manny100

I agree that the club, players and memberts should stick tight and see this difficult time through together. Only the strong can stick tight. The inability to stick tight in difficult times is what sees work teams fall apart and relationship breakdowns. All the clubs at some time or other have been 'easybeats' and got through it. Its just that we get a lot more media exposure now. The reality is that our midfield at the moment is barely AFL standard. We should go all out for Daisy Thomas at year end. Also we do not have leaders in the mould of Nieta, Ox or Todd Viney. Leaders take some time to develop. Perhaps Jack Viney and Hogan can develop.

Looks like Tappy will get another go. It looks like the game may be about to pass Jamar by - and he is contracted for next year as well. If he digs deep we may see some improvement in his play from here on. Gawn will need a good 5 or 6 VFLgames before being ready. We would have to have the worst performing midfield ever? Pity we cannot bring Magner in. Toumpas needs some time in the VFL to develop. When Dawes comes in we should give Watts a go as third tall up forward as he would attract the third best defender. This would free HAiowe up for more midfield time. Not a real lot of midfield options at the moment!!

I attended training today and the highlights for me were: I did not realise how quick and athletic Dawes was when the ball hits the ground. Reads the play very well and was the equal and better of oppnents in simulation. Viney stood his ground when triple tackled and still got the handball out. Neil Graig said people will pay their money to see Jack play. Toumpas although in the rehab group looks AFL size as does does Hogan. The team looked very sharp - thanks to the coaching group. They were all involved in teaching and explaining what to do in various situations. Watts seems stronger in the core. Jetta looks stronger. Dunn looks like Tarzan - he has put on heaps of upper body muscle.

Rookie contracts are a minimum base. A club may pay extra if it deems fit if the Salary CAP allows. It may be that this is the case in relation to Magna.

Wilson discounts the AFL's role in all of this and says the only thing that the AFL is guilty of is incompetence of the CEO etc. Well you could say the same about the MFC, ie blame officials and not the club. The AFL knew or ought to have known that there were concerns over a number of years and yet they turned a blind eye. If i am in a team at work and my manager turns a blind eye to other team members coming to work late and one day i come in late and get the sack then i will see my employer in the AAT and i will be awarded compensation. The AFL are in a very difficult situation and would not want the embarrassment of evidence and cross examination. I may lead to job losses at the AFL as well. The AFL has taken measures to prevent this situation again and they would be best served if guilt is established to come to an agreement with the MFC regarding penalties to avoid wholesale carnage to the game it it goes to Court. Put it all behind.

The only game of football i have seen where the MFC looked like they were not trying to win was the Geelong game which got Bailey sacked. Sadly were were just very, very,very,very poor on the day - nothing more, nothing untoward. If it had been played out in the year in question it would have been put forward as a 100% watertight case and proof that we tanked!!! Funnily enough we were a much better side in 2011 than previous years. During that so called tanking season when we did win we were so poor as a team that there should have been game fixing investigations!!!!!

Great article. I hope the AFL invetigators interview the writer. If this goes to Court he may well be called up as an expert witness for the defence!!

The AFL are between a rock and a hard place!! So called tanking was rife. The AFL knew it and chose to do nothing for to long. This gives a perception of 'don't do it but its ok if you do we won't do anything. Given the gaming issues the AFL failed in its duty to properly address the issue and remove priorities far earlier. Ironically Flanagan says we were a poor side anyway. He implies WCE tanked and says openly that we were a poor team. Given so many teams engaged in so called tanking with the AFL turning a blind eye (its not proven yet) we would have to be stiff to get a big penalty. If it went to Court the AFL would look pretty incompetent under questioning why it did not act earlier to get rid of priorities.

Hi all, Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere? If so administrators please delete. Flanagan spent the 2009 season with the Demons. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/trying-times-with-a-team-that-wasnt-very-good-20121031-28k86.html

The AFL blundered big time after the Kreuser cup. Carlton tanked. Everyone knew even the media. Yet the AFL chose to do nothing - missed th boat. This inaction by the AFL in the face of the obvious could be sen as tacit/percieved approval to individuals, ie do it if you wish - we will not stop it. It was only after McLean blabbered that the AFL decided to act to get rid of priorities - all to late. Also discussions at a meeting do not mean that these things were carried out on the field. All options must be aired at meetings - whether ok or not. It would be very hard for the AFL to prove allthis in a court and come out smelling like roses!! It is also possible that Wilson is talking firmly through her behind!!