AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has ruled out making any changes to the Brownlow Medal voting process, despite the recent betting scandal engulfing this year's medal.
Field umpire Michael Pell had his contract terminated by the league after it was revealed he was one of four men arrested in November over suspicious betting activity regarding the Brownlow Medal, allegedly leaking votes on matches throughout the year.
Speaking to media on Thursday, McLachlan dismissed calls for the voting process to change by taking the role away from umpires.
"The Brownlow voting will stay exactly the same," McLachlan said.
"All the suggestions I've heard, it's not that they're not worthy, but they wouldn't have dealt with this issue.
"In the end, the allegations go to the personal integrity of an individual.
"At some point, right through every system, someone has to make a decision when they have information that, if they're compromised, can lead to issues like we've allegedly got here."
The outgoing CEO refuted claims that the integrity of the AFL's most prestigious individual award has been compromised, instead claiming it was an issue of "personal integrity".
"There's damage caused by that scandal and I think the umpires have been hurting but I don't think the integrity of the Brownlow is compromised in any way," McLachlan said.
"There was not any manipulation of the votes ... it was an issue of personal integrity, allegedly. We've got to see how that plays out.
"The allegations have wounded the umpires personally and I feel for them, but I don't think it bleeds into the Brownlow (itself)."
