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Tank Talk

On Channel's Nine Footy Show on Thursday March 13, 2008, ex Blue Assistant Coach Tony Liberatore appeared to accuse the Carlton hierarchy of tanking in 2007. Although no evidence was offered, just a 'vibe', Liberatore stated that Carlton did not seem to plan as effectively in the final games of 2007 and that some players were given games ahead of more deserving players. Among his claims, Liberatore suggested Bret Thornton had not required surgery that ended his season prematurely.

Needless to say, and after controversies involving Collingwood and Hawthorn on this topic, the claims created a media firestorm in the week leading up to the 2008 AFL Season.

"To say we are sending blokes out to have operations who don't need operations, that's a disgrace."
Greg Swann, Carlton CEO

"We're pretty peeved at it, we think it is a slur on the club. We'll definitely have a look at it because a lot of things that were said were just wrong plain and simple."
Greg Swann, Carlton CEO

"I can assure you the Carlton Football Club has never tanked a game." "When he (Brett Ratten) coaches us in that (Round 17) game that I played his intentions were - and he told us before the game - we're here to win and we're here to give our very best. I can't remember his exact words, but I know that was his intention."
Anthony Koutoufides, ex-Carlton Captain

"To play AFL football, you've got to be an incredibly competitive person. To say those players could run out and rull over, I'd find hard to believe"
Chris Judd, New Carlton Captain

"...based on the information provided by Mr.Liberatore, all the available evidence and the responses supplied by the Carlton Football Club and its officials, the AFL will not take any further action on this matter."
AFL Announcement, Wednesday March 19, 2008


In the end, perhaps it was one person's view of 'tanking', perhaps the Club was just trying to eke something positive out of a disastrous season, or perhaps list management - for any bottom 8 Club - requires you to take a chance on youth. Football fans know that young players are given extra chances at the end of all season, yet this issue had appeared to take on some legs of its own.

2008 | 2007: Youthful Blues
Contributors to this page: Bombasheldon and molsey .
Page last modified on Sunday 22 of May, 2011 16:15:09 AEST by Bombasheldon.

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