Asked on Fox Footy's
On the Couch last night whether winning had not been a priority for the Demons in Bailey's second season, McLean, now with Carlton, replied: "Definitely, and I think you would have to be blind freddy to not figure that one out.
"When I sat down with Dean Bailey and made my decision [to leave], I brought that up with him. I told him what I really thought. We were both on the same page. I really felt for 'Bails' because he was put in a difficult position. I was part of the leadership group that year.We spoke among ourselves, and said: 'We just have to continue to toe the line, reinforce what the coaches are saying, not let Chinese whispers get into something bigger'."
McLean said the tanking issue prompted him to leave the club.
The allegations could rock the AFL, coming a year after an investigation by league operations manager Adrian Anderson found the Demons had no case to answer for their actions during Bailey's tenure, particularly in 2008 and '09.
Anderson investigated after Bailey, at his farewell press conference after being sacked, had come close to admitting he had tanked.
"I had no hesitation at all in the first two years in ensuring the club was well placed for draft picks," Bailey said at the time. "I was asked to do the best thing by the Melbourne Football Club and I did it. I put players in different positions."
Read more:
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/demons-tanked-mclean-20120730-23akv.html#ixzz2D7i3LegD
I had forgotten Bailey is on the record too.
Just to be clear, are you saying Melbourne didn't tank or 'they'll never be able to prove it'?