The AFL says there is little more it can do to educate employees about anti-gambling rules, despite a goal umpire and other officials being suspended for betting on AFL games.
The AFL goal umpire, Chris Appleton, was stood down for the rest of the season, as were two interchange stewards, while a timekeeper was banned from officiating for five weeks, as part of a league blitz on gambling.
Port Adelaide assistant coach Matthew Primus was suspended for two games and the Western Bulldogs were fined $7,500 because of a breach by director Geoff Walsh.
All of the sanctions were for betting on AFL games, which no player, coach or official is allowed to do.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the league officials were punished more severely than club staff members because they needed to be held to a higher standard.
The incidents, which all involved small bets, some on behalf of friends, were viewed as the result of carelessness or rule misunderstandings, rather than intentional breaches.
But Anderson said it should have been clear to all involved in the AFL that gambling on AFL matches was banned, after four players were fined in 2007.
"There is no evidence of any corrupt behaviour here, but what there is evidence of is breaches of the simple rule that you can not bet on AFL matches," Anderson said.
"I would have thought that it was pretty clear following 2007 what the AFL stance is on this."
Despite the breaches, Anderson said he believed the message had sunk in with most in the industry.
"By and large the message is getting through, I'm not sure what more we can do."
He said the fact that several of the breaches were uncovered through an information-sharing arrangement with bookmakers at least showed that system was working.
That relationship was established as part of efforts to increase both the enforcement and educational side of the AFL's anti-gambling policy after the 2007 cases.
"We've seen in other sports throughout the world the risk of gambling-related corruption and we make no apologies for taking a very firm approach to protecting the integrity of AFL football," Anderson said.
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Appleton was sanctioned for betting on the 2009 grand final, but did not officiate in the match.
The bets laid by the interchange stewards - Wayne Siekman and John Wise - did include matches in which they officiated.
