hoopla

Very good Sue !

Just for the record 1. It was common knowledge to anyone with sufficient interest in the finances of the MFC to have read the Annual Report. It wasn't a big story because the debt was relatively small, and fully secured - and had been substantially repaid before the article was published. 2. The fact that Mad Monday was the straw that broke the camel's back doesn't invalidate my point. It was no big deal. The point about McLean remains 3. Yes - it wasn't a direct criticism of Neeld - but it was a criticism of Melbourne and of Cameron Schwab in particular - which as you point out clearly supports my contention. You seem to agree that she has an agenda to undermine Schwab. Why is that ? Do you have any inside knowledge of Wilson - Schwab family tensions?

The fact that he began by saying that he hadn't read the thread suggests you are right HIs lack of familiarity with the balance of Wilson's "writing" adds more weight to your view

Oh dear - you really are scratching for justification here. She broke the Schwab loan story did she? Well firstly it wasn't a story in any sense let alone in a football sense - and secondly she didn't break it - it was fully disclosed to the members by the club itself 4 months prior !! What about the Neeld appointment process? She selected an incomplete set of "facts" to support her own criticisms of Neeld. That;s a point against yourself. Nathan Carroll's delisting - huge story that one !! Am I right in saying that Nathan Carroll was hauled over the coals for an incident overseas which also involved that bastion of integrity - Brock McLean? Perhaps he was the source.... perhaps the Richmond link through Uncle Ricky is more important than we thought. Sorry Fan - you'll have to do better than that QED

Fan - I suggest you do read this thread - because it contains a great deal of evidence of a journalist's determination to damage one club - and one executive. Before you defend her I suggest you familiarise yourself with the facts. A quality journalist focusing on tensions between the clubs and the AFL - would give equal considerations to all clubs. Why hasn't Wilson insisted on a full enquiry into the Kreuzer Cup? Why hasn;'t she described the actions of the Adelaide Football Club as "disgusting and pathetic"? Yes- I guess she has called for Steven Triggs's resignation - but then she has more evidence of that than merely his facial expression after one game ? Has she looked at the Adelaide Annual Report for evidence of executive loans as she has for Melbourne ? Why hasn't she considered that Brock McLean disillusionment with the MFC stemmed from the fact that he was relegated to starting on the bench - and saw Scully and Trengove pushing him down to the VFL? The only work Caro can keep up is prejudiced work

I'm not sure we are a divided club at the moment ........ but I agree we do need to move on Unfortunately Wilson just keeps throwing up the past - not just 2009 but now the "salary cap breach" I'll keep my views on Gutnick to myself - but I will say that - in this context - his knee-jerk admission was most unfortunate for it has muddied on our record of compliance with AFL rules. As Ridley's book explains in detail, it is by no means clear that we did actually breach the salary cap that year. Back to topic it is amazing how regularly Wilson manages to have a dig at CS and the MFC . Let's not follow her lead by digging up divisions of the past

Great ambassador for the club....................... like to interview him, Wilson - or would he give far too much positive copy for you to handle ? Can't be hypocritical - I never thought he was really up to it - and I'm sure I criticised him more than once on this forum. But the more you hear about his injury problems the more you have to respect him for what he was able to produce - and the more you understand those soft little kicks! 100 games for the MFC is a great achievement. Obviously a highly respected member of the leadership group. Well done, Barts .... and good luck

Thanks for the reminder. What an extraordinarily poisonous pen that woman wields. How can anyone who supposedly followed football through the noughties possibly attack one club so viciously? As for her shameful reference to Jim.............. and then there's her pitiful sympathy for "poor Brock" . Seriously she shouldn't survive this

I reckon it wouldn't have started in the first place if Demetriou hadn't been on London. Having played the game he knew tanking wasn't provable - which is why he kept saying it wasn't happening

This lead investigator has come out of a war zone. He's an army man cum-policeman.Yes Sir .... Name Rank and Serial Number Sir ....... Name Rank and Serial Number. How can this guy understand the nuances of debate around a footy club - when humour, anger, emotion etc influence what things are said and how things are interpreted. How can this guy be an effective investigator when there is no black letter law. He is an expert grilling confessions out of sex offenders.Law and Order SVU !! Talk about using a sledgehammer to crack a nut The AFL have really botched this whole thing

She even seems to be casting doubt on the most compelling piece of evidence of all - Schwab's look of disappointment after the Port Adelaide game. Not long ago she thought he should be sacked for that !!!

Its crazy that the AFL are still trawling through emails. The proof of the pudding is in the eating ............ all our eminent QC needs to do to defend us is to ask the Commission to compare two last quarters The last quarter of the Kreuzer Cup in 2007 when Carlton took off Fev and stood back while Melbourne ( note!) ran over them; The last quarter of the Melb v Rich game in 2009 when Melbourne came from behind (note!) to hit the front in time on - only to be pipped by a kick after the siren Now forget the hot air and vaults and contradictory statements and whinges from former players Mr Commissioner - look at the evidence that matters - and tell me that Melbourne tanked!

Obviously its a last resort. But if we're hammered with penalties ( even draft penalties which will hit sponsorship and membership monies) - the money's gone anyway. To keep us viable in an 18-team competition the AFL will have to give us back the money........... which makes the whole thing ludicrous in any event. We have to stand up for our rights

smacks of bullying to me..... As it must for all concerned including the AFL ( At the end of the day Wilson will the only one disappointed by that result!) That;'s just about enough to discredit their whole case - or - with Wilson involved - should we say instead their whole "witch hunt" And what's this interview and re-interview about. If we don't get the tape right we'll try again? This is already a dreadful waste of time and money Let's not forget Barassi's key point : if you penalise Melbourne you have to look at other clubs ........ more time - more money

That's one of the reasons we've already already raised the question of natural justice ................ and why the lawyers are waiting in the wings

Agree - no cause for despair here Unprecedented = never happened before............might mean penalties for individuals rather than the club.? The fact that we are clear for this draft is a good start !!

MIlestone #1 is close ie the AFL Commission Meeting one week today. Will this meeting impose a penalty on Adelaide for next week's draft - and if it does how will they justify further deferral of the Melbourne judgment? At the very least you would expect the Commissioners to get a progress/interim report on findings to date - and to endorse a course of action ie obtain Melbourne's response to draft report - extend enquiry to other clubs - wrap it up by Christmas etc.. Surely something will be leaked Wilson's way beforehand. Victory #1 will be to get through this meeting without any limitation on our participation in this year's draft and psd. I'm sure Wilson will be most annoyed if we do

Well the history of tanking prior to 2009 would give them several juicy articles.........

You make a lot of good points here - I just hope your final conclusion is correct. She certainly seems to think that "tanking" is far more of a "black and white" issue than it is. You could certainly argue that if we were totally committed to losing the Richmond match we wouldn't have let the outcome rest on a 50 metre kick after the siren. As to Clothier's questioning I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was more like a terrorist inquisition than a civil enquiry. If he has shone a spotlight in the eyes of some unsuspecting (former) players under threats of de-registration (our) lawyers will be chafing at the bit - things will get nasty. The AFL should cut their losses - accept Wilson's criticisms - and move on. Interesting that in the face of overwhelming argument - Wilson never suggests that the AFL should do the job properly by looking at the clubs who bottomed out so effectively that their access to early draft picks didn't turn on the last kick of a match. To her the whole thing is about the Melbourne Football Club ! She wants to see us on our knees The fact that for all her looking she hasn't turned up more evidence against us is a good sign

Wish we could get someone to trawl back into the relationship between the Schwabs and the Wilsons. Must be Australia's Hatfields and McCoys !!

If a player's view is so pivotal Ms Wilson - why have you conveniently dismissed the views of a player who spent a large chunk of the Kreuzer Cup on the bench - Brendan Fevola? Oh - that's right - Fev is a mug - while "Burn Out/Tweets" McLean is a model citizen ( whose Uncle Ricky's frequent visits to the tribunal were totally unfair) So you think it is about to get nasty do you Ms Wilson? There was nothing nasty about your "pathetic and disgusting" article or about your assertion that CC and CS ought to be sacked for rumoured actions 3 years ago ? Shouldn't have watched that show - didn't need a reminder of her utter determination to kick the MFC !!

"MELBOURNE legend Ron Barassi says the AFL must turn its tanking investigation to other clubs if the Demons are found guilty of deliberately underperforming." http://www.heraldsun...o-1226514305211 Good on you Ron for coming out and saying it ( even if your point is obvious)

I can't believe that a committed Melbourne supporter could make a statement like this. So you are happy to sit back while other teams take advantage of the draft rules by tanking away to their hearts content - only to accept a beat-up when we decide its our turn to put future development ahead of short term goals? I gather that you didn't.sit through the Kreuzer Cup

Certainly things on Crikey are read with a grain of salt ...... but Caro's attitudes are getting out there .... so bravo Crikey - cynicism and all!!

Thankyou Rumpole. I am aware of that - but this is neither a court nor a tribunal - but rather an investigation initiated by she who must be obeyed