Redleg

On AFL 360 AD and GMcL couldn't define tanking. Gil said I don' know what it is. Whately laughed his head off. We had an inquiry on something they didn't ' even know what it was. What a farce.

I think we did well to get the finding of Not Guilty on Tanking. We all know the benefits of that. Clearly it was a negotiated position. The findings and suspensions however are bizarre. CC is guilty of Conduct Unbecoming. That conduct was a private comment at the MFC which should never have been made public. Only the AFL leaking the Report has allowed that. He is supended for 12 months and Trigg for Salary Cap cheating as a CEO who knows better, got 6 months. Work that out. Please don't say "oh he got that for Tanking" as we all know the penalty must fit the actual offence, not one that is dismissed. The Club gets a $500k fine for employing CC, who made the comment. Please. The Crows for Salary Cap cheating get a $300K fine. As far as the fine goes, yes I know we get grants from the AFL and I will say no more here, other than, I wouldn't be too worried about paying the instalments, I am sure they will be deducted from our dividends from the AFL. As I and many others have said, this was purely about the AFL saving face and I think it has made a fool of itself. It has manufactured a situation that is at best farcical. It should have made the hard decision and exonerated all parties and got on with life. This will continue to fester in the media. The statement of McLardy that there was no evidence of Tanking is 100% correct, as was confirmed by the findings and two people I trust, who told me as much on the weekend. There was also no doubt in our legal adviser's minds that we would win this in Court easily. The settlement means we have innocence on the cheating charges now, save time, expense and distraction for the club and avoid making a big enemy of a powerful body, that could fixture us in New Guinea and affect our grants and financial position in the future. The MFC had no choice and did the right thing in resolving this. The AFL in my opinion is left a bumbling, biased organization, that makes rules on the run and clearly favours the big and interstate clubs. Just look at their reasons why they are not investigating the Lions. It is shameful. They disregard an informer and a former staffer who corroborates him yet launches into us, on the say so of Brocky. They continue to refuse to investigate other clubs despite far more "evidence" than mere Brocky. What clear evidence of double standards. I don't know how the AFL bosses sleep at night. We are a part of it however and have to live within it. So, on with the footy on friday and Go Dees.

Great post.

"These claims are unsubstantiated and no evidence has been produced to support them." "No formal AFL investigation will be undertaken in the absence of credible information or evidence." This is the AFL's excuse for not investigating the Lions after an allegation made by Jason McGrath about drug use and match fixing at the Lions was corroborated by a former Lions staff member. Clearly Brocky can cause an investigation against the AFL patsy on his say so but no investigation against a beloved interstate club on corroborated allegations. So you need evidence to investigate the Lions. Clearly two people's allegations, according to the AFL is not evidence, yet only Brocky is needed to bring the wrath of the AFL down upon us. The AFL is officially a basket case competition the way it is being administered. Pathetic and disgusting.

If this is the official result and it is not a negotiated one, then we weren't given a hearing under the rules of Natural Justice. That would take a Court less than a day to throw out. Is this the plan? Charge us and let a Court decide. Also as I posted previously have the Commission members even read the report?

I hope you don't see me as gutless, disingenuous, or just plain stupid. I actually agree with your post.Given that we both agree that there is no credible evidence that we tanked, are you as angry and bewildered as me that we face sanctions?

What are the odds that the AFL Commission members have not read the entire report, yet are going to sanction a club without a hearing. Assuming of course that it is not an agreed result.

I think I misread the report, he appears not to be a former Lions player.

I don't disagree on Hird.What are your answers to the rest of my post?

And as well, lay the charges and penalties at the same time, without a hearing. Assuming of course we haven't come to an agreement. That would involve a flagrant denial of Natural Justice and make a Court Appeal a monty to win.

I stand corrected Ben, Wilson is consistent, consistently pathetic. I am sure you agree that her vendetta against us has seen no balance in her articles?I am still struggling with all of this, as my info is that there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever of the MFC actually tanking in the report. No one has said we actually tanked. Even McLean recanted his ambiguous statement that started it all. I repeat that the strongest thing coming out of the report, on my info, is the so called "vault" statement of Connolly, whcih Bailey has said was a joke and which he totally ignored. Bailey's Solicitor said he denied tanking and will contest any finding that he did. It has been suggested in the media, that the statements that have been made, have apparently led to complaints from some of those making them, that they were recorded inaccurately and done under coercion and intimidation. Given that the vault statement is a private in house statement, how does it bring the game into disrepute without the 7 month investigation that is leaked to the media before it is even shown to the alleged culprit? The rule is unclear and ambiguous, as to "perform on your merits" and tanking is not defined other than the CEO's definition of instructing players to lose, which didn't happen. Other clubs despite more initial evidence than McLean's statement, are not being investigated, suggesting either an approval of what was done or an unwillingness to take on stronger clubs. In other words "Bias" is being shown in the administration of the competition. If the above is true, no wonder the MFC don't want to settle and its lawyers want to litigate if it is charged. BTW. Jason McGrath a former Lions player, today said he sold drugs to Lions players and assisted them with match fixing and spot fixing, several years ago. Do you think that will be investigated, considering it involves serious matters, against a beloved interstate club of the AFL?

It is interesting that when CC and CS were for the sack according to Wilson, at that stage without any proof of anything at all, no one except some of us at Demonland stood up for the unfairness of her report. However when poster boy Hird is suggested may be sacked so many media types are jumping to his defence, raising all sorts of reasons why he should stay, including lets wait for the findings. Pity that standard doesn't apply to our people.

Nine news said Commission will rubber stamp $500k fine tonight and let us know tonight. Seven news said Commission meeting is a marathon and tanking situation up in the air.

Trouble is they were said in private football discussions at the MFC not in the media. The AFL through leaks of their investigation, have brought them to public knowledge. The AFL have therefore leaked confidential club information and possibly intellectual property, it could be argued. I still think the AFL have real problems with their charges. Maybe they charge us , we appeal and at a mediation or pre trial conference, we all settle.

BTW seven news yesterday said Bailey's Solicitor would fight any charges levelled against him. Interesting.

Bob, not sure how you manage people you sack or let go. They will always be upset. I note ex Richmond Coach Terry Wallace admitted tanking, was he badly managed by the Tigers? Fevola and Libba said the Blues tanked, did the Blues badly manage that? Reimers put the Bombers in did the Bombers badly manage that? Jesse McGrath of the Lions put them in today for match fixing and drug use. Did the Lions badly manage that? BTW do you think the Lions will cop a 7 month investigation on the back of a former player saying they match fixed , spot fixed and bought drugs off him. Bet your life the AFL will find a way to ignore it. Caro says if the Blues had a vault meeting and were guilty they should also be investigated. Do you see anything unusual in her treatment of them compared to us? "If they were guilty" and "vault meeting" which only came to light as a result of the 7 month inquiry. I just see us as a patsy. Yes we have done things poorly, but to be fair so have others, but again we take the blame, us alone. I can see why so many of our supporters have a victim mentality.

Thanks.

Anyone know how Gysberts, Moloney, Rivers and Steph are going. I missed the Cats games. Did Jared play and if so, how did he go. Will probably see Gysberts on friday.

Was there with WJ and the wives. It wasn't the heat that got me in the end, it was no banana daiquiris and bloody thumping rap music, that has given me one hell of a headache. WJ and me and the wives are now home, ready to join the tanking thread again.

Good post.

Agree. I have also just watched it and saw without any shadow of a doubt, a woman with a clear agenda, she even talked over Whately to stop him making valid points about other clubs.

It wasn't my call, I am only a guest, probably a stinking hot sweating one at that

Going to a wedding tonight in a tent in a backyard in 35 degrees. Will be sweltering. Hope the banana dacquiries are freezing cold.

Luckily I don't.

Thanks Clint.