John Worsfold and Mark Harvey have rejected suggestions 'tanking' occurs in the AFL, despite former Richmond coach Terry Wallace's admission he 'didn't do anything' to prevent a Tigers' loss in 2007.
Speaking to Melbourne's Herald Sun, Wallace admitted he didn't make many moves during the Round 22 clash between St Kilda and Richmond where the Saints came from behind in the last quarter to win by 12 points.
Had Richmond won, it would have finished 2007 higher on the ladder than Carlton with 18 points, conceding the No. 2 draft selection to the Blues and losing the No. 18 priority selection that year.
These selections netted the Tigers Trent Cotchin and Alex Rance respectively.
According to AFL rules, teams that finish with four or fewer wins for two consecutive seasons are entitled to a priority selection that occurs before the first round of the draft commences.
And, with West Coast and Melbourne still in line to receive those selections, the debate about tanking has emerged once again, made especially relevant by the 2009 Draft being crucial for struggling clubs as next year's will be compromised by concessions awarded to the AFL's newest club, the Gold Coast.
Worsfold, though, stringently declared on Wednesday he was tired of the debate.
"It's just talk 'cause it's something to talk about this time of year," Worsfold said.
"It's going to be there next year, the year after and probably for another 50 years the same time of year, so it gets a bit tiresome to hear it when, for people involved in the industry, it's not an issue, doesn't exist."
"The draft is in, it's a big part of the AFL competition and teams that are outside the eight at this time of year can be thrown into that (the tanking debate) every year."
"So we're just a club that's thrown in amongst it," Worsfold said.
When asked specifically whether 'tanking' had ever crossed his mind, Worsfold refused to answer the question, saying, 'I've answered that hundreds of times'.
Speaking with Worsfold in a joint press conference ahead of this Saturday's Western Derby, Harvey described accusations of tanking as a 'slur' on clubs.
"The coaches and the coach's association don't want to be part at all, associated with that word, 'tanking'," said Harvey, who's Fremantle side could receive a priority selection after the first round of this season's draft as the Dockers may win fewer than five matches.
"I don't know how many more times we need to say that. I mean how do I talk to a young player about what he should or should not do on a football ground, 'cause all he's trying to do is his best, so why would we interfere with that."
"Look it just bemuses me and we've all grown up, all the coaches have played football and all they want to do is win and so do players, careers are always on the line."
"So it's (tanking accusations) really distasteful I reckon and I reckon it's a slur on how hard coaches work and players," Harvey said.