Aberfeldie fined $10,000 for EDFL salary cap breaches

THE reigning premiers of one of Melbourne’s strongest football leagues has been fined for breaching the $250,000 salary cap, one of three clubs in the competition to cop penalties.

Aberfeldie celebrates its victory in last year’s EDFL footy grand final against Greenvale. Picture: Hamish Blair

ESSENDON District Football League powerhouse Aberfeldie is weighing up an appeal after being hit with a $10,000 fine for breaching the salary cap.

The reigning premier was $9595 over the $250,000 cap set for Premier Division clubs as it powered to a second flag in three years last season.

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The limit for EDFL top-flight clubs is the highest of any suburban competition in Victoria.

Abers, who have qualified for the decider in the past five seasons and boast a star-studded list, were one of three clubs found to have breached allowable player payments rules, with rivals Pascoe Vale and Essendon Doutta Stars committing administrative breaches.

The penalties were handed down during hearings for the three clubs at Windy Hill on Thursday night.

Aberfeldie coach Adam Potter and captain Luke Davis celebrate with the trophy after winning last year’s grand final. Picture: Hamish Blair

“The club completely disagrees with the outcome and are considering our options in regards to an appeal,” Aberfeldie Sports Club chairman Jim Pound said on Friday.

An EDFL-appointed AFL Victoria integrity officer compiled reports on the clubs, with the breaches made public earlier this month.

In a letter to members on March 2, Pound said: “we place on the record for your information at this early stage that Abers has not concealed any player payments or benefits nor has it endeavoured to do so.

“More importantly, it has been found not to have done so.

“It has also been found to have maintained records of player payments ‘very well’

“The club wishes to place on record that any alleged noncompliance relates to administrative rule interpretations on declared player payments.”

Aberfeldie will also be audited for the next two seasons.

Pascoe Vale’s Luke Foster tackles Maribyrnong Park’s Sam O'Brien. The club has been fined $1000. Picture: Andrew Tauber

Pascoe Vale was found to have committed three administrative breaches — not lodging all player contracts within the required time frame, not lodging all non-contracted player statements within the required time frame and not disclosing all of its player payments in the final declaration form.

The club was fined $1000 and will be audited again next year.

Essendon Doutta Stars was reprimanded for not disclosing all player payments in their final declaration and did not receive a sanction for not lodging all non-contracted player statements within the prescribed time frame.

The salary cap was implemented last season in community competitions across the state to complement the player points system under AFL Victoria’s Club Sustainability Program.

Education was the focus of the first year, but clubs can lose premiership points, have their player points cap reduced and be ineligible for finals for up to three years if found guilty of serious breaches.

Essendon Doutta Stars has also been reprimanded. Picture: David Crosling

The program seeks to address the impact of player payments and the burden on club volunteers.

Clubs are required to disclose payments made to players by October 31 each year.

The EDFL’s $250,000 salary cap is greater than neighbouring Western Region and Northern leagues, which have a payments limit of $225,000 in their top-flight competitions.

The Ballarat ($140,000) and Riddell District leagues ($110,000) — which border EDFL territory — have significantly lower caps.

The EDFL figures are equivalent to $13,888 per week across the 18-round season — an average of $631 per player.

Plans are afoot for all metropolitan leagues to have the same salary cap by 2020.

Torquay was yesterday slapped with $20,000 in fines and a raft of sanctions for going $3040 over the Bellarine Football League’s $100,000 salary cap in 2017.

In February, AFL South East club Hastings self-reported it was almost $50,000 over the competition’s $150,000 payments ceiling.

The Blues were fined $45,000, with $35,000 suspended for two years pending any further breaches.