Essendon assistant coach Dean Wallis has accepted a 14-match ban from the AFL for making the "stupid" decision to gamble on AFL matches.

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the ban would have been less severe if Wallis had not been "untruthful" with AFL investigators.

Wallis was also fined $7,500.

The lengthy suspension has rocked the Bombers as they prepare for Sunday's elimination final against Carlton at the MCG.

An AFL investigation involved a review of the original bet at a Bendigo pub-TAB as well as a review of CC-TV and betting records at a Melbourne suburban TAB agency.

Wallis initially denied placing a $200 footy quad bet in Bendigo on Saturday, August 27.

Further investigations revealed Wallis had placed another $100 footy quad bet on August 6, which included a wager on Essendon.

Wallis later volunteered he had also placed a $100 footy quad wager in June or July.

"He said that (third bet) is the only other bet. If it comes to light now that there were in fact other bets, then this sanction will be increased," Anderson said on Thursday.

"It was information received from the public that allowed the AFL to follow up a number of cash bets.

"The most important factors in Dean's favour is there is no evidence of any corrupt activity here or any misuse of inside information.

"(But) it is a very serious matter.

"Firstly because Dean was initially untruthful.

"Secondly that this involves a bet on Dean's own club.

"There is no excuse for an AFL coach not to be aware that he must not bet on AFL games, let alone his own team."

Wallis swallowed hard before saying he couldn't explain his actions.

"I thought the issue would go away but it didn't," Wallis said glumly.

"I will not let this club down again."

The Bombers will give the two-time premiership player an analytical role assisting the coaching group during his ban and his possible reappointment to his previous role will be discussed mid-season in 2012.

"I knew there is penalties for betting on football," a shaken Wallis said.

"I can't really explain it. You go through emotional things in your day-to-day life.

"I'm totally aware of my role in this industry and it was a stupid chain of events.

"I'm 42 years of age and I'm still learning.

"I'm a social (gambler) on the races. I've got a racehorse.

"I haven't got a gambling problem.

"What I did was obviously stupid and thoughtless. The situation was only made worse by not fully co-operating with the AFL investigation.

"I was dealing with some personal circumstances.

"This does not excuse what I've done and I take full responsibility for my actions."

Wallis declined to elaborate on his personal circumstances.

"I want to say to the team, to David and to Ian (chairman David Evans and chief executive Ian Robson), that I will not let this club down again," Wallis said.

Wallis is banned from taking any part in any match-day or training activities with either Essendon or the Bendigo Bombers VFL side.

The ban includes the pre-season competition.

Collingwood premiership defender Heath Shaw last week completed an eight-game suspension after he was caught betting on captain Nick Maxwell to kick the first goal in a match.

Gold Coast's Nathan Bock remains under investigation by the AFL following a betting plunge on last week's game in which regular defender Bock kicked the first goal.

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