It's all over the radio now. Ward got a $10,000 fine half suspended. He has to undergo counselling for his gambling problem and is also going to do voluntary work at Berry St.

Good luck to Wardy in the future dealing with his issues.

FWIW, Daniel Kerr should count himself very lucky for what he got.

Good luck to Wardy in the future dealing with his issues.

FWIW, Daniel Kerr should count himself very lucky for what he got.

I found Trevor Nisbett's comments interesting.... basically my interpretation was

"Daniel's {Kerr} a tool, he keeps getting himself into trouble, we wish he would stop, luckily for him he can play footy"

I found Trevor Nisbett's comments interesting.... basically my interpretation was

"Daniel's {Kerr} a tool, he keeps getting himself into trouble, we wish he would stop, luckily for him he can play footy"

Spot on Graz.

Add Ben Cousins to the lucky list.

curious isnt it..

From an AFL standpoint you are apparently able to get away with illegal acts...or leaving scenes of crimes. Bringing game into dispute is almost a sport. ....

you would almost be forgiven for thinking that drink driving is a prerequisite for some players and apparently drug taking is the too hard basket

but doing something which is perfectly legal for 'anyone'..i.e .. placing a bet is a big No-No !! Unless I missed something there was no accusation on impropriety.

well done AFL.....you have simplified the message to the public...you really are a bunch of buffoons !!

but doing something which is perfectly legal for 'anyone'..i.e .. placing a bet is a big No-No !! Unless I missed something there was no accusation on impropriety.

It is when you are involved in the outcome of the proceedings....Its called a massive conflict of interest and it does bring the game into disrepute the same as taking performance enhancing drugs. It undermines the confidence of the general public in the honesty of the system.

It was right and proper to punish Ward. What he did was just plain dumb. Sportsman betting on their own sporting code is stupid.

However, in light of the piffy penalty to a social menace like Kerr who was guilty of criminal behaviour, the size of the fine was harsh.

Graz's quote of Nisbet sums it all up.

rhino...i thoroughly understand that point.... However they didnt...they simply placed bets as we all can. Betting on yourself is hardly conflicting. I do agree that they shouldnt as it may 'appear' a conflict.

The point i was making is that in itself isnt ILLEGAL.. many things others have done IS !! The AFL has a strange pecking order.

Conflicts of interest are both actual conflicts and conflicts perceived by the broader public. Both types undermine the confidence in, and the integrity of the sport.

Betting on yourself or team can indeed be conflicting. By deliberately underperforming in previous games leading up to a game where you bet on, you can improve the odds on yourself or your team for a win in respect of a game or event and thereby clean up big time at the unfair cost of others. There is definite scope for manipulation of outcomes.

Its why its not appropriate to have players, coaches, referees or officials involved in a sport actually betting on that sport. It lends itself to both actual or perceived conflicts of interests which are a cancer on the sport.

i hope the money for those fines goes into a gambling help service

be the right thing to do

Did I hear also that Simon Goodwin got a $40,000 fine?? If that is correct, why is his so much more?

Did I hear also that Simon Goodwin got a $40,000 fine?? If that is correct, why is his so much more?

He got a $20k fine with a further $20k suspended.

Goodwin laid 4 bets totalling $16,000 ...and besides he is from Adelaide.

Ward laid 18 bets totalling about $3,000.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfoo...2338794209.html

rhino...i thoroughly understand that point.... However they didnt...they simply placed bets as we all can. Betting on yourself is hardly conflicting. I do agree that they shouldnt as it may 'appear' a conflict.

The point i was making is that in itself isnt ILLEGAL.. many things others have done IS !! The AFL has a strange pecking order.

Its not just backing yourself to win, which sounds innocent enough.

People bet on margins, most disposals, first goals etc. Players can directly influence these.

I note from one of the articles that Wardy voluntarily entered into Gambling Couselling in OCT and advised the MFC. - these offences occured proir to Ward coming forward. He is not having couselling because the AFL supposedly caught him out. The $10K fine is half payable now and the other half suspended and he also volunteered 100 hours community service.

..... now if he only has $2,500 available now he could put it on a rugby league game this weekend and double it........

rhino...i thoroughly understand that point.... However they didnt...they simply placed bets as we all can. Betting on yourself is hardly conflicting. I do agree that they shouldnt as it may 'appear' a conflict.

The point i was making is that in itself isnt ILLEGAL.. many things others have done IS !! The AFL has a strange pecking order.

Once you start betting on a sport you compete in it could be a slippery slope - particularly if you were a compulsive gambler with financial troubles.

Having said that, from what I've read most of the bets didn't sound sinister in nature (ignoring any 'inside info' the guys may have had access to as AFL players that the public don't get).