Fraud is fraud. Because they were incompetent and couldn't make the best use of their picks and not develop the players they did draft, is irrelevant to their manipulation of the draft.
I had no sympathy for Carlton who were long term systematic cheats and equally none for Melbourne. They have done the crime, the time for pain is coming. The Saints and all other AFL teams (except Crows, Carlton and Melbourne) have been following the AFL laws. Without sufficient punishment for this, we move back to the old VFL days of cheque book premierships and a lopsided competition.
I hope they throw the book at Melbourne. If they spend another 5-8 years on the bottom, they have no one to blame but themselves. This isn't about sending Melbourne to Tassie, or throwing them out of the AFL. This is about fairness and allowing all teams the opportunity, to operate within the rules to try and win a premiership.
Cheats, cheat ALL of us.