Police have charged four men after a drawn-out investigation into alleged suspicious gambling on the AFL’s 2021 and 2022 Brownlow Medal counts.

In 2022 former field umpire Michael Pell was one of four men questioned over the alleged suspicious betting activity.

Three years later, charges have been laid. 7NEWS can confirm that Pell, 34, is one of the four men charged.

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The statement said:

A 34-year-old Glenroy man has been charged with six offences in relation to wagering on the 2021 Brownlow Medal Award, including use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes – communicate information (x3) and undertaking a course of conduct to use corrupt conduct information for betting purposes (x3).

A 32-year-old Doreen man has been charged with 20 offences in relation to wagering on the 2021 and 2022 Brownlow Medal Awards, including undertaking a course of conduct to use corrupt conduct information for betting purposes (x18) and use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes – communicate information (x2)

A 31-year-old Hadfield man has been charged with 23 offences in relation to wagering on the 2021 Brownlow Medal Award, including undertaking a course of conduct to use corrupt conduct information for betting purposes (x15) and undertaking a course of conduct to obtain financial advantage by deception (x8).

A 35-year-old Reservoir man has been charged with 53 offences in relation to wagering on the 2021 and 2022 Brownlow Medal Awards, including undertaking a course of conduct to use corrupt conduct information for betting purposes (x34), undertaking a course of conduct to obtain financial advantage by deception (x15), use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes – communicate information (x3) and use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes – encourage to bet (x1).

The statement also revealed that during the investigation several search warrants were needed as their inquiries spread across “varying suburbs”.

Pell was in his first year as an AFL umpire in 2022. He was 32 when he was interviewed by police.

The maximum penalty for the charge of “cheating at gambling and obtain financial advantage by deception” is 10 years in prison.

The four men are now set to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on September 11.

AFL umpires award Brownlow votes on a 3-2-1 basis at the end of each game.

There is tight security around those details until they are read out on the night of the Brownlow Medal event.

At the time of the the investigation was first made public, former CEO Gillon McLachlan was confident that the integrity of the league’s best-and-fairest award remained intact.

“I think the umpires have been hurting but I don’t think the integrity of the Brownlow is compromised in any way,” McLachlan said at the time.

“The allegations have wounded the umpires personally and I feel for them, but I don’t think it bleeds into the Brownlow (itself).”

Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines won the 2021 award, with Carlton captain Patrick Cripps claiming the Brownlow the following year.

Umpires and other AFL personnel are not allowed to gamble on the game.

The AFL ruled out changes to the voting process after the scandal but Victoria’s gambling watchdog unveiled greater safeguards in 2023, including spot audits on AFL employees and greater surveillance of umpires.

Payouts were also limited to $250 on all Brownlow round bets.

An AFL spokesperson acknowledged the work of police but refused to comment any further, citing the matter being before the courts.

Victoria Police said they would not provide any further details as the matter was now before the courts.

- With AAP