Overview

The Australian football League (AFL) has fined the Geelong Football Club $77,500 following an audit of player payments spanning six years, from 2019 to 2024. The audit, triggered by initial findings in 2024, revealed issues with the disclosure and reporting of third-party arrangements, though the club was cleared of breaching the Total Player Payment (TPP) or player movement rules.

Audit Findings and Penalties

An initial general audit in 2024 prompted an extended investigation into Geelong’s player payments. While the AFL confirmed that Geelong did not exceed the TPP or violate player movement regulations, the audit identified “a series of non-disclosures and/or late disclosures of arrangements with club associates and third parties” that were required to be reported to the league. These issues concerned payments made to players outside of their standard contracts.

The fine of $77,500 includes a suspended portion of $40,000, contingent upon no further disclosure breaches occurring within the next two years. Geelong is also required to enhance its internal protocols regarding club employees and third-party relationships. Specifically, the club must establish and maintain an active register of these relationships, accessible to the AFL for review at any time over the next two years.

AFLW Program Disclosures

The audit also uncovered non-disclosures within the Geelong AFLW program. However, the AFL persistent these were administrative errors and did not constitute material breaches of the rules. This suggests a difference in the severity and intent of the disclosure issues between the AFL and AFLW programs.

Geelong’s Response

Geelong chief executive Steve Hocking stated the club fully cooperated with the audit process, providing access to all necessary documentation and information in collaboration with the AFL and EY. Hocking affirmed the club’s acceptance of the AFL’s sanctions and pledged to strengthen its education and governance processes to prevent future occurrences. He also highlighted the audit’s confirmation that the club remained within the permitted TPP limits and adhered to player movement rules.

We acknowledge the outcome of the audit has confirmed the club has not breached AFL TPP limits nor the AFL player movement rules.

Hocking further stated, We also acknowledge the audit identified a number of non-disclosure items over the six-year period. We accept the AFL’s sanctions for these errors and will strengthen our education and governance processes moving forward.

Implications and Future compliance

This case underscores the AFL’s commitment to financial transparency and compliance within its clubs. The requirement for Geelong to maintain a readily accessible register of third-party relationships signals a proactive approach by the league to monitor and prevent future disclosure issues. Clubs are increasingly scrutinized for their financial dealings, notably concerning payments to players outside of their official contracts.

AFL Salary Cap and TPP Rules

The AFL operates under a complex system of salary caps and Total Player Payment (TPP) limits designed to ensure competitive balance among clubs. The TPP includes all payments made to players, including salaries, bonuses, and benefits.Clubs are also subject to a “soft cap,” which limits spending on football department expenses, including player payments, coaching staff, and facilities. Detailed information on the current AFL salary cap and TPP rules can be found on the AFL website.