WRFL CEO Matthew Duck gives update on AFL Victoria salary cap audit

AFL Victoria’s salary cap audit into five Western Region Football League clubs is nearing a close, with CEO Matthew Duck admitting it has taken “a considerable amount of time”.

Deer Park celebrates its sixth consecutive flag in 2018. Picture: CODY BENCH PHOTOGRAPHY

The salary cap audit into five Western Region Football League clubs is nearing a close but there is no timeline on an outcome.

Powerhouse Deer Park, which has won the past six Division 1 premierships, is believed to be one of five clubs under review by AFL Victoria as the WRFL takes an aggressive approach to ensure an even playing field.

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It is believed the Lions have been under investigation since October, while the books of all WRFL clubs will be reviewed over the next two seasons.

WRFL chief executive Matthew Duck said a “thorough and comprehensive” investigation remained the priority.

“It’s taken considerable time, albeit the process has been known to take a similar amount of time in other instances throughout Victoria,” Duck said.

“Ultimately, it’s been comprehensive and is nearing its end.

“I’m sure everybody looks forward to bringing it to a close.

“We are confident it’s certainly in its latter stages and will soon be drawing to an end.”

Duck confirmed investigations into five WRFL clubs remained “live”, adding the bulk of the work had been completed.

There is no suggestion any club is guilty of wrongdoing at this stage.

Deer Park’s dominance has riled some of its rivals, but the off-field speculation has not impacted on Marc Bullen’s side, which sits on top of the ladder with a 3-0 record.

The Lions also secured ex-Western Bulldogs forward Jack Redpath over the off-season.

Deer Park is looking to achieve 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.

WRFL Division 1 clubs have a salary cap of $205,000 and points cap of 44 in 2019 under AFL Victoria’s club sustainability program.

“I think everybody understands it’s an external process and, as a result, we don’t control timeframes,” Duck said.

“It will take as long as it takes.

“All parties have been fine to work with throughout.”

The points system was implemented across the state in 2016 and the salary cap 12 months later.

AFL Victoria now has 24 integrity officers and across the state and there will be up to 50 audits this year.

Leagues can apply a range of penalties to clubs found to be over the salary cap, from the stripping of premierships in extreme cases to bans from finals, fines and suspension of players.

A Mornington Peninsula club was found last year to be almost $50,000 over its cap and fined $10,000, while Essendon District league club Aberfeldie was found to be $9595 over the cap in 2017 and was also hit with a $10,000 penalty.

To complement the player points and salary cap, AFL Victoria hopes to strengthen pathways from junior to senior football and improve facilities to reduce the gap between the haves and have-nots.

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