WRFL 2019: Deer Park considers appeal after fines handed down
After a 10-month investigation, reigning WRFL premier Deer Park has answered eight charges for breaching the salary cap at a marathon four-hour hearing. And the outcome now has the club considering an appeal.
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Powerhouse Deer Park has been hit with $6000 in fines for breaking allowable player payment rules during the 2018 season.
But the six-time reigning premier has been cleared of breaching the Western Region Football League’s $215,000 salary cap last year.
During a four-hour hearing on Tuesday night, a three-person player payments disciplinary committee dismissed the most serious charge from the investigation, which ruled half of coach Marc Bullen’s salary should be included in the club’s total player payments.
That would have tipped the club over the cap after the former Essendon player made six appearances for the club’s reserves team last season.
But the committee found “the circumstances did not meet the definition within the Rule of a ‘playing coach’ nor the definition of ‘player payments’.”
It is understood Bullen, who is a non-playing coach, was assisting an undermanned reserves side.
Deer Park was found guilty of three administrative breaches and received a $2000 fine for each offence.
The club will also be audited over the next two seasons, submit monthly profit and loss statements and make any future player payments electronically.
Deer Park president Mark McGoldrick said the club was considering an appeal.
The Lions were represented by former AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson, while Bullen and vice president Matthew Pratt were also in attendance.
Deer Park was made to answer eight charges following a 10-month investigation conducted by three AFL Victoria integrity officers.
“We feel very justified challenging the verdict,” McGoldrick said.
“Obviously Marc never played senior football, and that was our stance why it shouldn’t have gone against the salary cap.
“Everybody in the WRFL now can rest assured that Deer Park are not flaunting the rules.
“All that conjecture out there, hearsay and innuendo … that’s exactly what it was.”
McGoldrick described parts of the investigation as “totally unwarranted”.
Fifteen people, comprising 11 current and former players plus officials from rival clubs, were interviewed as part of the investigation.
It is believed Bullen was not one of those interviewed.
WRFL chief executive Matthew Duck conceded the drawn-out investigation had been frustrating.
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“But, at the same time, we’ve said from the outset that the length of time was never the No. 1 priority. A comprehensive and thorough investigation was the No. 1 priority. It’s certainly been that,” Duck said.
“Some may argue it’s been a little too thorough and comprehensive. Others have probably formed an opinion that, given the length of time, there was going to be a particular outcome.
“We’ve never guaranteed outcomes — we just guaranteed thorough process.
“Clearly there will be some learning going forward.
“We’d like to think any future auditing, be it of this football club or others, does not take this length of time.
“Clearly I think this was a bit of a landmark (case), which broke a lot of new ground in terms of where the investigation delved.”
Duck warned clubs the process of policing the cap was “certainly tightening”.
The WRFL will reduce the cap for Division 1 clubs to $195,000 in 2020.
Deer Park will now turn its attention to another finals campaign, starting with a mouth-watering qualifying final against Spotswood on Saturday.
The Lions are chasing a slice of history this year, with VAFA outfit Old Xaverians (1995-2000) the only other club in metropolitan Melbourne to win six flags in a row in a top-flight competition.
Champions Kwame McHarg and Chris Stewart have played in all six premierships.
The off-field focus on Deer Park had the potential to overshadow what is set to be a cracking final series.
Altona finished three games clear on top of the ladder, while Spotswood, the Lions, Werribee Districts and Hoppers Crossing were equal on points.
“It’s certainly been a distraction,” Duck said.
“We wouldn’t want that in any way to overshadow what promises to be a really exciting finals series.
“We understand there will be plenty of talk post these findings.
“But … we look forward to focusing on what the season’s all about, which is getting to September, playing some finals footy and getting out and watching some great local talent.”
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