Willaston seeks legal advice after being hit by heavy penalties over salary cap breach
A GAWLER football club is considering an appeal after being hit with heavy penalties — including being stripped of points for three wins this year — over salary cap breaches in 2016 and 2018 for sign-on player payments to former AFL player Josh Glenn.
WILLASTON Football Club is seeking legal advice after being handed heavy penalties for a breach of regulations over the payment of a former senior player.
SANFL Community Football has charged the Barossa Light and Gawler Football Association club with breaching regulations by for upfront payments of $3000 to former AFL player Josh Glenn for seasons 2016 and 2018. Under rules introduced in 2016 no sign-on player payments are permitted.
The club, known as the Donnybrooks, has been fined $10,000 ($3000 of which is suspended), has been stripped of six premiership points (three matches) this season and has lost points under the approved player points system for the next two seasons.
One club official and one former official also face one and two-year suspensions.
Glenn, who now plays for Norwood, will not face any penalties after co-operating with the investigation.
The Donnybrooks parted ways with the former Gold Coast and Central District midfielder after he was charged with aggravated assault following his alleged involvement in a fight at Gawler’s Exchange Hotel on March 2.
The club is now considering an appeal, which it is entitled to under the league’s rules.
In a statement, the Willaston Football Club’s committee said it took the charges “extremely seriously”.
“We are currently seeking legal advice in relation to the charges,” the statement said.
“We have been fully co-operative with SANFL, as acknowledged from the beginning of the investigation and will continue to co-operate throughout the process.”
SANFL community football manager Matt Duldig recognised the committee — which has changed since the alleged offences — had been fully co-operative.
But he noted the charges should serve as a warning to all clubs that breaches of player payment will be punished severely.
“The majority of the clubs are following the rules and are seeing the positive impact of the salary cap, which is helping to redirect money toward spending on facilities, junior development and coaching,” Duldig said.
“However, those clubs that aren’t should understand that they will be investigated and face the consequences.”