‘A number’ of salary cap investigations launched by SANFL into local SA footy clubs ahead of season 2023

A number of local SA footy clubs are being investigated for possible salary cap breaches and could face major punishments ahead of their 2023 campaigns.

Multiple local SA footy clubs have been investigated for possible salary cap breaches during season 2022 and could face punishment ahead of their 2023 campaigns.

The SANFL has launched investigations into a number of clubs after season 2022, with the 2023 local footy season now right around the corner.

No clubs have been charged, but punishments for a breach of player payment regulations or salary cap as per SANFL Community Football Rules and Regulations can include deduction of premiership points for clubs and suspension from multiple games for individual players.

Fines of up to thousands of dollars will also be included in any punishment, depending on the nature of the breach by club and/or player.

In 2019, Kowree Naracoorte and Tatiara Football League club Kybybolite was fined $18,350 by the SANFL and stripped of premiership points after breaching player payment regulations by awarding players upfront sign-on payments.

Multiple local SA footy clubs have been investigated for possible salary cap breaches ahead of the 2023 season. Picture: AAP Image/Joe Castro

Forward Lachlan McGregor was suspended for eight games and fined $3,500 for accepting the payments, while an anonymous player, coach Tim Leehane and club official John Cooper were also charged following investigation by SANFL’s Player Payments Investigation Committee.

Under the SANFL’s latest Community Football Rules and Regulations, local suburban clubs are not to exceed a total amount of $2500 in player payments each week, with regional competitions allowed around $500 more due to travel payments.

Clubs can also not exceed payment of $500 to a player per match, while coaches cannot be paid more than $20,000 a season.

Upfront or sign-on payments are not allowed.

A suburban player who chose to stay anonymous said he believed breaches in player payments are commonplace in local footy.

Local SA footy season will begin this weekend with the Yorke Peninsula FL kicking off. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

“I know of multiple guys who have been signed up by country clubs and are getting paid much more than the cap allows to play or coach,” they said.

Another anonymous player from a regional SA competition said clubs could find loopholes to pay extra.

“I’ve heard of some blokes getting up to $2000 a game,” they said.

“There’s so many ways to get around it – some blokes get their match payments and then extra money contributed to their super.

“Others get offered jobs through the club and then get slipped extra money.”

The source claimed he knew that a player had been given cash and a home loan deposit as an inducement to play in another competition.

SANFL said current investigations were ongoing and that it could not yet go into further detail.

“We have a number of salary cap investigations which are ongoing and are not in position to comment,” a SANFL spokesperson said.

The revelation comes just days after Ovens and Murray League club Wangaratta was stripped of the 2022 premiership over salary cap breaches.