The umpire in question didn't umpire any Demon's games in 2022.

28 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

The Herald-Sun has named the umpire as Michael Pell, thus muddying the Pell surname.

I'm surprised his name wasn't withheld so that a betting market could be framed as to his identity.

Demonstone - what odds can you give me that there is no market on the outcome of the investigation?

Just now, Demonland said:

The umpire in question didn't umpire any Demon's games in 2022.

Did he umpire any Carlton games, particularly late in the season? 

2 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Demonstone - what odds can you give me that there is no market on the outcome of the investigation?

Did he umpire any Carlton games, particularly late in the season? 

Only Umpired Carlton in Round 6 - Patrick Cripps 3 Votes in 35 point loss.

29 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Only Umpired Carlton in Round 6 - Patrick Cripps 3 Votes in 35 point loss.

Thanks Demonland.   And do you know if, despite their big loss, did Cripps poll votes in media, AFLCA and other awards in that game?

9 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Thanks Demonland.   And do you know if, despite their big loss, did Cripps poll votes in media, AFLCA and other awards in that game?

Unfortunately for the conspiracy theorists ...

 

Fremantlevs Carlton

Votes Player (Club)

10 Patrick Cripps (CARL)

8 Andrew Brayshaw (FRE)

6 Lachie Schultz (FRE)

2 Rory Lobb (FRE)

2 Brennan Cox (FRE)

1 Sam Switkowski (FRE)

1 Luke Ryan (FRE)

42 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Only Umpired Carlton in Round 6 - Patrick Cripps 3 Votes in 35 point loss.

Just checked, Cripps kicked 3.1 and had 32 possessions that game.

Games umpired by Michael Pell in 2022

Round 1: Hawthorn def North Melbourne

Round 2: Brisbane def Essendon

Round 3: GWS def Gold Coast

Round 4: Richmond def Western Bulldogs

Round 5: St Kilda def Gold Coast

Round 6: Fremantle def Carlton

Round 7: GWS def Adelaide

Round 8: Essendon def Hawthorn

Round 9: Sydney def Essendon

Round 10: Western Bulldogs def Gold Coast

Round 11: Port Adelaide def Essendon

Round 14: Geelong def West Coast

Round 15: Port Adelaide def Gold Coast

Round 16: Collingwood def Gold Coast

Round 18: North Melbourne def Richmond

Round 20: Gold Coast def West Coast

2 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

I must say I'm surprised that this thread hasn't gone absolutely ballistic.

Just consider this. 

We have an umpire , an umpire, arrested over the leaking of voting information for the AFL's most prestigious award and ...... the award is based on umpire's votes!

Further, as a couple of posters above have indicated, the possible wider implications of this are enormous.

This could go as far as questioning the integrity of the competition!

It is a bombshell ! 

 

This is the real crux of the matter.
Gaming Brownlow betting is one thing, but there’s been serious question marks on the AFL umpiring department professionalism and integrity growing every year now. We always get told they’re mistakes, or vague justifications of howlers, or blaming technology, it’s too hard to get umpires we can’t make it full time and pay them a good salary, having part timers is fine, nothing to see here. 

But if an umpire will risk 10 years jail for a few specific Brownlow bets, why not throw a few 50/50 decisions in a game, why not help an underdog stay under the line? Why not miss a few holding the ball decisions?

I’m no conspiracy theorist, I think the majority of the time umpires are doing a good job and mistakes are genuine accidents.
It’s a slippery slope though, and the veneer of integrity that the AFL relies on is quickly coming off, the lack of true umpire accountability, professionalism and an integrity unit with integrity and teeth means when something like this is exposed, the whole thing comes into question. 

44 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Just checked, Cripps kicked 3.1 and had 32 possessions that game.

and anyway, it's not one ump who gives the downlow votes, it's a joint decision by the 3 field umpires

in theory, that is

Edited November 14, 20223 yr by daisycutter

Reported on Perf 720 ABC news that an Adelaide player is allegedly involved. 

Anything in East Coast media to support?

Edited November 14, 20223 yr by McQueen
Might’ve got my wires crossed with the passing of the past Crows AFLW player.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Unfortunately for the conspiracy theorists ...

 

Fremantlevs Carlton

Votes Player (Club)

10 Patrick Cripps (CARL)

8 Andrew Brayshaw (FRE)

6 Lachie Schultz (FRE)

2 Rory Lobb (FRE)

2 Brennan Cox (FRE)

1 Sam Switkowski (FRE)

1 Luke Ryan (FRE)

Coaches are in on it too. 🤔🤔😎

FWIW, the spot bet is supposedly on the game when Peter Wright kicked 6 and got 3 votes

Of course the peptides were involved..

6 hours ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

An Umpire, wow 😳

It's almost as bad as what goes on in decisions across the duration of a game of footy under the auspices of the AFL. 

This should see that umpires no longer vote on games, should be like the Norm Smith voting where a select panel cast votes on games.

Odds the AFL clear him? 

christian's thinking thank god it didn't get referred to the mro 🤣

34 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Odds the AFL clear him? 

Are they TAB or Sportsbet odds?

Touk Miller Captain Of GC  which was umpired by this bloke six times during year for how many votes hmm..

2 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Odds the AFL clear him? 

Odds he'll be cleared of this but charged with bringing the game into disrepute?

Any publicity is good publicity.

For 2023 the AFL Umpire Association to be sponsored by Sportsbet?

10 hours ago, monoccular said:

Does a fish still rot from the head?

As an aside in the wash up from all this, the Downlow voting needs to be removed from the umpires who find it hard enough to sort of impartially (ideally) adjudicate the game, though who if anyone could be trusted to be impartial and honest?

1. Downlow - love it. Funny.
2. In answer to your question - the answer is simple. A three person panel: Daisy, Paxy and Lilly to cast votes in all nine games each round. They are that good. 

10 hours ago, Demonstone said:

The Herald-Sun has named the umpire as Michael Pell, thus muddying the Pell surname.

I'm surprised his name wasn't withheld so that a betting market could be framed as to his identity.

FMD. Probably George's son. 

@monoccular says: I would hope, that if this is proven, they won’t be able to umpire from Barwon Prison. 

He will umpire the intra-crim game. He won't be the first top line umpire in prison to do that. Trust me. 

Edited November 14, 20223 yr by Queanbeyan Demon
Typo

It is not just the umpire's fault - blame the gambling industry.  That is where the problem lies.  It's insideous reach into all sport culture is appalling.  For a sport that claims to be a family one, the way that the AFL have danced with the devil is disgraceful.

Gambling is a big issue...I remember my father always saying it would come back to haunt the AFL & he was right.

The problem is there are way too many vested interests here to get a real debate on the issue.

'Bite the hand that feeds'...will be interesting to hear the SEN & FOX takes in particular.

Will they put gambling under the microscope or will the focus be on the umpire?

Will they narrow the issue down rather than explore the wider ramifications?