Brownlow betting scandal the result of ‘human failure’: McLachlan

Outgoing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says he is confident the Brownlow betting affair – one of the most serious integrity scandals to hit the league – was the result of “human failure” and not a systemic problem within the AFL.

And McLachlan said the league was as close as it had been in decades to introducing a Tasmanian side to the competition, but would not give a timeframe for how much longer Tasmanian fans will have to wait.

Gillon McLachlan spoke about Tasmanian footy and the Brownlow betting scandal at a sponsorship announcement on Thursday.Credit:AFL Photos

The AFL has no plans to change its Brownlow Medal voting system, despite the arrest of four men in November, including an AFL umpire, who allegedly leaked Brownlow Medal votes from specific matches of the 2022 season.

“I’m not saying I wasn’t surprised, maybe [even] shocked by what was alleged to have happened. But in the broader sense, I’m incredibly proud of our industry. I’m proud of our players, our female and male athletes, I’m proud of our clubs, I’m proud of my team – unbelievably,” McLachlan said.

“I’m accepting of human failures. People make mistakes. [The AFL has to have] the best systems and process and culture, we do everything we can to avoid that knowing that in life, these things … happen.”

McLachlan was cautious not to disclose any specifics regarding negotiations over the Tasmanian bid for a 19th licence, or the timeline for the team’s potential introduction.

The bid has been delayed as the Tasmanian government attempts to secure funding for a stadium to be built in Hobart and McLachlan indicated that finding a funding partner was a priority.

“We’re optimistic there’s a really strong story in a business case [to get a partnership], but that’s our job to prosecute with the state government,” he said.

There is a gap between the funding the AFL and state government were willing to put forward, and the projected cost of the stadium. In June, McLachlan said the stadium was essential for Tasmania’s bid to snag a standalone team.

Earlier this month, The Age reported that the Tasmanian branch of the ALP and the Greens were opposed to the state government’s promise to allocate $375 million towards the stadium, and the federal Labor government was yet to consider a business case that is likely to request at least $250 million in federal funding for the stadium. There is growing disquiet in Tasmania about the conditions attached to the bid.

There is also no guarantee of support from the 18 club presidents, whose support is needed for the Tasmanian team’s inclusion. Under league rules, the AFL Commission’s decision to grant the new licence can be overturned if 13 of the 18 presidents vote against. McLachlan had previously indicated he wanted broad support across the clubs before a licence was granted.

“Things sometimes take as long as they take,” he said. “We’ve come a hell of a long way this year … this is the closest we’ve been in decades.”

He said there was “broad but not universal support” for the bid among club presidents, who had “all the information on the 10 or 11 pieces of work that we’ve been doing down there”.

“The big piece is the stadium,” he said.

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