated it....even in hindsight.

Not sure what you mean by crook but it wasn't Demetriou who created this.  It was Andrew Anderson who decided to investigate while Demetrious was overseas. 

Had AD been here the case would never have got off the ground.  He knew where all the skeletons were in the media and at the clubs so would have shut it down quick smart. 

But Anderson decided to make a name for himself as he was being touted as AD's successor.  Instead, the investigation cost him his job at the AFL.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, Garbo said:

The bigger story is how Melbourne was not found guilty of tanking and simply bringing the game into disrepute given the evidence at hand which the AFL had the whole time. Clearly there was and are bigger things at play. If they lied on this you can just imagine what went on with the Essendon drugs saga 

There was no such rule for “tanking” at the time that’s why. 

The carrot ? of free draft picks was there for over 10 years

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, Garbo said:

The bigger story is how Melbourne was not found guilty of tanking and simply bringing the game into disrepute given the evidence at hand which the AFL had the whole time. Clearly there was and are bigger things at play. If they lied on this you can just imagine what went on with the Essendon drugs saga 

I think there's a hint in the Herald Sun story where it says that at the time Gillon McLachlan claimed he didn't know what "tanking" meant. I imagine the AFL decided that "tanking" could be defined to mean that the players who were on the field didn't try (or, didn't try hard enough). The AFL may have concluded the players did try to win and therefore didn't "tank". That the club did other things (players in for surgery, playing players out of position, etc) may not have been considered to be "tanking" but "list management decisions". 

It's not dissimilar to President Clinton's argument as to why he claims he didn't lie when talking about what he did and didn't do with "that woman, Monica Lewinsky".

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Poor showing by Mark Robinson.  Why  tolerate with this lump of animosity like Robbo? Full of censored and always has been.

Get a life,  Think of their Families of Jimmy's and Dean's  Rest there sole's.

You could of written more about the Druggy Bummmmers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robbo and Warner.....Shame on you!

Edited by nosoupforme
.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Isnt it great we had to go through all that while a tanking Carlton got away scot free.

Another example of the uneven surface of the AFL playing field. Well raised.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, The Chazz said:

No.  That's my point - they couldn't GAF because they have the silverware.

And my point is further supported by the amount of times in this thread alone that there is mention of these clubs doing it themselves, which helped lead to premierships.

The amount of top end picks that we had should've seen us have a team of champions.  Instead, we picked Watts, Scully and Trengove.  FMD. 

At the time the whole football community thought it was either Watts or Nik Nat for picks 1 & 2.
Scully and Trengove for 1 & 2.
Could rewrite history and say they were bad picks but no-one thought so at the time.
IMO we just lucked out with poor draft years for top end talent.
And FWIW ..... I see Watts and Nik Nat as par picks due mainly to NN injuries.

We did however fail dismally with all the picks further down.

Edited by Fork 'em
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I think there's a hint in the Herald Sun story where it says that at the time Gillon McLachlan claimed he didn't know what "tanking" meant. I imagine the AFL decided that "tanking" could be defined to mean that the players who were on the field didn't try (or, didn't try hard enough). The AFL may have concluded the players did try to win and therefore didn't "tank". That the club did other things (players in for surgery, playing players out of position, etc) may not have been considered to be "tanking" but "list management decisions". 

It's not dissimilar to President Clinton's argument as to why he claims he didn't lie when talking about what he did and didn't do with "that woman, Monica Lewinsky".

Poor old Bill Clinton. Lewinsky was an administrative aide. After a horrible dinner in which food poisoning was experienced by his guests, Clinton found the first aide he could that night, and yelled: 'Sack my cook! Immediately!' ......and that's how the whole thing started ... watch out Robbo, could be your turn, next.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Poor old Bill Clinton. Lewinsky was an administrative aide. After a horrible dinner in which food poisoning was experienced by his guests, Clinton found the first aide he could that night, and yelled: 'Sack my cook! Immediately!' ......and that's how the whole thing started ... watch out Robbo, could be your turn, next.

And hold my calls?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, willmoy said:

Take solace from the fact that the Media of Today in OZ will have a new Boss by the end of the year according to the whispers in the States....

Don't get too solaced up. Other whispers have it that the son is every bit as bad as the father.

 

(On the other hand, he's manifestly not as good at business, so maybe there's hope yet.)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Jake Niall's article above states the reasons:

  • the parlous state of the club
  • Melbourne lawyered up and disputed the charges. Their resistance, which ended in negotiation, discouraged a "tanking'' conviction, which isn't as easy to prove as the all-purpose, "bringing the game into disrepute''.
  • the problem of the AFL's and Melbourne's relationship with gambling. Arguably, a conviction for tanking would cause fall-out with betting agencies, with whom the AFL was increasingly enmeshed.
  • could impact on Melbourne's own lucrative gaming operations
  • there was a widespread view that the Demons weren't the only club that had tied one hand behind their back in an effort to minimise victories

Glad someone printed the last item.  That article should be sent to Warner so he can see how to present the facts and write a balanced story.

Old news  just not interested. carltank were the same  remember the embarrassing   twlight game  versus carlton  when Carlton fans were cheering for them to lose.       I think all have learned  from the experience  no point in tanking

Link to comment
Share on other sites


As long as draft picks are allocated to where you finish on the ladder tanking will be a thing.
As I stated somewhere earlier.
I remember a year or 2 ago seeing Slobbo himself stating that it would be unwise for the Lions to win another game.

 

Edited by Fork 'em
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Talk about spitting on a mans grave.

What is the point of all of this? Because we play the other cheats tonight?

Jimmy Bartel on the news tonight sounds like a little squealing brat. "It's match fixing. Blah Blah I'm no longer relevant, It's purely match fixing".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

The transcripts. Up until now it's all been conjecture. The Herald Sun (somehow - and that's something that the AFL should be worried about) has got transcripts which definitively tell us what Bailey and others said in their interviews. 

 

The MFC and Rupert Murdoch and his lackeys sit at the exact opposite ends of my love scale in life - in fact I still have Demonland warning points from a couple of years ago for saying that I wished he would die.

Despite that, I'm emotionally detached from this story and its surrounding intrigues and just want the information - which is difficult to get to, obscured by a Hun paywall and all the arms up in the air on here.

You seem to be on the same page. If you have a means of access to them I'd be grateful if you could share.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My heart breaks for poor Bailey. I think he was a good coach who was put in an untenable situation. 

Connolly and Schwab should rot in hell for what they put our club thru. So called Melbourne supporters. 

The negative karma that has followed the likes of us and Carlton since we deliberately tried tanking, proves that such a calculating ploy to lose games is never worth it in the long term. Sure you can experiment and send players off early to have surgeries, but to be disappointed with winning games is disgusting. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    DISCO INFERNO by Whispering Jack

    Two weeks ago, when the curtain came down on Melbourne’s game against the Brisbane Lions, the team trudged off the MCG looking tired and despondent at the end of a tough run of games played in quick succession. In the days that followed, the fans wanted answers about their team’s lamentable performance that night and foremost among their concerns was whether the loss was a one off result of fatigue or was it due to other factor(s) of far greater consequence.  As it turns out, the answer to

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 6

    TIGERS PUNT CASEY by KC from Casey

    The afternoon atmosphere at the Swinburne Centre was somewhat surreal as the game between Richmond VFL and the Casey Demons unfolded on what was really a normal work day for most Melburnians. The Yarra Park precinct marched to the rhythm of city life, the trains rolled by, pedestrians walked by with their dogs and the traffic on Punt Road and Brunton Avenue swirled past while inside the arena, a football battle ensued. And what a battle it was? The Tigers came in with a record of two wins f

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Casey Articles

    PREGAME: Rd 08 vs Geelong

    After returning to the winners list the Demons have a 10 day break until they face the unbeaten Cats at the MCG on Saturday Night. Who comes in and who goes out for this crucial match?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 116

    PODCAST: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 29th April @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons victory at the MCG against the Tigers in the Round 07. You questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human. Listen & Chat

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 10

    VOTES: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    Last week Captain Max Gawn overtook reigning champion Christian Petracca in the Demonland Player of the Year Award. Steven May, Jack Viney & Alex Neal-Bullen make up the Top 5. Your votes for the win against the Tigers. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 54

    POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    The Demons put their foot down after half time to notch up a clinical win by 43 points over the Tigers at the MCG on ANZAC Eve keeping touch with the Top 4.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 339

    GAMEDAY: Rd 07 vs Richmond

    It's Game Day and the Demons once again open the round of football with their annual clash against Richmond on ANZAC Eve. The Tigers, coached by former Dees champion and Premiership assistant coach Adem Yze have a plethora of stars missing due to injury but beware the wounded Tiger. The Dees will have to be switched on tonight. A win will keep them in the hunt for the Top 4 whilst a loss could see them fall out of the 8 for the first time since 2020.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 683

    TRAINING: Tuesday 23rd April 2024

    Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin ventured down to Gosch's Paddock to bring you his observations from this morning's Captain's Run including some hints at the changes for our ANZAC Eve clash against the Tigers. Sunny, though a touch windy, this morning, 23 of them no emergencies.  Forwards out first. Harrison Petty, JvR, Jack Billings, Kade Chandler, Kozzy, Bayley Fritsch, and coach Stafford.  The backs join them, Steven May, Jake Lever, Woey, Judd McVee, Blake Howes, Tom McDonald

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    OOZEE by The Oracle

    There’s a touch of irony in the fact that Adem Yze played his first game for Melbourne in Round 13, 1995 against the club he now coaches. For that game, he wore the number 44 guernsey and got six touches in a game the team won by 11 points.  The man whose first name was often misspelled, soon changed to the number 13 and it turned out lucky for him. He became a highly revered Demon with a record of 271 games during which his presence was acknowledged by the fans with the chant of “Oozee” wh

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Previews 3
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...