The AFL is expected to fine Geelong for administrative breaches relating to their total player payments after an extensive audit of the club’s salary cap.
Two competition sources confirmed the expectation was the club would be sanctioned but the breaches were relatively minor.
Cats players celebrate their win over the Western Bulldogs last round.Credit: Getty Images
One source compared the potential sanction to the $10,000 fine received by the Brisbane Lions in 2017, however the actual penalty is yet to be signed off.
Half of the Lions fine at the time was suspended as they co-operated with the AFL in admitting the breach of the League’s total player payment rules.
The league conducts regular audits on clubs’ adherence to player payment rules. The Cats and Port Adelaide were the clubs put under the microscope this season.
Caroline Wilson reported on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters on Monday night the AFL had accepted nothing untoward had happened and no officials, players, managers or coaches were expected to be sanctioned.
Geelong coach Chris Scott is also the chief of leadership and performance at Morris Finance, and wears the company’s logo on game days.Credit: AFL Photos
“Geelong have been adamant from the word go that there is no smoking gun here, that nothing untoward was going on at the Geelong Football Club in terms of any attempt to hide third-party payments,” Wilson said.
“The AFL accepts this. But there have been discrepancies. There have been lodgements that should have been noted that weren’t and they will lead to several five-figure fines.”
Cats coach Chris Scott’s role with Morris Finance, a club sponsor, is also understood to be considered within the rules.
There has been widespread speculation about the connection between club sponsor Cotton On and brand ambassador Bailey Smith since he joined the Cats. However, he signed his deal with Cotton On when he was playing with the Bulldogs.
Wilson said the AFL probe extended to player payments within the Cats AFLW program.
“One major lodgement issue was a car to a senior AFLW player that wasn’t lodged,” she reported.
Geelong have yet to receive any notification from the AFL, and declined to comment. The AFL was contacted for comment.
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