Despite being embroiled in the latest AFL betting scandal, Nathan Bock will NOT be stripped of his leadership role at the Gold Coast Suns.
Caught out for disclosing team information, the former All Australian has been assured his Vice Captaincy is safe.
another link to this disgrace
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/AFL ... 6222227281
GOLD Coast Suns defender Nathan Bock was slapped with a two-match ban for a leak that helped a mate and two family members share in a $40,000 punting bonanza.
A three-month AFL investigation found Bock told two people that he would play as a forward in the Suns' Round 24 clash against Hawthorn at Metricon Stadium on September 3.
A flurry of money the day before the game saw Bock backed from $101 to $21, raising suspicions with bookmakers.
Friends and family connected to the leak collected $40,000 when Bock slotted the game's first goal from 55m. It was one of only two goals he would kick for the year.
The bets were made just weeks after Collingwood's Heath Shaw and Nick Maxwell were caught out in an almost identical scandal.
Bock was fined $10,000 and suspended for the first two weeks of the 2012 premiership season.
The former Adelaide Crows star, who made admissions to club officials 15 minutes after the Hawthorn match, admitted to feeling concerned as soon as the goal was kicked.
"It definitely crossed my mind," Bock said.
"I know how seriously the AFL takes inside information ... it was just a careless conversation with a mate and a family member. I'm deeply remorseful."
Asked how much his mate has won, Bock said: "I'm not sure."
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the league was satisfied Bock did not intentionally pass on the information for the purpose of gambling.
"An investigation found Bock broke the rules recklessly, but, importantly, he did not intend the information to be used for betting," Anderson said.
"We are satisfied Nathan was reckless and did not intentionally breach gambling rules as a result of extensive investigation that included interviews ... examining telephone records and betting records including CCTV footage.
"It's important also to note Nathan Bock came forward immediately after the match and did admit breaching the AFL rules even if it was not intentional.
"A very important plank of our policy is inside information cannot be disclosed if it can be used for betting purposes ... (this information) has historically been the gateway to more serious forms of corruption."
The Bock ban is the third betting scandal to rock the game this year following incidents involving Shaw and Maxwell, and Essendon assistant coach Dean Wallis.
Shaw was fined $20,000 and suspended for eight matches for placing a $10 bet on Maxwell kicking the first goal of a game in July.
Maxwell, who had been named to start in the forward line that week, was also fined $5000 after members of his family placed bets using that knowledge.
The Maxwell bets were not successful.
Wallis was given a 14-match suspension for placing three wagers worth a total of $400, including a $100 "footy quad" featuring a narrow Bombers victory.
Bock finished second behind Gary Ablett in Gold Coast's inaugural best and fairest this year. He was one of the big-name recruits unveiled by the Suns at the end of the 2010 season, and was later named vice-captain.
In 2009, Bock admitted to slapping his girlfriend and throwing beer in her face during a drunken altercation in an Adelaide hotel.
He pleaded guilty to assault and was given a $200 good behaviour bond.
Nathan Bock..... a girlfriend bashing peice of AFL finery ... & about the 15th AFL identity this year .. caught up in a betting scandal
given just a 2 week ban for this disgraceful betrayal of trust , & despite this ... keeps his leadership role with the Thuns
thats just sickening
wow ... the AFL really know how to weild that feather don't they ....
meanwhile the only NRL player to be implicated this year ( Ryan Tandy) .. faces jail time & has been banned from the NRL for life , well done NRL for upholding the integrity of your competition =D> =D> =D>
meanwhile the AFL is indeed ... a culture to despise
