Geelong rorting the system

[Cyclops]

A lovely, neat outcome all around. The AFL's specialty.

Did you get some draft picks out of it?

 

[ibd77]

$40K suspended, and when was Brisbane's? The Cats acknowledged in May they expected a fine. This is a beat up.

That's just two plane tickets for Hinkley.

 

[PhatBoy]

So let me get this right....
Geelong were found to have not disclosed or partly disclosed third party arrangements, but only in respect of their AFLW program.

But we can be 100% confident that the very same administration disclosed every arrangement in respect of the AFL program, where they won a flag in 2022 yet apparently despite that had the most salary cap room of any club immediately after so they could take a top draft pick in order to facilitate the Bowes salary dump?

Got it.

You know we don’t keep all the players we’ve ever signed, yeah? We aren’t still paying Joel Selwood and weren’t paying he, Shaun Higgins and Luke Dalhaus when they all retired and Quinton Narkle when he was delisted at the end of 2022 right?

 

[MrPenguin]

I always think of this.

 

[fuic08]

I always think of this.

View attachment 2450125

Was this around the time Selwood became a money lender, with a very healthy interest rate for no reason?

 

[Bagger72]

So everyone is welcome to cheat under the guise of input errors in face of an upfront $50k payment disguised as a penalty.

Whats stopping the other clubs - a precedent has been set.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

No one mentioning that Geelong also got done for cheating salary cap 2012-2020?

Cats whacked with $40K fine for ‘inadvertent administrative error’

Cats whacked with $40K fine for ‘inadvertent administrative error’

www.foxsports.com.au

So they’ve been cheating the cap since 2012 through 2019 and then 2019 through 2024?



“We made an inadvertent administrative error in our TPP related reporting that has been repeated over eight years,” Cats chief financial officer Simon Kelleher said.

“As soon as we discovered this error, we advised the AFL. The AFL investigated the matter and have passed down the sanction. We accept the penalty and have thoroughly reviewed our processes to ensure full compliance going forward.” - March 5, 2020

Lol, so they had to pay 40k for a first offence and only 37.5k for a 2nd offence after 40k is suspended..

 

[two blue tiger]

A few used Fords been driven into the Rex Gorell carpark by players' partners in the last few months??? All out on very long test drives maybe?

 

[CharacterFirst]

It's clear Geelong is a hive of villainy and corruption.

I am not sure anyone associated with the club will be able to show their face next season. We might have to forfeit the 2026 season.

I guess the only positive from all this is seeing that "rorting" in the AFL is actually very easy to achieve, and a victimless crime with no consequences.

I am astounded that none of the other clubs are remotely competent enough to pull off even a fraction of the "rorting" Geelong manages to do, all while being public and transparent about their 3rd party payments etc.

There is no justice in this world.

Praise be to the Lord that He is is a Holy and Righteous God, and that He will come with His winnowing fork in hand.

Have mercy on the Cats when the day of judgment arrives, Lord.

 

[Rob]

You know we don’t keep all the players we’ve ever signed, yeah? We aren’t still paying Joel Selwood and weren’t paying he, Shaun Higgins and Luke Dalhaus when they all retired and Quinton Narkle when he was delisted at the end of 2022 right?

Yeah no other team had that. And it's not like premiership players are more likely to ask for a pay raise

 

[sosos]

Only solution is to strip these cheats of their '95 runners up medals.

 

[PhatBoy]

Yeah no other team had that. And it's not like premiership players are more likely to ask for a pay raise

Are the all off contract that year? I daresay like most clubs we went the traditional route and did our contract renegotiations before the trade window and end of season as opposed to doing it between the flag win and when Bowes arrived two weeks later

 

[hawkman]

You’d only be satisfied if a “dead body” was produced.

I believe we all saw Geelong in the 4th quarter in the GF

 

[NavySteel]

Yeah, because the AFL stripped us of our ability to build a team when we were penalised. We paid the price with interest.

I don’t think the AFL will go as hard as they did knowing they destroyed our club for the good part of 15 years. However other cases like the Crows copped heavy penalties as well.

So yeah, when suspect behaviour is treated as an “audit” and wrongdoing is slapped with a wet lettuce leaf and a finger wag from the AFL, folks supporting previously penalized clubs are going to go at it.

 

[Xtreme]

Rorting their own punishments now too

As the great Henri Leconte would say

UN-BULLEIBIBIBABLE

 

[Wojcinski]

To me this is the smoking gun in the whole thing

Joel Selwood wanted to win and was willing to sacrifice to do so. Sorry no one at your club cares enough about winning anything other than Brownlows or BnF's for them to do the same

 

[Bagger72]

Joel Selwood wanted to win and was willing to sacrifice to do so. Sorry no one at your club cares enough about winning anything other than Brownlows or BnF's for them to do the same

..and you are so wet behind the ears to believe he never got that money back?

 

[austyn08]

A lovely, neat outcome all around. The AFL's specialty.

Yep protect the brand, cats worked this out a while ago.

 

[tropicaltiger]

Willing to take a "paycut" takes on a whole new meaning now

exactly when negotiating with Charlie Curnow

oh yeah we forgot to mention that that farm you brought
comes with 400 head of cattle, a massive shed with built-in gymnasium and heated pool, and 2 state of the art Massey Ferguson Tractors and a stable of Fords the Everest, the Bronco and Mustang. a helicopter with a landing pad and full-time pilot are also available at the southern end of the farm for your personal use anytime you feel like a quick surf down Torquay way.

 

[PhatBoy]

exactly when negotiating with Charlie Curnow

oh yeah we forgot to mention that that farm you brought
comes with 400 head of cattle, a massive shed with built-in gymnasium and heated pool, and 2 state of the art Massey Ferguson Tractors and a stable of Fords the Everest, the Bronco and Mustang. a helicopter with a landing pad and full-time pilot are also available at the southern end of the farm for your personal use anytime you feel like a quick surf down Torquay way.

No one on a mediocre cattle farm would need two Masseys.
Throw in a bailer and a speed rower maybe if they’re growing some lucerne for feed.

 

[shaqsuns]

$77,500 isn't even enough to pay for Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

33

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

's barn door

 

[Xtreme]

$77,500 isn't even enough to pay for Jeremy Cameron's barn door

Thats also the el cheapo version of the tuxedo suit that Patrick surfs in!

 

[RCAB]

You’d only be satisfied if a “dead body” was produced.

Nope

Why would a joint AFL and EY audit that took months have not left some stones unturned?

The HUN is reporting, “ the AFL investigation went back six years and saw the club handing over mobile phones and laptops but did not uncover any breaches involving financial deals between players and club sponsors.

Instead the AFL audit saw non lodgement of third party links that included club sponsors or associates allowing players to use accommodation in Queensland or gifting them bottles of wine. Club sponsors are not allowed to give free gifts, services or use of their properties without those deals being lodged and subjected to AFL rules”.

All clubs can expect similar scrutiny.

The AFL press release, is as expected, omitting nuance in a few key areas. Let me break it down.


What they're saying (and not saying)

Saying:
Fines$77.5k fine ($40k suspended)

What's missing:
Suspended amount signals AFL's confidence in it not being "systemic" but also gives them an accountability lever.

Saying:
Audit Scope2019–2024, done with EY

Missing:
This was broader than usual... more like a forensic sweep. EY involvement means flagged patterns triggered a deeper review.

Said:
No TPP breachConfirmed

Not said:
but TPP is only one dimension... the “non-disclosure” part can still mask advantages (like retaining players via trusted intermediaries).

Said:
AFLW ProgramAdmin errors

Didn't say:
Likely minor but this mention insulates the AFL from appearing blind to women’s league governance.

Said:
Hocking's QuoteFull cooperation, no material breach

What it means:
Standard language. The fact they included it signals an effort to reaffirm trust post-fine, which is not nothing.



More importantly what's been ommited...

What kind of third-party deals?

They don't say if these were business introductions, endorsement setups, or informal career help for partners/family.

These “club associate” links may include real estate, hospitality, or sponsor-adjacent benefits.



Which players were involved?

Zero mention of which players were linked to the “non-disclosures.”

From what I know personally (take it out leave it, I'm sure you'll leave it) it involves 2–3 senior figures and 1 mid-tier retention case, the names are carefully obscured (this will come out eventually).



How was it discovered?

No detail. Someone at AFL audited this and raised the alarm.



AFL's game plan date is to treat it as a slap on the wrist, send a quiet warning to other clubs (especially those replicating third-party strategies).

Reassert control over the narrative by saying: “We did the job. There’s no systemic corruption.”

Avoid player name exposure to prevent CBA tension or public backlash.


This is what I've known for a while... not an explosive breach, but a material nudge to the grey zone with Geelong navigating third-party edges better than most.

Think of it like cap acupuncture, painless on the surface, but strategically stimulating the right pressure points.

AFL has closed the file for now, but it’s also marked the territory for other clubs. The next “associate arrangement” slip-up by anyone else will get harsher scrutiny.

 

[Spearman]

The farm of a club associate...so they got close.

So they were out camping amongst the cow pies and forgot to report it? Damn dat's gangsta.

 

[nut]

Show me where Geelong have cut corners. Show me your due diligence. Highlight the rules broken and illegal practices undertaken. It should be easy work since it's "known".

Yep it’s now “Known” known.