AFL on track for financial windfall after more than 140 players fined for 200-plus offences in 2018
THE AFL is on track to reap more than $350,000 from its players this season for offences deemed insufficient to warrant suspensions, more than $100,000 more than the previous season high.
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THE AFL is on track to reap more than $350,000 from its players this season for offences deemed insufficient to warrant suspensions.
The AFL Players’ Association wants the spike in fines reviewed, with the judicial system already raking in more than $400,000 given clubs also cough up $10,000 for failed tribunal challenges.
The 2018 fines tally - which is in excess of $330,000 - has smashed the previous record of $223,110 set in 2004 when governed by the old tribunal system.
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In the past three weeks, match review officer Michael Christian has fined players $65,550 and they are fed up with the financial scourge.
“I never thought I’d get fined for a tackle,” four-time premiership champion Luke Hodge said after copping a $2000 whack on Monday.
“I did exactly the same tackle four minutes earlier. Sometimes they look at the medical report, sometimes they look at the action. It’s confusing and frustrating.”
More than 140 players have been fined for over 200 offences this season, led by David Swallow ($7000), Steven Motlop ($6500), Mitch Robinson, Jacob Hopper and Jarrad Waite ($6000 each).
Fremantle rookie Bailey Banfield has been stung $3500. His base salary is just $75,000.
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the AFL commits $250,000 per annum towards concussion research, which, along with the costs of running tribunal cases, is funded by the player fines.
Any shortfall is paid by the AFL, although that will not be a problem this year after the crackdown on low-level offences.
Can anyone tell me the most amount of times a single player has been fined in a season? @MitchRobinson05 would have to go close to the record this year with the amount of $$ he has donated to the @AFL @brisbanelions
— Alex Witherden (@alexwitherden29) August 20, 2018
AFLPA relations manager Brett Murphy said the fines were a “point of much discussion” during mid-year club visits.
“It’s something we’ll review with the AFL at the end of the season,” Murphy told the Herald Sun.
“While the significant increase in fines is a concern, and we’d obviously prefer the money to stay in the players’ pockets, any uplift from 2017 will go to the AFL Players’ Injury and Hardship Fund to benefit past players.”
This year’s tally has exceeded $330,000 with 18 matches remaining. Melee and wrestling fines from the Grand Final will be doubled.
Last year netted the AFL just $139,500 while four years ago only $94,850 was generated.
The AFL sends an invoice to a player’s club after a sanction has been accepted, which must be paid before the club’s next match.
Melbourne’s Jordan Lewis (fined $5500 this year) said the sanctions caused trouble at home.
“I was nearly at the family courts trying to repair my marriage,” Lewis said after a mid-year slap.
“It’s fair to say I’m in the doghouse.”
North Melbourne’s Jamie Macmillan said mid-year the system was out of touch, highlighting teammate Shaun Higgins’ fine for a jumper punch.
“To get fined $2000 for the smallest thing is ridiculous,” Macmillan said.
“You can go out in the real world and do 40kmh over the speed limit and get two demerit points and a $180 fine.”
Adelaide stars Taylor Walker and Bryce Gibbs remain the only players to overturn fines at the tribunal this year.
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Originally published as AFL on track for financial windfall after more than 140 players fined for 200-plus offences in 2018