Tank 'for the kids'

Melbourne players leave the ground after a loss in 2009. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

A SECOND member of Melbourne's 2009 wooden spoon-winning team has admitted coach Dean Bailey was under fierce pressure to deliberately lose matches.

The player spoke yesterday as league investigators closed in on officials at the centre of the Demons tanking scandal.

Melbourne faces the loss of selections at this year's national draft, including the prized No.4 pick.

"It was disgusting what was going on and you felt for Bails because everyone knew he was under the pump to lose," said the player, who the Herald Sun agreed not to name.

Demon talk is doing damage

"Players had meetings and asked him what was going on but there was nothing he could do.

"The club had a plan. They wanted the two kids, (Tom) Scully and (Jack) Trengove and you just shook your head.

"You'd work your butt off in the pre-season and hang up all these words in the gym and the change rooms or whatever and what did it all mean? Nothing.

"Players were never told to lose. They were just rested and played out of position. (Backman) Matthew Warnock would play full-forward and (forward) Paul Johnson would play full-back."

Proof the Demons tanked could also have drastic consequences for the AFL, the controlling body under Victorian law for all gambling on football.

Tanking an on-going problem: Libba

Gaming Minister Michael O'Brien last night said the State Government was monitoring the case.

The AFL reaps millions of dollars a year from betting and commercial arrangements with bookmakers.

"Any action which brings into question the integrity of sports and sports betting in Victoria is unacceptable," O'Brien said.

It was alleged yesterday that senior Melbourne administrators held a secret meeting in 2009 to plot their tanking strategy.

The end game was to secure the first two picks in that year's national draft - used on Scully and Trengove.

Probe leaves Demons in a sweat

Club president Don McLardy and chief executive Cameron Schwab did not respond to the latest allegations.

Former Melbourne player Brock McLean triggered the AFL investigation when he claimed in July he quit the club because it had set out to deliberately lose games in 2009.

League investigators have re-interviewed several key figures, including Bailey, former recruiter Barry Prendergast and current football manager Josh Mahoney.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said yesterday: "It is not appropriate to comment on the investigation itself at this stage.

"However, I would strongly encourage anyone with information that could be relevant to come forward and contact (league investigator) Brett Clothier."

Other Melbourne figures grilled by the AFL include former innovations coach Dave Dunbar, former part-time development coach Scott West and 2009 captain James McDonald.

McLardy, Schwab, then football operations manager Chris Connolly and assistant coaches Sean Wellman, Mark Williams and Josh Mahoney were also on the AFL's interview list.

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