AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has again stated he doesn’t believe teams have deliberately lost matches to gain draft concessions, despite the current investigation into allegations against Melbourne.
The issue flared again recently when former Demons player Brock McLean, now playing for Carlton, said he left Melbourne because of so-called “tanking”.
It has been alleged the Demons were coached in a way to ensure they finished low enough on the AFL ladder to secure top draft picks for the following season.
The probe is being headed by integrity officer Brett Clothier and the AFL Commission will determine any penalty should a case be proven.
“I understand Brett has conducted several interviews and has got more to complete, and we’ll await the outcome of that report,” Demetriou told Fairfax Radio on Friday.
“I’ve said all along that I don’t believe tanking exists …. I’ve said already that if I’m proven wrong, then so be it.”
But he agreed tanking was one of the most serious accusations that could be levelled at an AFL club and the commission would have to become involved if evidence were found.
“Anything that affects the integrity of the competition, we put in that basket,” he said.
“Things like the salary cap, we put in that basket, performance-enhancing drugs, we put in that basket things that relate to betting scandals, information sharing and of course tanking if that exists,” he said.
Clothier’s report will go to AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson who will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to send the matter to the commission.
Demetriou said there was no timeframe for the investigation.
“I think it’s more important, regardless of time, to get it right,” he said.