Wallace urges measured punishment
The Age - Breaking News
February 18, 2007 - 7:29PM
Richmond coach Terry Wallace has called on the AFL to hand out measured punishments if, as expected, four players are found guilty of gambling offences.
The league is investigating Adelaide midfielder Simon Goodwin, Melbourne defender Daniel Ward, Kangaroos ruckman David Hale and Sydney rookie Kieren Jack for breaches of its gambling rules.
The players allegedly bet on AFL games or events and the league has extremely harsh penalties at its disposal for this - fines of up to $100,000 and indefinite bans from even attending matches as well as playing.
The AFL has already indicated that none of the four committed the most serious breach of betting against their own teams.
But it is understood Ward last year twice bet on the Demons winning.
"I'd be devastated if players had been gambling on their own games - in particular, against their own teams," Wallace said.
"I'm just hoping they don't go too hard on this group of guys and make (them) too much a group of scapegoats.
"It's very, abundantly, clear now where the AFL is heading with it all - the message is going to be loud and clear.
"Obviously they're going to receive some sort of penalty, but I'd be disappointed if it was too harsh on this group of guys - if anyone transgresses from this point, you know where it stands."
The AFL announced an investigation two days ago and it expects the findings within the fortnight.
Wallace said his impression was that gambling on the AFL was not a widespread problem among its players.
But he acknowledged the spectre of players "throwing" games or being involved in other sorts of betting scandals meant the league had to make a point.
"I don't think, from what I've heard - and you only know what you hear - that it's been this thing that's absolutely rife and a massive problem," he said.
"The AFL has every right to nip it in the bud."
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