The AFL is forensically going over Geelong’s books as part of a competition-wide review of third-party deals
The AFL has instigated a competition-wide review of third-party deals and Geelong is in the spotlight, with the league forensically going over the club’s books.
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The AFL is forensically going over Geelong’s books, with the club reportedly at the centre of a third-party player payment audit.
While the league has instigated a competition-wide review of third-party deals, the Cats are in the spotlight thanks to a number of relationships that have raised eyebrows at AFL headquarters.
It was stressed this was not an investigation, but an audit.
Opposition clubs have long made noises over Geelong’s relationship with major sponsor Cotton On, who already had recruit Bailey Smith on its books before he left the Bulldogs for a new life at the Cats.
An AFL spokesperson said the salary cap audit of the Cats was not unusual and would only release findings if there was a breach in rules.
“The AFL conducts regular salary cap audit activities across a number of clubs every year as part of our annual salary cap compliance process.
“We do not provide commentary on the conduct or progress of any of these activities and the only time we release any information publicly is if we determine there has been a breach of AFL rules.”
Last month, the league ended an investigation into Cats coach Chris Scott’s arrangement with Morris Finance, a major long-term club sponsor.
In October, it was announced Scott was the new chief of leadership and performance at Morris Finance.
While the AFL refused to reveal the findings of the investigation, league chief Andrew Dillon confirmed the relationship had been looked at and that it was “in the realms of the soft cap”.
It’s understood Geelong was told to proportion a part of the Morris Finance contract with Scott to be under the soft cap of its football department spending.
Morris Finance has been with the Cats for 14 years, and for the past five years it has been a direct partner of the master coach.
In December, it was revealed former captain Joel Selwood had been named in a contract as the lender of $100,000 to a club sponsor who was now under police investigation.
While the transaction was never followed through – the 355-game champion was due to receive $10,000 in interest from the proposed loan in 2013 – the nature of the arrangement concerned AFL bosses.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing from any player, coach or club official in any of these instances.
The AFL regularly conducts audits of clubs’ accounts and often does not reveal its findings unless a breach is found.
The AFL was unavailable for comment last night.
Originally published as The AFL is forensically going over Geelong’s books as part of a competition-wide review of third-party deals
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