Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

[Ghost Dog]

Tanking affair: AFL to lift the lid on Melbourne's 'vault'
DateOctober 30, 2012 - 2:53PM 318
Caroline Wilson


THE AFL has uncovered a secret meeting involving at least 10 members of the Melbourne football department in which coaches were reminded of the importance of forfeiting matches in order to gain early draft picks.

Former Melbourne football boss Chris Connolly addressed the 2009 meeting which The Age understands was code-named 'the vault'.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...#ixzz2AkrBuP96

Is anyone surprised this is all going to start coming out?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

The AFL's bullshit attitude to anything negative is my single biggest annoyance in football.

Tanking doesn't exist
There are no drugs in football
GWS did not speak to Phil Davis before the end of the season
No-one cheats the salary cap

The AFL deserve all they get

[jeemak]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

^I love how Vlad mentions the AFL's no tolerance approach to anything that compromises the integrity of the game, such as tanking, gambling, drugs etc......then conveniently omits the most damaging, the AFL created unfair fixture!

If it wasn't for the Bulldogs I would have NO interest in the AFL whatsoever. They're a pantomime of themselves.

[Sedat]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

The AFL's bullshit attitude to anything negative is my single biggest annoyance in football.

Tanking doesn't exist
There are no drugs in football
GWS did not speak to Phil Davis before the end of the season
No-one cheats the salary cap

The AFL deserve all they get

This. But you know what, Melbourne will get the book thrown at them because they've now been proven to have made Vlad sound like the fool that he is for arrogantly dismissing the notion that tanking occurs - even though tanking has been fostered by the AFL's own rules. Fool Vlad in public and you will suffer his wrath. Also he doesn't dare want to be subjected to legal action from the betting agencies so he will bash up an easy target ie: Melbourne in order to protect the millions pouring in from the betting agencies via sponsorship/signage.

Good luck trying to take Collingwood on and prove that they tanked in 2004 in order to get Thomas and Pendlebury - there was one match late that season where they were 4 goals up against North with 5 minutes to go that they somehow lost - Melbourne a much softer target

[anfo27]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

I have to say i'm quite shocked after reading that article. When it was announced the AFL was going to investigate this I just thought they would do half assed job & uncover nothing. Then a smug Vlad will come out and announce that tanking doesn't exist & their investigation proves that.

After reading that article it looks like they are in deep poop. Take Hogan off them & give him to us.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

This. But you know what, Melbourne will get the book thrown at them because they've now been proven to have made Vlad sound like the fool that he is for arrogantly dismissing the notion that tanking occurs - even though tanking has been fostered by the AFL's own rules. Fool Vlad in public and you will suffer his wrath. Also he doesn't dare want to be subjected to legal action from the betting agencies so he will bash up an easy target ie: Melbourne in order to protect the millions pouring in from the betting agencies via sponsorship/signage.

Good luck trying to take Collingwood on and prove that they tanked in 2004 in order to get Thomas and Pendlebury - there was one match late that season where they were 4 goals up against North with 5 minutes to go that they somehow lost - Melbourne a much softer target

Totally agree - difference is they have "evidence" implicating Melbourne in deliberately manipulating the outcome of games from none other than the coach at the time and a senior player in Mclean (and apparently others). Ironically for Melbourne phase 1 of the plan (the tanking) went well but they f'ed up phase 2 (the drafting) so they look like fools all around.
Won't young Brock be popular down at, ah, erm, well wherever Melbourne are based.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

Pity all this could not have been finalised prior to trade week, I figure the AFL sanctions may've precluded them from participating in the Mini draft, in which case GC would've had no reason not to make them bid pick 3 on Viney.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

Hopefully they lose pick 4

[LongWait]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

Hopefully they lose pick 4

If so, Wines would possibly be available at our first pick. My money would be on us taking him - we couldn't resist.

[Mantis]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

If so, Wines would possibly be available at our first pick. My money would be on us taking him - we couldn't resist.

Yep.

He is exactly the type of player we would chose if we had the opportunity.

[LongWait]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

Yep.

He is exactly the type of player we would chose if we had the opportunity.

Agreed. Wines ticks the coaches' boxes like few others in this draft. He would be a reasonably controversial selection for us.

If we chose Wines and Stringer I'm guessing a few on here might be upset.

[jeemak]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

From what I've seen of Wines' footage I'd be pretty happy to get him. He doesn't tick the box of being an outside user exclusively, though he can win the ball and be creative with it and his foot skills seem pretty good to me. I'm sure if asked to play a more outside role he could adapt.

[wimberga]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

Happy to get Wines also - seems an aboslute gun!

[Dry Rot]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

Hasn't the AFL been investigating this for a while?

Maybe Melbourne feared draft pick sanctions, and hence all their trading picks for some ordinary players.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Melbourne FC. Tanks for the memories.

Hasn't the AFL been investigating this for a while?

Maybe Melbourne feared draft pick sanctions, and hence all their trading picks for some ordinary players.

Bingo! We have a winner.
I think Neeld's read and watched "Moneyball" to often.