Mornington Peninsula league: Probe finds Chelsea guilty of breaking salary cap by $7,165 in 2024

A leading Mornington Peninsula league club has been found guilty of breaching the salary cap last year.

Chelsea was found to have exceeded the salary cap in 2024.

A leading Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League club has been found guilty of breaching the salary cap last year.

Chelsea was found to have exceeded the allowable player payment cap by $7,165 in 2024 when the club lost the grand final in Division 2.

The cap in that league last year was in the range of $100,000 to $110,000.

The Seagulls fronted an AFL South East disciplinary hearing in the past week and were fined $3,800.

An accredited AFL Victoria integrity officer will also complete a review of Chelsea’s player payments for the 2025 season with the club to pay for the review.

Chelsea went within a kick of winning the 2024 MPFNL Division 2 grand final, which was won by Edithvale-Aspendale, 11.16 (82) to 11.11 (77).

“In announcing the sanctions, AFL South East wishes to acknowledge the Chelsea Football Club’s cooperation throughout the review and hearing process,” an AFL South East statement said.

“AFL South East remains committed to the integrity of the Community Club Sustainability Program.’’

In February, metro club Keilor was stripped of its 2023 flag when it was found to be $45,100 over the salary cap in that season.

Last month, Rumbalara was hit with total fines of $32,900 for busting the Murray league salary cap by $54,650 last season.

Also in March, Central Murray league powerhouse Kerang was found guilty of breaching the salary cap by $16,000 last year when the club lost the grand final.

Kerang accepted the penalties of a $16,000 fine and a reduction of $10,000 in the club’s salary cap for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

The penalties follow the 2024 allowable player payment grand finalist reviews.