Local footy giant Keilor facing massive salary cap penalty

The EDFL and Keilor have broken their silence on a salary cap investigation into the Mick McGuane-coached club. Here are the details.

Keilor is under investigation.

A major metropolitan football league has revealed a powerhouse club will face a disciplinary committee over alleged salary cap breaches.

The Essendon District Football League confirmed this masthead’s report that Keilor was being investigated.

It comes after a former player spoke out in defence of the club on Thursday night.

Keilor, coached by former Collingwood star Mick McGuane, will face a league-appointed panel next Tuesday night at Windy Hill.

It’s not suggested McGuane was aware of any of the alleged breaches.

Former AFL operations boss Adrian Anderson will oversee the hearing.

It’s understood Keilor must answer alleged breaches of the salary cap in seasons 2022 and 2023.

The club was audited after its dazzling 2024 season in which it lost only two matches and routed Pascoe Vale by 53 points in the grand final.

AFL Victoria conducted the audit and referred its findings to the league.

The Blues also won the flag in 2023 and have captured five premierships under the respected McGuane.

Under AFL Victoria regulations in 2024, metropolitan clubs in their league’s top division could pay their players a maximum of $120,000. The salary cap was $110,000 in 2023.

On Friday afternoon, the EDFL confirmed rumours that had been swirling in local football.

“The Essendon District Football League is aware of the speculation concerning the Keilor Football Club and its player payments,” a league statement said.

“The EDFL can confirm the Keilor Football Club will appear before a player payments disciplinary committee following an Integrity Review into player payments.

“Keilor was subject to an integrity review as a result of competing in the 2024 Premier Division grand final, as required under Rule 9 of the Player Payment Rules.

“The EDFL will not be making any further comment prior the Player Payments Disciplinary Committee hearing.”

Mick McGuane has been the Keilor coach since 2008. Photo: by Josh Chadwick.

In a statement on Friday afternoon, Keilor president Shaun Morris said the club was “aware” of the integrity review.

The club’s statement followed the wide dissemination of a fake statement, written by AI, which was shared on social media and among the local football community on Friday morning.

“The Keilor Football Club wishes to categorically state that no past or present players have had any involvement at all in this integrity review,” Morris said.

“As it has done to date, the Keilor Football Club will continue to co-operate with the EDFL and its appointed officers, in an open, honest, and transparent manner.

“Until this review is completed, it would be inappropriate for the Keilor Football Club to make any further comments in relation to this matter.”

Former Keilor and AFL player Damien Cavka took to social media on Thursday night to hit out at suggestions he “ratted out” the Blues.

Cavka returned to his junior club for the 2023 season after a stint with Keilor Park in the lower divisions of the competition, winning a premiership in 2022.

The ex-West Coast Eagles draftee played 10 games but missed the Blues’ 2023 senior flag.

He then signed with Division 1 club Hillside for 2024 but Keilor denied his clearance and he had to sit out the season.

“The recent rumours linking me to salary cap accusations against my junior club, Keilor, are completely false and an absolute disgrace,” Cavka said.

“The idea that I would ‘rat out’ the club I have been a part of since the age of 5 and a place where my family has grown up and live is not only absurd but deeply offensive to both myself and my family.

“To those who have spread these baseless claims – you should be ashamed.

“Keilor is a club built on integrity, strong values, and a true sense of community. I have nothing but respect for the club, and it’s disappointing to see these false accusations circulating.

“Potentially this is just another case of jealous individuals trying to bring down what has been a power house and football factory where some have tried to conquer but have not come close and never will as the club is a well run/non-ego centralised organisation.”

Damien Cavka in action for Keilor. Picture: Jamie Morey

Cavka is now senior coach of Division 2 club Coburg Districts.

“I am proud to be the coach of Coburg Districts Football Club, where I have received nothing but support from Mick in my coaching journey. My passion has always been for the growth and development of footballers, helping them reach their full potential,” he said.

AFL Victoria has been contacted.

The state’s governing body conducted 120 audits at the end of last season. It’s believed a number of the investigations are ongoing.

If a club is found guilty of breaches it is up to the league and its board to decide any punishments.

In 2023, Ovens and Murray league powerhouse Wangaratta Magpies were stripped of their 2022 premiership and fined $28,000 for their own salary cap breach.

The side, which was coached by former Collingwood defender Ben Reid, was found to have been over the $125,000 cap by $28,000.

The Magpies also were not allowed to play for premiership points in the first game of the 2023 season and declared the breach as an administrative error.

Originally published as Local footy giant Keilor facing massive salary cap penalty