Whispering_Jack

Ross Dillon

That was news a while ago but nothing seems to be happening on that score. Have you heard anything recently and is there any particular reason why he might go to Casey?I note he originally came from Diamond Creek.

From my POV, Carlton didn't do anything differently to what Melbourne did and I don't agree that it's different because it involved us. My gripe is that the Blues have, for some reason been spared the cost, expense and aggravation of an investigation when they did exactly what we did.I would have preferred it if the AFL conducted an investigation into tanking within the competition which would have embraced all allegations of tanking across the board. The only club that I believe definitely tanked in that an officer breached the AFL's tanking rule, was Richmond in 2007. Terry Wallace admitted in writing that he did nothing to win a game that would have cost his club a priority pick (later used on Trent Cotchin). I believe an all embracing enquiry into tanking would most likely have resulted in at least that charge. I accept that Paul Roos was telling the truth when he said he was joking when he told one of his players not to kick a goal in a NAB Cup game once and I reckon CC was gagging about Jimmy falling out of his hospital bed and Zulus and vaults. Anyway, we're going round in circles.

Terrific. An Age reporter who works at racing stables. Which of your workplaces produces more horse manure?

I wonder if those who accept the wide definition of tanking think we tanked in 2003 and 2007?

Gotta be.

Ha! The Gull of Kintyre!

{7} for differentiation. I am innocent of all proposed charges because they don't exist as offences.

I think we've all learned by now that articles of these sorts which are perennials at draft time, need to be taken with a grain of salt. Jack has fulfilled one aspect and that is that he's become a leader at the club at a very young age. He has a fair way to go to fulfil the rest of the predictions that were made about him and, as stated above, he'll start his 2013 campaign behind the 8 ball because of that foot injury.

Oh dear ... I think I've just worked it out. Bring on the next clue ...

Precisely. It is easy but it's also necessary that boards are accountable to the members. Too often in the past, football club boards have avoided scrutiny by the members but in this modern age of computer technology, Internet, face book, twitter etc. it's becoming harder and harder to sweep things under the carpet. At the same time, it's so much easier for people to make broad statements about the conduct of such boards without providing the proof or hold different people to different standards. I wonder whether we're better off as a result?

I found it totally refreshing today to read this positive article written by Pierik about an AFL club with a long history and culture of "tanking" - Analysis finds Blues similar to 2006 Cats However, I can't help asking what is the matter with this bloke? No mention of the massive salary cap rorts or the three consecutive years of systematic losing and number 1 draft picks, of the fact that a former coach and a former player has questioned that club's motives in not seeking to win games, the eleven consecutive defeats at the end of 2007 culminating in the Kreuzer Cup, the failure to comprehensively analyse the coach's tactics during that and several other key matches and the oh so brief non investigation of comments made by the AFL into the possibility that the club tanked. The bloke's obviously losing his touch.

"Tanking", as mandated by the rules and the directives of the AFL's CEO, does not include employing unusual tactics in matches, using players in positions where they do not usually play, resting star players with minor injuries, who would likely not be rested if the team were contesting finals or playing younger players who do not yet have much experience at AFL level. On that basis, we've never tanked according to the AFL rules but we have, like many others, been naughty boys. I'd like to see the AFL put an end to this farce, not by persecuting one club and one club alone, but rather by drawing up new laws that make it very clear what behaviour is acceptable and what is not. Needless to say, that would absolve the MFC of all potential charges in the AFL's tanking folly. As for last year, we might have been naughty boys but we didn't lose the last ten matches of the season like the Bulldogs did in their unsuccessful bid to finish third last and therefore finish up with picks 3 & 4 ahead of 5 & 6. Their performance in losing to an emaciated and injury stricken Carlton was pathetic and I'm surprised that it escaped the attention of pundits like Jay Clark and Jon Pierik.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2013-01-23/photo-gallery-wednesday-23th-january'>Photo Gallery Features Mitch Clark doing walk throughs and Dom Barry looking like someone who weighs 70kg and not 78kg as previously advertised. Anyone remember how skinny Stephen Tingay looked when he first came to the club and how he developed into a solid unit in a short space of time? I hope Barry follows the Tingay model and not the Morton one.

He got me back.

I'm with you there 100% Biff. Those wimps want to fix me up because I mentioned somebody's old man and were horrified at the thought of me starting a fight with Bluey McKenna and a few of his rookies. Soft and old the lot of them!!!

In answer to the OP, I say "why not"? Despite a few misguided posters on either side taking pot shots at each other, we've co-existed well and I'm proud to say that over the years we've had combined sponsorships supporting the club and its younger players (which abruptly and inexplicably ended after CAC1972 left and was replaced as head recruiter by BBBP) and together we've produced inter forum footy teams that beat all comers year in, year out. Sooner or later, our incredible success as supporter sites must rub off on the Demons' main side.

Jeremy Howe.

The passing of a living legend of the club - Arthur Wilkinson who was doorman at the club from the time they invented doors and kept many a youngster in their right place. A true lover of the red and the blue: Vale Arthur Wilkinson Sincere condolences to Arthur's wife and family.

That's the spirit. It's a serious issue and here's hoping that instead of persecuting one club, the AFL wizens up a scrubs Rule 19 (A5) and replaces it with a clear and unambiguous definition of what constitutes "tanking" and that in the event that it has to deal with tanking, it does so without discrimination. I'm confident that Melbourne will surprise many and get itself well out of the tanking zone so that this discussion will be moot forever more. I'd still be watching Sheedy and GWS next year though.

I told RL it was the perfect opportunity for us to start a fight which would help get the Dees out of the headlines for a couple of days but he chickened out because off the odds. I was ready to take them on.

Thanks DH. I'm looking forward to an even more comprehensive report later in the day.

I'll take it to the Southport Magistrates Court if they even think of trying.

It's good to see that there's a four day domestic game happening at last. The disappearance of these games in favour of T20 etc. is not helpful when you're preparing for an Ashes series. Let's hope its a good game and the Vics do well.

Everyone else but not the Melbourne player. Does this mean Denham has veto rights at SEN on whose interviews get replayed or am I just paranoid this morning?