Melbourne Football Clubboard member and lawyer Guy Jalland is ready for action if the Demons deem any tanking punishments too harsh. Picture: Tony Gough Source: Herald Sun
MELBOURNE has powerful lawyers - and cashed-up benefactors ready to fund court action - should the AFL's tanking investigation result in penalties it deems unacceptable.
The prospect of a mutually acceptable settlement continues to firm, and the Demons are certain they will not face any draft sanctions.
Chief executive Cameron Schwab also seems certain to avoid censure, while former coach Dean Bailey and football manager Chris Connolly will not be banished, despite facing some punishment.
But with Melbourne adamant it has received no charges from the AFL and declaring it will not be bullied, a resolution is not final.
Melbourne's lawyers have given high-level briefings that have the Demons confident they would be able to get the AFL's case thrown out of court.
Melbourne board member Guy Jalland - a legal advisor to James Packer - continues to play a leading role in the defence.AFL Commission sanctions are at the discretion of the league - teams have to prove their innocence - but the league would have to prove its case in court.
The Demons were able to wipe off a massive debt through the generosity of wealthy supporters, who stand waiting again.
Those supporters have declared they are determined that the Demons are not the scapegoats for a culture of tanking, despite several teams seemingly playing for draft picks.
Many of those figures are waiting on the sidelines watching president Don McLardy's actions as they lobby the club to continue pushing for a minor sanction.
A fine of up to $500,000, and suspended or light penalties for figures including Bailey and Connolly, would prove tempting.
But considering the Demons made a statutory profit of only $19,486, even that would be a huge blow.Melbourne has vowed to stand behind Bailey and Connolly, and will want to be sure they can continue in football after any penalties.
Connolly is said to feel confident about his position, despite several throwaway lines that indicated the Demons should not win any more games in 2009.
He has had total access to the lengthy brief of evidence, with four people - most or all no longer at the club - confirming those lines.
Bailey believes he is in a similar position, having been honest without incriminating himself or others.Collingwood president Eddie McGuire this week urged the AFL to accept some blame for the controversy over tanking.
"Why did you ignore everyone that has got a scintilla of knowledge of football and has been telling you for years that priority picks (provided an incentive to tank)?" McGuire asked on Triple M.
He said the AFL should go easy on Melbourne, considering the incentives to finish last.
"I'd have loved the AFL to come out and say 'no one won out of this, it's a nil-all draw'," McGuire said.
"Just leave it behind."
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