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Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
Herald Sun, October 17, 2016,
Michael Warner, Herald Sun
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vic...c92432d0309b93
EXCLUSIVE: SECRET Western Bulldogs documents detail explosive undisclosed claims about the leaking of inside information to the Adelaide Crows before last year’s elimination final.
The Herald Sun can reveal Bulldogs chiefs informed the AFL they had obtained “independent corroboration” of allegations that disaffected Dogs defender Michael Talia leaked parts of the team’s game plan to his brother, star Adelaide backman Daniel Talia, in the days before the match.
The Talias, who have always maintained their innocence, were cleared by the AFL last November after a 63-day integrity unit investigation.
But a letter and submission from the Bulldogs to the AFL, obtained by the Herald Sun, expose the Dogs’ fury at the league’s handling of the probe and its exoneration of the brothers.
“There is a clearly sufficient basis for the AFL to find that there was an improper communication of confidential information,” Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon asserted in the club’s damning submission to the league.
The documents reveal witness testimony that Michael Talia was “angry and resentful that he had been excluded from the WBFC team for the final” before talking to his brother.
And the Dogs were scathing of the AFL for accepting the explanations of players at the centre of the scandal rather than the views of coach Luke Beveridge and list manager Jason McCartney. Beveridge was prepared to go “on oath” about conversations with Crows defender Kyle Cheney.
The morning after the final, *!Cheney told his Hawthorn mate, Ben Stratton, and later Beveridge that *!Michael Talia had leaked game tactics to the Crows.
But 12 days later, in a change of story accepted by AFL investigators, Cheney claimed he was only “joking”, despite Beveridge’s view the original claims were real. The assertion of a “joke” was critical to the ultimate finding that there was no cheating.
Documents reveal the Dogs dismissed the “practical joke” explan*!ation outright, as an “invention”.
The AFL should be concerned that Cheney had been “participating in a cover-up”, the Bulldogs said, adding: “His behaviour is disgraceful and *!inappropriate.”
Documents reveal the Dogs said they had “obtained a degree of independent corroboration” of the Talia allegations from a conversation between McCartney and the father of Crows defender Jake Lever, four days after the Bulldogs’ seven-point loss in the September 12 knockout final. Al Lever later accused McCartney of “ fabricating the story”.
Damning allegations that the Crows were made aware of an “unusual role” to be played by Dogs forward Tory Dickson in the MCG match, as well as of plans for Bulldogs star Jake Stringer, were also detailed.
And the Herald Sun can reveal Bulldogs assistant coach Steven King and Adelaide backline coach Darren Milburn were alleged to have deleted text messages relating to the Talia allegations.
This occurred after the AFL was asked to investigate, but before they were asked for the messages. No AFL findings were made against the coaches.
In further claims within the Dogs documents, not disclosed by the AFL in its publicly released summary of findings into the Talia matter:
CHENEY admitted telling Stratton that Daniel Talia had given Adelaide “a heads-up about the Bulldogs game plan and knew a couple of things about the Bulldogs game plan” and the information had come from Michael Talia;
AN AFL investigator told Dogs chiefs he “thought nothing of it” after Michael Talia claimed to have lost his phone and Daniel deleted his texts — actions the Dogs described as “matters for deep concern and suspicion” and potential civil or criminal acts; and
THE Bulldogs were denied access to witness statements from key Adelaide figures.
In the October 14 letter to the AFL, Gordon said the club had lost faith in the league integrity unit’s ability to carry out the Talia investigation.
In a November 12 submission, he wrote: “WBFC does not accept the truthfulness of the Talias’ explanation for the loss of their phone records as they have alleged.
That both brothers would lose access to this evidence in all the circumstances described simply does not pass the smell test.”
The Dogs asserted that Cheney told Stratton and Beveridge that Michael Talia had leaked the information because he was “over the Bulldogs and wanted out”.
“This anger provided a motive for his improper disclosure,” Gordon said.
The AFL’s summary of findings concluded Cheney was “in shock on both occasions that he spoke to … Bev*!eridge and was too embarrassed to explain what had occurred”.
After the November ruling, the Dogs said they were “troubled by certain aspects” of the investigation.
Michael Talia, traded to Sydney last October, admitted cocaine possession in August.
michael.warner@news.com.au
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
And we will use Talia's pick 74 to secure Travis Cloke. And it's a big win for us.
TBH I'm not sure why it's getting a run, it serves no one any good now.
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
Originally Posted by
bulldogtragic
And we will use Talia's pick 74 to secure Travis Cloke. And it's a big win for us.
TBH I'm not sure why it's getting a run, it serves no one any good now.
Because if parts of it are true people at commission level will have to resign and others would face criminal charges.
They say Burt Lancaster has one, but I don't believe them.
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
Originally Posted by
Twodogs
Because if parts of it are true people at commission level will have to resign and others would face criminal charges.
You can punch Vince McMahon in the face backstage, and as satisfying as that is, Vince & chronies will still run the joint. The only difference is that they will hold much bad blood about this being public.
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
Originally Posted by
bulldogtragic
You can punch Vince McMahon in the face backstage, and as satisfying as that is, Vince & chronies will still run the joint. The only difference is that they will hold much bad blood about this being public.
Good old Vince. He made the pies cheaper. Good news if you like pies.
They say Burt Lancaster has one, but I don't believe them.
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
The full pdf documents are available on the Herald Sun article. You can tell they've been written by PG, I love it.
My favourite part is the confirmation that it was the THIRD time for the year that M Talia had 'lost' his phone when requested it for club or AFL use. Given the events of Michael's 2016, that certainly interests me.
The timing is shocking, but this matter deserved a more complete resolution than what it got last year.
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
I'm glad we are not laying down and accepting the bullshit Talia(x2) dealt and got away with. The truth is out there !!
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
If we had won this match, we would have had a much harder draw this year. Hooray
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
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Post Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 3 Likes
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
I actually enjoyed seeing this. The AFEL sweeping it under the never ending rug was pathetic and I'm glad the club took them to task about it.
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
Originally Posted by
Topdog
I wonder who leaked the documents.
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
Western Bulldogs 2016 Premiers.
Michael Talia convicted for drug possession.
Justice served. The leaking of these documents or not, we all knew the investigation by the AFL was a complete cover-up. These are some serious allegations and both Talia brothers should have served at least 1-year bans, although in Michael's case it would hardly even matter given how inept he is at anything, especially football.
Let's just move on. We got what we wanted more than anything
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
The most interesting part of the story is who leaked this information from the Western Bulldogs?
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
Time to tar and feather some of these corrupt scum working at headquarters.
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Re: Western Bulldogs savage AFL over alleged Talia leak
Peter Gordon will be on SEN shortly.
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