AFL makes key Brownlow call amid voting shame

1 year ago 84

The AFL has sacked the umpire astatine the centre of the Brownlow Medal betting ungraded but decided against changing the voting system.

Michael Pell was 1 of 4 men arrested past period amid suspicious betting connected the AFL's highest idiosyncratic award, having allegedly leaked votes from matches this year.

The saga led to a big of high-profile radical successful the AFL world, including Brisbane Lions skipper Dayne Zorko and erstwhile St Kilda manager Grant Thomas, calling for Brownlow voting to beryllium stripped from umpires.

But AFL main enforcement Gillon McLachlan revealed connected Thursday that voting would "stay precisely the same".

"All the suggestions I've heard — it's not that they're not worthy, but they wouldn't person dealt with this issue," McLachlan said.

"In the end, the allegations spell to the idiosyncratic integrity of an individual.

"At immoderate point, close done each system, idiosyncratic has to marque a determination erstwhile they person accusation that, if they're compromised, tin pb to issues similar we've allegedly got here."

The AFL informed umpires this week that Pell's declaration had been terminated and that a replacement would beryllium appointed during summer.

Bets were allegedly made connected much than 10 games successful which Pell, a erstwhile tract umpire, officiated.

"There is nary employment narration betwixt the AFL and the umpire astatine the centre of the allegations," McLachlan said.

"The broader consequences are present with the constabulary due to the fact that it's a transgression matter."

Umpires grant Brownlow votes for each crippled connected a 3-2-1 ground and determination is utmost information astir that accusation until McLachlan reveals the vote-getters connected Brownlow night, held successful expansive last week.

McLachlan, who plans connected retiring arsenic the AFL's main enforcement successful April, doesn't judge the integrity of the Brownlow Medal was tarnished by the betting controversy.

"There's harm caused by that ungraded and I deliberation the umpires person been hurting, but I don't deliberation the integrity of the Brownlow is compromised successful immoderate way," McLachlan said.

"There was not immoderate manipulation of the votes.

"It was an contented of idiosyncratic integrity, allegedly. We've got to spot however that plays out.

"The allegations person wounded the umpires personally and I consciousness for them, but I don't deliberation it bleeds into the Brownlow."

Carlton midfielder Patrick Cripps won this year's Brownlow Medal with 29 votes.

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