The Australian Football League (AFL) is more than just a sport; it’s a cornerstone of Australian culture and community, especially for those who have followed it for decades.
But this week, the headlines have taken a dramatic turn. A former AFL umpire, once a familiar and respected figure on the field, is now at the centre of a sensational story after allegedly swapping his whistle for a life on the run.
Troy Pannell’s name will ring a bell for those who followed the AFL between 2005 and 2018.
He officiated 219 first-grade matches, often finding himself at the centre of the action—and, occasionally, controversy. But nothing in his umpiring career could have prepared fans for this latest twist.
According to court documents, Pannell is accused of defrauding his former employer, Melbourne-based SeaRoad Shipping, by setting up a fake company—Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors.
Over nearly a decade, this company allegedly invoiced SeaRoad for a staggering $8.7 million for repair work on shipping containers. The catch? The work was never done.
The alleged scam became apparent when a sharp-eyed finance manager at SeaRoad conducted a compliance review and noticed something fishy: the company wasn’t even registered for goods and services tax.
That discovery set off a chain of events that led to Pannell being accused of ‘serious misconduct’ in a letter sent last October—a letter now part of a civil court case.
Pannell was due to face the music in the Victorian Supreme Court, but he was nowhere to be found when his name was called.
Lawyers for SeaRoad, led by Jonathan Davis KC, told the court they believe Pannell is hiding out in South Australia but fear he could be planning to skip the country altogether.
They’ve asked the Federal Police to put him on a watchlist, and an arrest warrant is expected to be issued any day now.
Davis didn’t mince words, warning the court that if action isn’t taken quickly, ‘instead of going interstate, Mr Pannell is in Bogota or similar.’
Pannell’s time as an AFL umpire wasn’t without drama. In May 2016, he made headlines for awarding 17 free kicks to the Western Bulldogs and just one to the Adelaide Crows in a single match—a lopsided count that sent fans and commentators into a frenzy.
‘I tend to laugh about it a little bit. It makes it a little bit easier,’ Pannell said at the time, brushing off the uproar.
He got his start in umpiring through the Footscray and District League after playing for Hoppers Crossing, and even served as president of the AFL Umpires’ Association for several years.
Were you surprised to hear about these allegations against a former AFL umpire? Do you think enough is being done to prevent white-collar crime in Australia? We’d love to hear your thoughts—share your comments below and join the conversation.
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