Former AFL umpire Dean Margetts said he was “unsettled” by news of the alleged Brownlow Medal betting scandal.
AFL umpire Michael Pell has been named by multiple outlets as one of four men arrested on Monday by the Victoria Police Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit after suspicious round-by-round betting activity on the 2022 Brownlow Medal count.
Margetts, who umpired 377 AFL games between 2002 and 2021, admitted he was shocked by the allegations.
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Suspicious Brownlow betting sees arrest | 00:50
“Unsettling is probably the biggest word that came to mind. It‘s something that in my 20 years as an AFL umpire I never experienced,” he told SEN WA.
“It’s a little bit like ‘Fight Club’. What’s the one rule of Fight Club guys? It’s that we never talk about Fight Club.
“That’s Brownlow Medal for us. We do our job and we treat it very seriously, but it’s one thing you never discuss.
“For this to come out, it’s a bit of a shock, and it’s probably unsettled 34 field umpires today as well.”
The offence of engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome is punishable by a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment.
Pell was released pending enquiries on Monday but is expected to be charged on summons.
Margetts said there was no ambiguity whatsoever about Brownlow Medal betting for umpires.
“The umpires are absolutely grilled on our responsibilities, we get a handbook, which we have to read, sign off on it, our contracts are very clear,” he said.
“The AFL to their credit do a great job in educating not just players but umpires in what we can and can’t do. I guess from that point of view – and an AFL umpire can earn north of 100k a year – if this person potentially loses his contract, it’s a pretty significant penalty he’s going to face if it’s proven to be guilty.
“I don’t think the umpire involved can be putting his hand and say ‘no one told me’ because in my 20 years, I’ve been signing contracts, I had it quite clearly stated in all the agreements I’ve put my name to.”
Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox took to Twitter to weigh in on the situation, writing he was “confused as to why umpires decide the Brownlow.”
“You would think someone watching the game would have a better idea the impact someone has than someone that should be busy adjudicating the game live.”
AFL great Brendan Fevola said the issue was down to “one lone wolf” rather than a systemic issue regarding betting.
Still, Fevola claimed the voting was flawed.
“I never got any votes because they hated me,” he said on Fox.
“I kicked nine goals and didn’t get three votes, they’ve got an agenda.”
