Former Melbourne coach Dean Bailey. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun
MELBOURNE looks set to dodge serious charges and any draft penalties from the AFL despite an exhaustive seven-month investigation into tanking claims.
The Demons expect to be handed official penalties early next week that will see a heavy fine and sanctions for some officials, but no draft picks stripped from Mark Neeld's side.
Melbourne has been extremely confident for several months that the draft picks would remain intact and chief executive Cameron Schwab would not be charged.
Insiders said yesterday that Schwab was hardly mentioned in the 1000-page dossier which detailed allegations over a stretch of games from late in 2009.
But while a negotiated settlement still looks a likely outcome, Melbourne sources were defiant last night about accepting penalties.
The club was adamant it would not be bullied, and was determined to protect employees ''both past and present''.
Despite speculation the Demons could accept a fines of several hundred thousand dollars and a short ban, possibly suspended, against former coach Dean Bailey, no agreement has been made.
Chris Connolly also faces a likely ban from the football department, but he has worked away from football in a marketing role for 18 months.
While a heavy fine is likely, Melbourne is handed money from the AFL's disequalisation strategy so would have the league effectively funding their fine.
Bailey has consistently maintained he did nothing wrong, with Connolly is known to believe only four staffers confirmed of his throw-away line about not trying to win in the club's Junction Oval meeting room.
The possibility of a negotiated settlement has grown in recent weeks with the Demons in regular contact with the AFL about the tanking investigation.
The Demons had a arsenal of lawyers led by QC Ray Finklestein ready to unleash on the AFL if they were charged with attempting to lose games.
A Melbourne spokesman said last night the Demons were yet to receive an official set of charges or penalties from the AFL's acting football operations manager Gillon McLachlan.
Melbourne has been told by top legal experts is has an extremely strong legal case, which includes significant doubts about the manner in which interviews were conducted and whether they would stand up in a court of law.
The AFL's burden of proof falls on the club to prove its innocence, while in a court of law Melbourne believes it would be certain to win.
Former Melbourne star David Schwarz yesterday told the Herald Sun a negotiated settlement would save the league from significant fallout.
"This is such a hard decision for the AFL. This would have gone to court. Melbourne doesn't have to pay for legal representatives, because it has more lawyers than supporters.
"This looks like the sensible thing. They are acknowledging there is probably smoke, but not enough proof there was fire. Let it be a lesson to all of us that the rules put in place weren't conducive to sides finishing as high as high as they could. The AFL incentivised mediocrity, and history says we can't go back there.
"Deep down we all felt there were several clubs over eight years that didn't try 100 per cent 100 per cent of the time. The players tried, but I am glad this has come out, so it's not just an untold story hidden under the carpet.
"The AFL would realise if they penalised Melbourne hard they would have to go after other sides, and they don't have the resources or energy to do that."
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