Calls for AFL to Address Conflict of Interest in Award Voting
Eddie McGuire and James Hird have raised concerns about the involvement of AFL employees in award voting who also have ties to gambling companies. The issue has sparked significant debate within the league, with calls for the AFL to take a stronger stance on the matter.
The controversy gained attention when umpire Nick Foot was found to have previously worked as a presenter for SportsBet. This dual role came under scrutiny after Foot reported Zak Butters for dissent during a match. At the time, the AFL supported Foot’s decision, but the situation highlighted the potential conflict of interest between his roles.
Foot has since left his position at SportsBet, but the issue remains relevant. Another example is Kane Cornes, who was given a choice between his commercial arrangement with SportsBet and his responsibilities in voting for the All-Australian team and Rising Star award. Cornes ultimately decided to leave his AFL voting duties and continue with the gambling company.
SportsBet confirmed that the company would no longer feature sporting administrators or officials in their campaigns. However, other players and officials, such as Luke Hodge, continue to work with TAB while participating in award voting. Hodge did not comment on whether there was any conflict of interest in his role.
McGuire believes the AFL should take a definitive approach rather than relying on gambling companies to make decisions. He questioned why the AFL wouldn’t take responsibility for ensuring that individuals receiving payments from betting companies are disqualified from voting on awards or being involved in anything related to betting.
“Are we waiting for (Tabcorp CEO) Gil McLachlan to make the call on TAB? How about the AFL comes out and says ‘from here on in, if you’re getting a payment from a betting company, you are disqualified from voting on any awards or being involved in anything that has a betting component’?”
McGuire also pointed out that Kate McCarthy, a SportsBet employee, is involved in the selection process for the AFLW All-Australian team. Although there is no betting market on the AFLW, McCarthy did vote on the Norm Smith Medal last year. He argued that it would be simpler for the AFL to ensure that people working for betting companies are not involved in these roles.
“Try to have two bob each way, I don’t know why the AFL aren’t the ones coming out and saying (you can’t do both).”
Hird agreed with McGuire, stating that it is up to the AFL to set clear boundaries and say “you can’t be in those roles.”
McGuire added that TAB may now rush to make a decision, as the public is likely to support taking a moral high ground on this issue. He concluded his argument with a familiar analogy: “Don’t see the meat grinder and stick your head into it, just make it easy.”
