Straight Sets Simon

Demons found guilty, fined "It was that meeting which appears to have provided the best and most damaging evidence of what former Demon Brock McLean declared last year ''Blind Freddie'' could see. That Melbourne had deliberately lost games of football." Wait, what?

I can't believe the AFL have distinguished between resting players and playing players out of position. Tanking just got easier, you don't have to be so obvious about it by playing your ruckman in the back pocket.

I'm fairly sure we've established that organisations cannot sue for defamation, only individuals.

Yes, but he pulled the pin and dropped it at his feet. No sympathy for Connolly at all.

Melbourne didn't "tank" but Bailey acted on the pressure put under by Connolly. If he acted on what Connolly said then how is the club not guilty?

It's impossible for anyone to say without definitively knowing the motivations of the club and individuals.

I can't find that Tweet.

Going in circles, but can it be proven?EDIT: This has always been the crux of the issue, it's one thing for us to think it, but if it can't be proven no one should be charged.

As was discussed when this all first started, from an evidence and therefore charging (fines and suspensions) point of view it needs to be proven that the motivation for moves were to deliberately lose, not just winning not being a top priority (Scott Watters NAB Cup). Maybe that evidence is in the 800-1000 page report, but that's the sticking point of this whole debate. I do think Melbourne wanted the Priority Pick, but I don't want to see the club punished for it if there isn't concrete evidence to prove this was the case.

But were they trying to lose? There is a difference between winning not being a top priority and wanting to lose.

I don't see those as the crux at all. I think that Melbourne did want the priority pick, and whilst some moves looked a little dodgey I cannot prove the motivation behind them was to deliberately lose. The issue for me is that whilst we may suspect Melbourne "tanked", I don't want to see the club punished without concrete evidence against it. None of us have seen the report and maybe there is damning evidence that proves it, but from what has supposedly been "leaked" to the media, the case doesn't look strong at all.

I remember hearing it live, I don't usually listen to 3AW but when they wanted people to call in and suggest what Melbourne's punishment should be I almost drove off the road.

Clint Bizzell at 11.30, what a star.

Easily the best, brilliant caller of the game on the ABC too.

I imagine it will appear here once uploaded.

I wish Offsiders on the ABC was an hour long program because the articulate, intelligent and reasonable Gerard Whateley was taking it up to Caroline Wilson with reason and logic. I will need to watch it again, but interestingly Wilson has again changed her tune since Friday saying the fine would likely be "watered down" and wasn't as assured as her article suggested on Friday. EDIT: It will be on iView on the ABC website later, worth a watch.

I always felt that this incident didn't get enough exposure, the "joking" excuse was used here and accepted. EDIT: More here.

The Swans got Tippett for nothing.

Saints focus on game plan "A day out from St Kilda's first hit-out in the NAB Cup coach Scott Watters said he isn't focussed on winning the AFL pre-season competition. "No interest - that is certainly not a focus," Watters told reporters in Adelaide on Saturday.

He could and should be a top 20 player in the AFL as physically he has all the attributes. "That game" against Hawthorn is a prime example, the problem is that he just seems to be half a second behind the play and doesn't get the ball enough to impact games like he should. Fingers crossed he doesn't get another late pre-season injury like previous years.

I find it interesting that she calls for James Hird to be sacked over drug allegations as the senior coach, yet Dean Bailey was the innocent "pawn" in this affair.

Because they haven't had a chance to be "Melbourneised" yet.

He looks to be a replacement for Gysberts, in terms of physical attributes and appearance. Hopefully with a better work ethic.

I want answers, just don't feel as though we will get the answer we want.

Sadly, her job is to make money for The Age, they will be getting a lot more hits on their website and selling a lot more papers by her writing this.