Dr. Gonzo

Oh really? How about you let us know what the AFL's findings/charges/verdict is then considering it is yet to be publicly released.

Haha "dee-luded" how very apt.

They didn't say anything except to reiterate what was in Caro's article and Robinson said he called Demetriou who said he didn't know anything. Robinson then said most people would think that is a very light penalty for MFC and Whately said MFC have thought for several weeks they wouldn't lose any draft picks.

Prepare to be disappointed. The club will only be fractured if people decide to put themselves before the club. You want to talk about principles and integrity? Then back the club when it needs it the most, back the people making the decisions and back the coaches/FD/players with the clubs and supporters full support. Don't have a whinge and quit on the club because you're not happy that the club won't cut off their nose to spite their face so that you (and others) can feel vindication and some short-term gratification that taking on the big bad AFL will give you.

Tune into Fox Footy if you're not already, apparently they're gonna discuss some "breaking news" after this game. Though the media being what it is I wouldn't hold my breath it's more than what was in Caro's article.

We'll see. If those are the penalties I guarantee you we won't take it to court. Ironic how you talk about fighting to the end and then say you won't buy another membership if they make a decision you disagree with... Have you seen/read the investigation report given to the club? If not I'd like to know how you know "fumbling the ball" made up a key, if any, component of the AFL's findings against us. I'm not having a go at you WYL, you're a loyal Demon and we need plenty more like you. I'm just trying to show that, while not preferable, being pragmatic about the situation the club would do well to just put this behind us with minimal penalties and get on with focusing the entire club on winning games of footy.

It does nothing of the sort - you don't even know what the specifics of the findings might be but I can guarantee the club would not be found guilty of "tanking" or "match-fixing". Kill the club is hyperbole to the extreme - what would kill the club is taking on city hall in a protracted court case when we would be trying to get off on technicalities. This outcome will have minimal to no effect on sponsorship but continued negative publicity due to a court case definitely would. Do you think our President's words could have been chosen to have the effect of ensuring the penalties on the club and individuals would be minimal? It's bluster to scare the AFL into thinking we will do it - it's no use having nuclear bombs if no-one thinks you will use them but you'd be utterly insane to.

You blokes need to take your blinkers off and realise that if that is the outcome 1) we would have negotiated for it and 2) we should take it and run. It might make you feel good short-term but it would be utterly irresponsible of the club to waste resources fighting that and if the current admin did (which I do not believe they will at all) they should be out on their arses. Realise you need to take a pragmatic approach and all the huffing and puffing about court action would have been for the sole purpose of getting this outcome (should it eventuate). Suspended sentences and a short time in the sin bin for DB & CC and a small fine for the club (we could knock it off in one night of fundraising) would be an outstanding outcome compared to what might have been (banishment from early rounds of multiple drafts). It's not ideal, of course we'd all like to get off completely, but given the circumstances I would mark that outcome down as a win and get on with moving the club forward and letting Neeld get on with the footy.

On the one hand that would seem like a good outcome, that we are going to come out of this relatively unscathed with receiving a negotiated slap on the wrist type punishment. On the other hand I hate the "death row" feeling; execute or exonerate just get it over with already!

If the AFL don't come out with something today it is just another reason why they are one of the most inept managers of a professional sporting organisation on the planet. As Mac7 said they are lucky the product sells itself or the competition would be bankrupt with this congregation of buffoons in charge.

Just hurry the f*** up about it.

I understand the sentiment and don't doubt you guys think fighting this is in the best long term interests of the club. However I just don't think being branded "tankers" will stick first of all (assuming the charges are as light as it seems they may be) and second of all I don't think it will be as detrimental as you do. I dont believe for a second or will negatively impact our ability to land sponsors; what may is a protracted court case costing is hundreds of thousands if not millions in fees, salaries and bad publicity. Sometimes you have to be pragmatic about these things. I won't be happy if we are the only club to get stung on this when others were blatantly doing it but the fact is we were the ones who, for whatever reason, got caught with our hands in the cookie jar. It's not fair but prolonging this by taking it to court, airing dirty laundry, negative publicity with the chance for the media to keep sticking their boots in again and again, legal fees and court costs plus the possibility of getting an even harsher penalty at the end of it all is just too much to gamble. I'm not too worried about others perceptions of us lets just focus on the footy instead of being about "anything but" as Malthouse indicated Neeld commented upon arrival here. Lets just let Neeld the new FD and players who have nothing to do with 2009 get on with doing what they're paid to do. That's my opinion on it and what I think is in the best long term interests of the MFC.

Again (and I don't mean to single you out, this is a response to all on here who think similarly) who gives a stuff about what Eddie would or wouldn't do - we are our own club and our own men. You admit we tanked and then complain because we may get some (very light) sanctions? What good is pride when you have no money to feed your family? I'll be glad if we can just move on from this whole sordid affair without the club being crippled. It's not fair if we get done and Carlton, Collingwood etc get away with it but life isn't fair that's just the way it is. Taking this to court when we could get off pretty much scot-free would be not only stupid but irresponsible.

Who gives a stuff what other people think of us? Carlton are known as the brown paper baggers, do you think that hurts them or they give a stuff. The mentality on here is ridiculous. If we get away with a minor fine for the club and minimal suspensions for CC & DB we should be absolutely laughing and thankful we can put this entire sordid mess behind us and focus on building towards the future with Neeld and the players/FD we have now instead of wallowing about in months/years of legal arguments in court about stuff that happened 4 bloody years ago. By the way having some sort of fines/suspensions handed out doesn't make us guilty of tanking - it will depend on what the findings/charges are but it is not a black & white issue.

Yep - I generally like Lloyd as a commentator but he seems out of his depth on this show. He looked like a school kid being told off when CW responded to his assertion Hird should get a $5k fine or suspension that he would have to go.

You familiar with the saying "you can't have your cake and eat it too"? If the sanctions described on FC come to fruition (suspensions for CC, DB & a fine) I would be doing cartwheels as we would have dodged a nuclear bomb.

That's OK I have Fox EDIT - found out I can't go anyway as it's the mother-in-laws birthday so we're going out for dinner so will IQ it and watch when I get home.

I agree but it's still going to be a large component (balancing the books, expanding revenue) of how he is measured.

Hopefully there's some announcement today (though I won't hold my breath) I'm sick of the speculation.

Pretty sure it's free for AFL members.

Was looking forward to going along next Friday to watch some actual footy - but $22 for GA (3rd level?) with no free access for club members for a couple of Mickey Mouse half-games? The AFL and Docklands can get f*****.

If that was the case you'd have to weigh it up and we'd probably have little choice - however I think it was just more media sensationalism rather than any real threat though of course we'd have to seek some counsel on that.

If we wanted to live and die by our principles we shouldn't have tanked games of football. Bit late now to start going on about standing for something and putting on all this false bravado about protecting our name and integrity when in 2009 we were perfectly happy to cheat (for the record I supported the tanking and still would put in the same position again - but then I don't go on about taking the AFL to court to preserve some intangible "pride").

You'd be pretty dumb to reject anything outright without even knowing what is being discussed. Regardless of the outcome I doubt we'll lose the pokies. I also doubt it will have many long term ramifications. The best thing to do is get this entire situation behind us and get some wins on the board, that will help our long term future far greater than wasting months/years and dollars in the courts will.