In November 2022, former AFL umpire Michael Pell was arrested after allegedly leaking Brownlow Medal votes from specific matches of the 2022 season in one of the most serious integrity scandals to hit the league.
The investigation then widened into the 2021 season, when Pell was an emergency umpire.
Michael Pell appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday morning. Credit: Alex Coppel
On Thursday, Pell and three co-accused, William Forde, Mitch Lucas and Donovan Pell appeared in Melbourne Magistrates court for a filing hearing, charged with 102 offences between them.
Forde is facing 53 charges including using corrupt conduct for betting and obtaining financial advantage by deception, while Michael Pell faces six charges in relation to wagering on the 2021 Brownlow Medal, including use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes.
The court was told the total fraud committed by the quartet was “about $300,000”.
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Magistrate Brett Sonnet said the charges were serious and placed all four men on bail with conditions not to leave Australia.
All four men will return to court on October 22 for a committal hearing. The case could potentially be transferred to the County Court.
Pell, who began his umpiring career in the Essendon District Football League was only promoted to the AFL field umpires list for the start of the 2022 season, having officiated in one game the previous year when he was called into action as an emergency umpire.
He is no longer an umpire with the AFL.
The AFL has since introduced a $250 payout limit for round-by-round betting on the Brownlow Medal to avoid a repeat of the betting scandal.
Howe set for preliminary final return
Marc McGowan
Jeremy Howe expects to return from his adductor injury for Collingwood’s preliminary final next week against Brisbane or Gold Coast in a major boost for the Pies.
Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe is set for a preliminary final return.Credit: Getty Images
The star defender, who played in the grand final win over the Lions two years ago, sustained the setback in round 24 against Melbourne and missed last week’s qualifying final victory over Adelaide.
Beating the Crows earned Collingwood a week off, and placed less pressure on Howe, who believes “everything is aligning” for him to play in Saturday week’s preliminary final.
“I’m feeling very healthy, so the rehab process is going really well,” Howe told Nova FM.
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“[My teammates] definitely helped me out in that space. It was an impressive performance by the lads. That’s the kind of style that we thought stacked up, and it was nice to get that for the first final.
“For me, it obviously buys me an extra week to get myself right and ready, and everything is on track so far, which I’m really pleased about.”
Howe said the Pies had a “massive” match simulation session planned for Friday night, but it was later confirmed that he remains on an individual program, and will not take part in the match simulation.
He added that his experience with far worse injuries, including his gruesome arm fracture in 2023, had helped him deal with this one.
“I’ve had some traumatic injuries in the past, so when you have smaller ones – little irritable injuries – as frustrating as they can be, you find ways to put a plan in front of you, and move on pretty quickly,” he said.
“Perspective plays a massive role. I feel like even since I’ve had kids, I’ve got priorities where I can be injured, but I still can’t mope around.
“I’ve got to get on with it, and I feel like I’ve been well looked after by the club. They’ve put me in a good place to get after it.”
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