I'll start by saying I actually don't think teams, or players, tank.

But if there is any sort of doubt as to whether it's in a teams best interest not to win a game, it's much easier to lose against a team that is actually trying to win.

But what happens if both teams are in the same boat? What if both teams gain a massive benefit from losing, in what in the scheme of things, looks to be a meaningless game of football.

Everyone knows what is at stake in Round 22 for Melbourne and Carlton. A major reward for the team that loses. I think it will be fascinating to watch. Have Carlton already signalled their intentions by resting Brendan Fevola for the rest of the season.

Lets assume Carlton don't upset the Kangaroos this week, and Melbourne don't beat Freo at Subiaco.

If Carlton wins Round 22 :

The ladder will be :

14. Carlton 20

15. Melbourne 16

16. Richmond 10

Draft order will be :

1. Richmond

2. Melbourne

3. Carlton

17. Richmond

18. Melbourne

19. Richmond

20. Melbourne

21. Carlton

If Melbourne wins Round 22 :

The ladder will be :

14. Melbourne 20

15. Carlton 16

16. Richmond 10

Draft order will be :

1. Carlton

2. Richmond

3. Carlton

4. Melbourne

17. Richmond

18. Richmond

19. Carlton

20. Melbourne

So in summing up, a Melbourne loss gives picks :

Melb : 2, 18, 20

Rich : 1, 17, 19

Carl : 3, 21

A Melbourne win :

Melb : 4, 20

Rich : 2, 17, 18

Carl : 1, 3, 19

I will be watching the very last home and away game this season with great interest.

May the best Thomas the Tank Engine lose (or win depending on semantics ), unfortunately for MFC I believe Carlton has a better chance of pulling off the loss.

Ash, a few years ago i stood there with my mate and cheered every sydney goal and im sure ill cheer the blues like i would melbourne. It's more the fact i DON'T want carlton to get the pick than us to get a better pick, if the number 1 pick wouldn't go to the blues i would prefer to belt the crap out of them!

It will play out something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2dnrDwMdpw

might put money on a draw

holds it, Holds It, HOLDS IT!

This may sound crazy, but this could be the biggest game in years

It does not get any more interesting. 2 teams with nothing to gain from a win. There is going to be some very dodgy things happening out on the ground and in the coaches box

This game could become the most controversial in VFL/AFL history

This may sound crazy, but this could be the biggest game in years

It does not get any more interesting. 2 teams with nothing to gain from a win. There is going to be some very dodgy things happening out on the ground and in the coaches box

This game could become the most controversial in VFL/AFL history

My prediction is that Carlton will pick a team that can't win. If by chance it is winning, moves will be made from the Coaches box to ensure defeat. I also subscribe to the theory that players don't tank they may just not be at their best.

My hope is that we pick a worse team and make even worse moves to not stuff up our future development. Who the hell wants to beat a club that is not totally totally committed anyway, is there any glory in that? This is so much more important than a meaningless win. I am sure we will stuff up and win and set ourselves back.

My prediction is that Carlton will pick a team that can't win. If by chance it is winning, moves will be made from the Coaches box to ensure defeat. I also subscribe to the theory that players don't tank they may just not be at their best.

My hope is that we pick a worse team and make even worse moves to not stuff up our future development. Who the hell wants to beat a club that is not totally totally committed anyway, is there any glory in that? This is so much more important than a meaningless win. I am sure we will stuff up and win and set ourselves back.

im guessing Lappin as ruckman

im guessing Lappin as ruckman

I raise you Pickett as ruckman

We can't win to save ourselves... but can we lose to save our draft picks?

Riley as captain coach?

Riley as captain coach?

That would be rileys debut i was wondering who was going to debut next.

Thats an idea, we play a un listed player, or better yet we [censored] carlton and then at the 25th minute of the last quarter we put on a 19th man and ooops we have all our score removed

Thats true we get the best of both worlds.

We [censored] carlton and lose the game with a minute to go and get better picks.

It will be a battle of the rushed behinds - the team that wins the centre clearance will run the ball backwards to the opposite end of the ground & repeatitively rush the ball through the other team's goals.

Has anybody seen the episode of South Park where the kids don't want to play little league but are forced to by their parents? Pretty much every team was trying to lose & it came to a battle of who was the worst at losing to who actually won the championship. :D

Thats an idea, we play a un listed player, or better yet we [censored] carlton and then at the 25th minute of the last quarter we put on a 19th man and ooops we have all our score removed

Good idea except that Carlton would not call for a count.

Good idea except that Carlton would not call for a count.

Ahhh but you forget WE are smart, we have neitz run out and ask the umpire for a count and say that carlton has too many players on the field

Ever heard the phrase 'stuck between a rock and a hard place'?

That will be Melbourne come round 22. We win we lose out in the draft. We lose we will cop the full wrath of the AFL public, be labelled cheats and have a smear on our club's history.

I'm a proud person. I hope we smash Carlton and walk off with our heads held high and send a message to the AFL public that Melbourne are NOT TANKERS!

no need to cheat... just wrap up any injured in cotton wool and have them sit out last two games. Play who ever is left.. Its almost beyond being a choice anyway.

Funny thing though...all those people who might label us as Tankers should we lose would be the same to wish their own team lose in a similar situation !!

Id be happy enough if we came away with a better choice of pix. That will have a longer impact on history than one singular extra win at the end of a dead season !!

I think Carlton are going to lose, and there will be a massive unprecedented media and public uproar and the Carlton FC name will be tarnished beyond recognition. I hate the tanking bastards and the system needs an overhaul.

I think Carlton are going to lose, and there will be a massive unprecedented media and public uproar and the Carlton FC name will be tarnished beyond recognition. I hate the tanking bastards and the system needs an overhaul.

:D

:D

Love it!

Maybe we'll have so many players out that we won't have a team to field, that'd give us a good excuse. We could also play Chopper as our ruckman/FF and Brown as our fullback.

Rielly could just say he was experimenting!

Love it!

Maybe we'll have so many players out that we won't have a team to field, that'd give us a good excuse. We could also play Chopper as our ruckman/FF and Brown as our fullback.

Rielly could just say he was experimenting!

I think this game will be sooooooo bad it will be good. A spectacle of mediocrity. I actually look forward to it. It will be like golf.... lowest score wins.

0.40 - 40

0.42 - 42

could be the final score! i reckon if we can somehow handball the ball into a blues player's foot through for a goal, we'll have a massive advantage.

seriously though, i could never be happy with a dees win, and i'll be going nuts for the last chance this year

Thats an idea, we play a un listed player, or better yet we [censored] carlton and then at the 25th minute of the last quarter we put on a 19th man and ooops we have all our score removed

happened to me before and boy is it degrading

melb should try win..... they neeed to beat carlton last year and lost twice.... not good enough..