Goulburn Valley: Euroa found guilty on three charges relating to 2024 salary cap breach

A salary cap probe that started with a former coach receiving a lengthy ban has been completed with more action. See the outcome.

Euroa has been fined $2500 and a second former player suspended for four matches at the conclusion of a salary cap bust investigation at the Goulburn Valley league club.

Euroa and Silver Yousif fronted an AFL Goulburn-Murray disciplinary committee last week relating to irregularities uncovered in player payment declarations last season.

Euroa was found guilty on three charges including exceeding the GV salary cap of $130,000 with $1500 of the $2500 fine imposed suspended for three years, pending ongoing compliance with the player payment rules.

Euroa received reprimands on two other charges of lodging an inaccurate player declaration for Yousif and not submitting accurate final total player payments for the 2024 season.

A club spokesman confirmed Euroa self-reported after becoming aware an estimated $4000 had been provided by “club supporters” and used as a sign-on fee by former coach Ryan Pendlebury to recruit Yousif.

“The club’s executive committee was not aware of these funds and as such did not declare them,” the spokesman said.

“The disciplinary committee was complimentary of the club’s management processes relating to player payments and salary cap requirements and indeed noted that the immediate self-report once these undeclared funds were discovered was a reflection of high-quality leadership.

“The club received two reprimands and one fine of $1000 from the three charges laid.”

Earlier, Pendlebury was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute for the nondisclosure of the sign-on fee payment and initially suspended for seven matches.

Pendlebury failed to have the guilty verdict overturned on appeal, but his ban was reduced from seven to five matches.

He plays for Geelong league club St Mary’s and has served two matches of his ban.

Pendlebury was appointed coach of Euroa at the end of the 2023 season with the non-declared sign-on fee payment made in January 2024.

Midway through 2024, Pendlebury was appointed to a coaching role with the North Melbourne AFLW team, but continued to coach Euroa until stepping down at the end of the season.

AFL Goulburn Murray regional manager Shaun Connell. Picture supplied

Yousif joined Mininera District league club Great Western and served the first of his four-match ban last Saturday.

“The integrity of competitions is paramount at all levels of the game,” AFLGM regional manager Shaun Connell said.

“It is important to remember that the responsibility for compliance with the rules sits with everyone including leagues, clubs, officials, and players.

“Comprehensive training delivered to leagues and clubs at the start of the season focused not only on club education but also included resources to support the delivery of education and awareness to players and officials.

“Euroa-Football Netball Club has been fully co-operative throughout the investigation.”

Originally published as Goulburn Valley: Euroa found guilty on three charges relating to 2024 salary cap breach