‘Rumours for years’: AFL probe Geelong over third-party player payments

The AFL is reportedly auditing Geelong in regards to third-party player payments, something rival fans have questioned for years.

The AFL is “auditing” Geelong over third-party player payments, according to veteran journalist Caroline Wilson.

Both the league and the club reportedly confirmed there was an audit being undertaken, Wilson said on Seven.

An audit is an independent examination into financial reports to verify them and ensure they have been kept properly.

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“I can tell you that the AFL is auditing third-party player payments at the Geelong Football Club,” Wilson explained.

“This is not an investigation, those in the know were at pains to tell me today, it’s an audit, and there are audits going on with third-party payments around the competition.

“But this one is intriguing. It began last year. We spoke in another place about issues, potentially with the Bailey Smith-Cotton On deal.

“But since then, the Morris Finance story broke, and that is the deal that they have with the club’s coach, Chris Scott. That story came to light when Morris Finance wanted more out of their man and asked that he wear the club colours. And that caused some problems. Some of that money is now going into either the soft cap or outside the soft cap, the 20% etc.

Chris Scott, Senior Coach of the Cats talks to his players. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“There was also a story in The Age last December, which revealed a $100,000 loan contracted with a former club sponsor now being investigated by police, and former captain Joel Selwood.

“This deal (allegedly) stood to earn Selwood $10,000. No-one is saying that Joel Selwood did anything wrong, or that the deal even took place, but this raised eyebrows at head office.

“Very sensitive, the AFL were, when I started asking questions about this last week, but there have been confirmations today, both from the club and the AFL, that an audit is going is currently going on. It’s ongoing. And it’s not only concerning those two stories, but other players as well.”

Chris Scott’s deal with Morris Finance has reportedly sparked the inquest. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

She added: “There have been rumours, unfair, about Geelong for many years now, but I think that those two stories — the Morris Finance, and the old story, the ancient story about Joel Selwood — sparked this investigation.

“Chris Scott also has a deal with Deakin University, and of course, that leads to a lot of questions about coaches and what they earn. I believe it’s unfair that they aren’t able to earn more.

“The AFL are at pains to say this is an audit; there won’t be findings necessarily announced if nothing is found. But they are looking and they are looking deep.”

Wilson said rival clubs have raised concerns about the Cats.

“The Melbourne Football Club raised questions about who Clayton Oliver spoke to and what was involved in that potential deal last year,” she said.

“The Bulldogs remain very, very angry about what went on with Bailey Smith and the club. GWS, ditto, Jeremy Cameron.

“I’m not saying Geelong have necessarily done anything wrong, but there is no doubt (rival clubs are concerned).”

Originally published as ‘Rumours for years’: AFL probe Geelong over third-party player payments