League orders Crows bosses and Kurt Tippett to front the AFL Commission over salary cap breaches
THE Crows and wantaway star Kurt Tippett have been charged by the AFL over draft and salary cap breaches.
THE Crows and wantaway star Kurt Tippett have been charged by the AFL over draft and salary cap breaches.
The club, its chief executive Steven Trigg, former football operations manager John Reid and the out-of-contract Tippett were yesterday ordered by the AFL to front the Commission at a special hearing in Melbourne at 1pm on Monday.
Each faces two charges of engaging in conduct prejudicial to the draft and salary cap breaches.
If found guilty, the Crows face a massive fine and could be stripped of key draft picks, including selections at this year's national and pre-season drafts.
Key forward Tippett - who had a proposed trade to Sydney quashed by the AFL last month - faces suspension or deregistration after allegedly entering into a secret agreement with the Crows at the end of 2009.
The agreement is understood to include a special clause in Tippett's contract enabling him to move to the club of his choice for a second-round draft pick at the end of 2012.
A further, third-party payment of up to $200,000 to Tippett by the Crows outside the salary cap is also alleged to have been made.
In a statement last night, AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the league had informed the parties of the charges in writing yesterday.
"In accordance with AFL Player Rule 17, which relates to the enforcement of the AFL draft and Total Player Payments, I have charged the Adelaide Football Club, chief executive Steven Trigg, former Adelaide general manager football operations John Reid and Kurt Tippett each with two charges," Anderson said in a statement.
"They are contrary to Rule 17 that on or about September and October 2009 you engaged in conduct prejudicial to the draft. And between September 2009 and October 2012 you engaged in conduct in breach of the Total Player Payments provisions in the rules."
Among the penalties the AFL could impose on Adelaide are financial sanctions and/or eligibility to participate in up to four draft selection meetings.
Trigg and Reid, who has retired from the AFL, could also be hit with sanctions.
Tippett - who has until 1.30pm today to nominate for the national draft on November 22 - faces suspension or being deregistered.
The Crows have immediately begun working on an impassioned bid to minimise their punishment.
In a statement last night, the club said it had been advised of charges arising from the investigation into contract arrangements with Tippett "as a direct result of our decision to report it and offer full assistance to the investigation"
"Throughout the past three years and the recent trading period it was always the club's intention to comply fully with all AFL rules on the draft and player payments," the statement read.
"The club draws attention to its exemplary record and reputation of total and willing compliance with all AFL rules that govern the draft and total player payments over the past 22 years.
" We have the highest regard for those rules and the reason that they exist. We will appear before the AFL Commission on Monday to respond in full.
"Out of respect for the AFL process, the club is unable to provide further comment on the charges until that process is complete."