AFL 2022: AFL umpire Michael Pell has contract terminated after Brownlow Medal betting scandal
The 2022 Brownlow Medal has come under question after the betting scandal involving umpire Michael Pell, so what does the medal’s winner Patrick Cripps think?
The umpire at the centre of the Brownlow Medal betting scandal has had his contract terminated by the AFL as a police investigation continues into his alleged conduct.
The AFL informed its “hurting” umpire group earlier this week that Michael Pell was no longer an employee of the league, freeing up a spot on the senior umpiring list that will be filled by another whistleblower over summer.
Pell had previously been stood down after being arrested on November 14, along with three other men, for allegedly corrupting betting outcomes on the Brownlow.
“The umpire is not employed by the AFL anymore,” AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Thursday.
“There is no employment relationship between the AFL and the umpire at the centre of the allegations. Broader consequences are now with the police because it’s a criminal matter.”
McLachlan said he did not feel the reputation of the Brownlow Medal had been damaged on the back of the allegations, but acknowledged that the umpiring group had suffered as a result of them.
“I don’t think the integrity of the Brownlow was compromised in any way,” McLachlan said.
“There was not any manipulation of the votes and the winner. It was an issue of personal integrity, allegedly, and we have got to see how that plays out.
“The allegations of wounded the umpires personally and I feel for them, (but) I don’t think it bleeds into the Brownlow.”
The AFL has dismissed suggestions that the Brownlow Medal voting system be changed on the back of the incident and that voting should be taken out of the hands of umpires.
“The Brownlow voting will stay exactly the same,” McLachlan said at the announcement of a new four-year drinks partnership with Asahi Beverages.
“All the suggestions I’ve heard – and it’s not that they’re not worthy – but they wouldn’t have dealt with this issue. In the end, the allegations go to personal integrity of an individual and at some point, right through every system, someone has to make a decision and they have information which ... if they’re compromised, can lead to issues like have allegedly occurred here.”
This year’s Brownlow Medal winner, Carlton’s Patrick Cripps, said he had not been affected by the saga which followed his win.
“It had nothing really to do with me,” Cripps said.
“It’s more of a personal integrity issue. I know there’s a fair bit of noise around it, but I didn’t really read into it at all.”
McLACHLAN: TASSIE STADIUM STILL NEEDS CASH
The AFL is still talking with the Federal Government as it seeks to fill a funding shortfall for a “best in class” stadium which would house a proposed Tasmanian team.
The Tasmanian state government has committed $375 million towards a $750 million Macquarie Point Stadium, with the AFL agreeing to stump up a further $15 million.
However, Federal Government and private sector investment would be required to make up the rest of the cost and get the stadium off the ground.
McLachlan said on Thursday that the league was “the closest we’ve been in decades” to establishing a Tasmanian team.
But he refused to put a timeline on when a final decision, which largely hinges on stadium funding, would be made.
“We’ve come a hell of a long way this year,” McLachlan said.
“We’ve been meeting with presidents and there is broad but not universal support. We continue to work through that.
“The big piece is the stadium and the Tasmanian Government has made an extraordinary funding commitment to that. We’ve committed $15 million to the stadium and we’re looking at other funding partners.
“There’s a series of meetings and discussions either happening or planned and then after that it takes as long as it takes.”
HAWKS REVIEW TO MISS CHRISTMAS DEADLINE
An independent panel formed to investigate historical racism allegations at Hawthorn will not deliver its findings until next year.
The inquiry was originally set an end date of December 22, but that deadline is no longer expected to be met.
The four-member panel is being chaired by Bernard Quinn KC, with its terms of reference having been released in October.
McLachlan said while he did not have an exact time frame on when the investigation would conclude, it would not be wrapped up by next week as originally hoped.
“Part about having an independent panel is they are independent,” McLachlan said.
“I don’t have a lot of line of sight over where the process is at, and I think that’s fair and understood.
“I do feel confident in saying it won’t be done pre-Christmas, and that’s the job that the panel has. They need to take the right time. Clearly the longer it plays out, it’s very difficult for all parties. But they need to take the time they need.”
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan and new North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson – who were both caught up in the racism allegations, which occurred during their time at the Hawks – both resumed their roles in late October and early November respectively.
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