Deafening silence from AFL over breach Mike Sheahan
Herald Sun
June 09, 2010THE AFL's official response to football's latest betting episode seems to be far from satisfactory, bordering on embarrassing. Actually it was hardly a response at all.
The central administration is seen to have washed its hands of any part in the handling of Richmond runner Justin Quill's admission he had breached the AFL's stringent rules relating to club officials betting on football.
It did nothing more than accept Richmond's decision to suspend Quill for six matches after he owned up to three bets totalling $35.
Five weeks ago, the AFL suspended three officials for the rest of the season, another for five weeks, an assistant coach - Port Adelaide's Matthew Primus - for two weeks, while a club director - the Western Bulldogs' Geoff Walsh - was fined $7500.
They invested amounts ranging from $1 to $20.
In the words of AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson in a media release at the time, "all accept they have made a grave mistake".
Quill, whose bets involved $5, $10 and $20, went to Richmond immediately after reading the Herald Sun front-page story of the AFL crackdown, headlined "Footy Bets Shame".
Quill is a principal of a city law firm. He is an expert in media, with clients including the Herald Sun.
He made a poor decision.
Perception is reality in life, and there's a perception of rules for one (or five) and rules for another.
Quill is known to be a close friend of the aforementioned Anderson and is known to the AFL's manager of Integrity Services Brett Clothier, also a lawyer, who investigated the matter for the AFL.
Anderson had a responsibility to handle the announcement of penalty just as he did the five offenders of five weeks ago. An even greater responsibility, given his personal circumstances.
It was incumbent upon him to issue the statement on Quill, with comment of a similar nature.
None of the interchange stewards, goal umpire, timekeeper, assistant coach and club director was attempting to profit from knowledge available to them in their various roles, yet there was a principle at stake.
Anderson said at the time: "We never want to see our game affected by betting-related corruption."
Theoretically, everyone of those named had the capacity to make a decision that could impact on a result. Primus investing $20 on behalf of a punters' club was a million miles from corruption, but, we were told, it was the principle.
Western Bulldogs director Walsh, apparently oblivious to the ban on club officials betting on football, placed five bets totalling $50 and they cost him a fine of $7500.
Anderson last night said he was at ease with the way the matter had been handled.
"I'm very confident with the way we dealt with the matter in terms of integrity.
"I told Brett I was an associate of Justin's and to deal with it exactly the way he would deal with anyone else.
"I don't think it could possibly be seen as a cover up in any way. I just wouldn't sacrifice my integrity. It's exactly the same as Port Adelaide (and Primus), except we were satisfied with the sanction Richmond imposed; we weren't satisfied with their (Port) proposed sanction.
"Our general policy on misconduct is we like to let the clubs deal with it."
Yet, the AFL ultimately ruled on Primus, and on Walsh.
Anderson said he had not spoken to Quill at any time during the investigation.
"I've been very conscious of dealing with the matter appropriately."
What would have been appropriate was a statement, with comment, emanating from AFL House, and due exposure in the newspapers.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/deafening-silence-from-afl-over-breach/story-e6frf9ox-1225877666566
