What a wretched few weeks it’s been for Aussie sports fans.
We have copped a battering from the collective might of Government ministers, the ACC, ASADA and a delighted media who’ve stopped at nothing to exploit every “possibly” and “potentially” they can lay their scabrous hands on.
The investigation is presumably ongoing and is possibly making strong progress in catching out whomever it is that has potentially done whatever they’ve allegedly done.
Confusion reigns in the land.
It is into this climate of suspicion and paranoia the AFL has released the results of its investigation into the allegations of tanking by the Melbourne Football Club.
It somehow managed to find the club innocent of deliberately losing games but simultaneously fined them $500,000 as well as suspending the senior coach and football operations manager at the centre of the non-tanking scandal.
Commenting on this, The Roar’s Sean Lee wrote:
“That the Melbourne Football Club were found not guilty of tanking yet still received a $500 000 fine shows that the AFL are confused over how to charge and punish its clubs.”
Putting on my cynic’s headgear I would say they’ve delivered their “punishment” with absolute clarity of thought. The AFL’s only concern in all things is the protection of the brand image of the AFL.
The AFL’s management would have looked silly had they cleared the parties of all wrongdoing. They would have opened themselves up to all kinds of harsh criticism in the media.
Similarly, they would have had unkind things written about them had they cracked down as hard possible on Melbourne because the AFL declared over and over that there was no such thing as tanking.
So instead, they chose the path of confusion and have opened themselves up to all sorts of harsh, unkind criticism from fans and the media. They get to be seen to be doing something about a problem they insist didn’t (and doesn’t) exist.
The AFL has painstakingly constructed a narrative around itself as the code all other codes aspire to be like in this country. It has declared itself the leader in every conceivable aspect of governing a pro-sports comp.
By choosing to deliver the most baffling and illogical finding of its investigation into itself, has the AFL once again shown the way for other codes to follow?
In 2010, the NRL delivered a harsh-but-fair punishment to the Melbourne Storm for systematic and deliberate salary cap breaches. The club was fined over a million dollars, had premierships and minor premierships stripped and was forced to play the 2010 season for no points.
Naturally they also had to jettison a host of players from their illegally-assembled squad. This list included superstar back Greg Inglis, the most dangerous player in the world on his day.
Sponsors walked away from the club and from the game. The playing group and coach still lives under a pall of suspicion about what they knew.
The AFL must have been in awe of the NRL’s stupidity in their handling of this issue. Not only did CEO David Gallop front a media desperate to apply the label “the biggest scandal in Australian sporting history”, he ruthlessly battered, humiliated and hamstrung a vital expansion club.
He was staunch in his refusal to relent and allow the Storm to compete for points in 2010. He copped the abuse of fans and angry Storm officials with stoicism.
The matter was referred to ASIC, Victoria Police, the Australian Tax Office and other outside agencies to do their best at uncovering the hidden details of the affair.
He sacrificed a cheating club on the altar of integrity.
What was the result of the lancing of this boil? Did the Storm continue to wilt under the pressure? Did members walk away, never to return?
By confronting the issue squarely, issuing appropriate punishments, allowing outside agencies to conduct independent investigations and riding out the fierce PR consequences, the Storm were able to hold their heads up with pride as they raised the 2012 NRL trophy.
Fans felt vindicated in their faith, rewarded for sticking by their club in the tough times and are able to look to a bright future free from the gravitational pull of a dark past.
Will fans of the Melbourne Demons be able to draw a similar line under their club’s murky dealings?
The AFL’s ruling has not allowed a clean break to be made with the past, instead infuriating sports fans who crave integrity and transparency.
At a time when the integrity of Australian pro sports is most under scrutiny, the release of such a confusing and contradictory finding must be counted as a fumble.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
The former Collingwood president says the Kangaroos need to 'stand for something' not just on the field but in the community or risk being…
The All-Australian player has been below his best this year, and Matthew Lloyd has suggested that he be moved more into the midfield to…
The AFL need a more simple approach to high contact and one that makes players accountable, regardless of intent.
He and Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell do not like having a player to sub on and would rather have an extra player available on…
The Footy Classified commentator says people should give Jason Horne-Francis credit for what the young star does for Port Adelaide in key moments -…
What is the pass mark for a number one draft pick? Harley Reid still needs to prove his long-haul value before he is worth multimillion-dollar contracts.
