GOLD Coast defender Nathan Bock has been suspended for the opening two matches of the 2012 home and away season and fined $10,000 for disclosing information that he would start in the forward line against Hawthorn at Metricon Stadium in round 24.

In the lead-up to the game, Bock told a friend in South Australia and a close relative that he was likely to play in attack.

The relative told another member of Bock’s family, who was based in Western Australia.

The information leaked by Bock saw him backed in from 100-1 to 20-1 to kick the first goal of the match.

It resulted in approximately $40,000 in winning bets in Western Australia and South Australia when he slotted the opening major from 55m out on the run.

This incident occurred only weeks after the high-profile cases involving Collingwood players Heath Shaw and Nick Maxwell.

The AFL's general manager of football operations, Adrian Anderson, said Bock did not place a bet on the match.

"The investigation found that Bock breached the rules recklessly, but importantly that he did not intend that the information be used for betting," Anderson told a media conference at AFL House on Wednesday evening.

"There was no intentional breach of the AFL rules in this case."

Bock will be eligible to play in the NAB Cup.

"We are satisfied that Nathan was reckless, and did not intentionally breach gambling rules, because of an extensive investigation involving interviewing Bock, his friend and family member, and examining telephone records and examining betting records, including CCTV footage," Anderson explained.

"It's important to point out that Nathan Bock cooperated fully with the investigation, and our investigation team is absolutely satisfied that he was honest at all times, and all of the extensive investigations backed up what Nathan Bock had said in his interviews with investigators.

"It's also important to note that Nathan Bock came forward immediately after the match and did admit to breaking the AFL rules, even if it wasn't intentional.

"It's a very important plank of our integrity policy that inside information cannot be disclosed or be used for betting purposes.

"We know for a fact that … the disclosure of inside information has historically been the gateway to more serious forms of corruption."

Bock said in a statement that he was deeply regretful of the incident.
 
"In accepting the penalty I would like to take this opportunity to apologies to the Gold Coast Football Club and our supporters, as well as the AFL and all followers of the game," he said.
 
"As innocent and careless as my comments were at the time, I understand that the integrity of the game can’t be jeopardised."

It is the fourth breach of the AFL's gambling rules in the past six months.

In July, Collingwood defender Shaw was banned for eight matches and fined $20,000 after being embroiled in a betting scandal also involving Magpies skipper Maxwell.

Shaw and a friend both had $10 bets on Maxwell kicking the first goal against Adelaide in round 10.

Shaw also passed on that information to friends, who gambled on Maxwell.

Maxwell was fined $10,000, of which $5000 was suspended, after it was revealed three of his family members placed bets.

All the bets were unsuccessful because Maxwell did not kick the first goal.

In early September, Essendon assistant coach Dean Wallis was banned from any coaching activities for 14 weeks after being found guilty of laying three bets on AFL matches. One of them was on his own team.

Wallis was also fined $7500. He was observed making one of the bets in a Bendigo TAB, then CCTV reviews and betting records at a suburban agency uncovered the further two bets.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs