Goulburn Valley: Mooroopna latest to cop big fine for salary cap breaches

Fines have replaced the loss of premiership points for country footy clubs caught in the crosshairs of a salary cap probe.

Hefty fines have become the penalty of choice for AFL Victoria in its quest to crackdown on salary cap misdemeanours from clubs.

Goulburn Valley club Mooroopna last week was the latest team to be hit with a fine for not administering its salary cap correctly.

Mooroopna was under its salary cap in the 2022 and 2023 seasons that were subject to a four-month review, but 23 of 53 alleged breaches were proven.

It was fined $10,500 for player declaration irregularities and $15,000 for not fully disclosing player payments with half the total fine suspended for three years.

Alexandra is the only club this year to receive more than a monetary penalty for its salary cap breaches.

In addition to a $40,000 fine with $15,000 suspended for three years, Alexandra was stripped of four premiership points this season.

A recent appeal against the penalties by the club was dismissed.

Sunraysia league runner-up Robinvale-Euston was fined $11,500 for initial cap breaches including failing to provide full and free access to records and not providing requested information within seven days.

It is the only case still active in the state.

Sunraysia premier Irymple was fined $2000 with $1000 suspended for administrative errors.

Suspended fines are conditional on ongoing compliance of the cap.

Premier and runner-up teams in 2023 were all audited for the first time by AFL Victoria with the governing body committed to ongoing enforcement of the salary cap.

AFL Goulburn Murray regional manager Shaun Connell. Picture: Supplied

Mooroopna didn’t play in the grand final last year and its probe resulted from a former player alerting AFL Goulburn Murray of alleged salary cap management issues.

“The integrity of competitions is paramount at all levels of the game, and all stakeholders, including leagues, clubs, and players, have a responsibility to adhere to the rules put in place,” an AFLGM spokesman said.

“The club has advised that they will not appeal the panel’s findings.”

Mooroopna president Bill Dowling said one of the charges arose from the October 2022 floods with multiple player contracts destroyed.

“While this was not an issue when audited at local level in 2022 it was an issue to the tribunal some 18 months later,” he said.

“Regrettably we didn’t get new contracts and upload them, but at the time the club was fully engaged in flood relief.

“The second charge, containing 15 allegations of breach, was dismissed.

“The third charge related to a failure to correctly disclose payments made and contained 17 allegations of breach, all of which were dismissed except two.

“Importantly, the club was not over the salary cap. In fact, the club was found to be well under.”