Four men charged over alleged 2021 and 2022 AFL Brownlow Medal betting scheme

Four men have been charged with a range of offences linked to alleged suspicious gambling on the AFL's Brownlow Medal awards in 2021 and 2022.

It comes as part of a protracted investigation by Victoria Police's Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit, with the initial arrests of four men occurring in 2022.

It is not clear whether the four men arrested in 2022 are any of the same men charged this week.

The 2021 Brownlow Medal was won by Port Adelaide's Ollie Wines, while the 2022 award was won by Carlton's Patrick Cripps.

A 34-year-old Glenroy man, a 32-year-old Doreen man, a 31-year-old Hadfield man and a 35-year-old Reservoir man have been charged over the allegations.

At the time of the arrests, police alleged a person with knowledge of the voting tally of certain AFL matches distributed the information to a group of people.

In the case of the Reservoir man, police allege he used corrupt conduct information for betting purposes on 34 occasions and faces 53 separate charges connected to wagering on the 2021 and 2022 Brownlow Medal awards.

The maximum penalty for the offences is 10 years in jail.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, then-general manager of football operations, said at the time of the 2022 arrests that there was no "information to suggest that the outcome of the Brownlow Medal was impacted", as the allegations related to the leaking of results after matches.

The AFL said in 2022 that there was no evidence the outcome of either the 2021 or 2022 awards were affected by the alleged betting. (AAP: Joe Castro)

The four men are scheduled to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on September 11.

In a statement, the AFL acknowledged the charges laid by Victoria Police in connection with the 2021 and 2022 awards.

"As the matter is before the courts, the AFL is not in a position to provide any further comments," an AFL spokesperson said.

Click here to read article