Time to strip points for tanking

Former Melbourne coach Dean Bailey was at the helm in 2009 when the Demons were accused of tanking. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

HAD Essendon not slipped into AFL House last Tuesday to express concern about possible doping at Windy Hill last year, the long-running investigation into Melbourne's alleged tanking in 2009 would be over.

As it is, a decision on whether charges will be laid against Melbourne is expected this week.

Without prejudicing anything, the AFL Commission may want to reflect on how it punishes errant clubs.

It is time to stop stripping draft picks as a penalty. It is time to finally invoke Rule 16 and strip clubs of premiership points.

If, as expected, the case is made that senior club officials told the Demons coaching staff to lose games in 2009, Melbourne will probably be banned from four consecutive drafts. This is the maximum penalty the AFL Commission can impose, but, really, what does it achieve?

It compromises the draft for every AFL club, more so when Melbourne returns to the table and is handed quality picks, as happened with Carlton after its salary cap rorting.

It delivers an uncompetitive Melbourne. That would be fine if the AFL was a promotion-relegation league and the Demons, for their crimes, slipped all the way to the third division.

But in a one-tier league, what is the point of a basket-case team compromising the chase for the premiership?

The lopsided draw would serve up two lollipop clashes against the Demons to some clubs, but only one to others.

The AFL - and football - would be better served by keeping Melbourne competitive but without reward for its on-field victories.

Strip the Demons of 20 premiership points this season, 16 in 2014, eight in 2015 and four in 2016.

And when it comes to the draft order, rank Melbourne by wins rather than premiership points to ensure it is not rewarded with No.1 draft picks should it finish last.

As for any club official proved to have orchestrated tanking - a form of match-fixing - to secure a prime draft pick, the penalty must be a life ban.

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