2 weeks ago
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Victorian police have charged four men with alleged suspicious gambling on the AFL's Brownlow Medal best and fairest award in 2021 and 2022.
Officers have laid a total of 103 charges against the men, including use of corrupt information for betting purposes and undertaking a course of conduct to obtain financial advantage by deception.
The charges were laid after a 'protracted investigation,' Victoria Police said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
The winner of the code's highest individual honour is decided by votes made by field umpires at every match throughout the regular season.
Three votes are awarded for the player believed to have been best on ground, with two votes for the second-best player, and one vote for the third-best.
Carlton's Patrick Cripps took out the honour in 2022, with Port Adelaide star Ollie Wines winning the count in 2021.
Pictured: Patrick Cripps after winning the Brownlow Medal last year. He also took out the award in 2022, with the voting that year being investigated by police
Ollie Wines is pictured after winning the Brownlow in 2021, with that year's voting also the subject of the police investigation
The charged men are a 34-year-old from Doreen, a 31-year-old from Hadfield, a 35-year-old from Reservoir, and a 34-year-old from Glenroy, Victoria Police said.
They have been summonsed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on September 11, and they face a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment if found guilty.
Winners of the prestigious award include reigning medallist Patrick Cripps, 2024 winner Lachie Neale of the Brisbane Lions, and past greats such as Chris Judd, Dustin Martin and Gary Ablett Jr.
More to come...
