Geelong rorting the system

[Wojcinski]

My local does the exact same thing for me. I've never been declaring it either...

now that I think about it I've crashed on friends couches in the past and also not declared it, I hope the ATO doesn't read this forum

 

[Jim Cricket]

Excellent point. I wonder what could be found for a forensic investigation of 6 years of records for other clubs? Maybe somebody else didn't log a bottle of Shiraz or a few iPads. Scandalous.

Obviously they haven't found much at other clubs given this 6 year audit has been done regularly at all clubs. I mean it's just a routine audit.

 

[Mr Meow]

Obviously they haven't found much at other clubs given this 6 year audit has been done regularly at all clubs. I mean it's just a routine audit.

No worries Jim. Have a lovely day.

 

[Crankyhawk]

What does it have to do with Danger getting offers? It's effectively a bonus outside of the salary cap.

How do you explain any rational person coming up with Danger as the best player in the comp this year? It's beyond the realms of possibility. Do you think he was even remotely close to best in the league? Top 10 even?
Nobody could mount a legit case while keeping a straight face.

Maybe they only vote on Friday night games?

Edit nvm saw Phatboy had explained it better

 

[The Vaucluse]

Maybe Craig Drummond is in the box seat to be the next AFL Chairman and that’s why the AFL went soft on the audit. It’s funny how Caro was banging on about Godyer stepping down and now she’s silent. Drummond was Godyer preferred candidate. That would mean we’d have Hutchinson running AFL media, Sheehan overseeing the AFL Coates Development Program and Tom Harley appointed Chief Operating Officer. All Geelong people. And people question the influence Geelong has inside the AFL. Didn’t we just have Simon Kelleher oversee an audit of Geelong’s accounts and he was previously the Chief Operating Officer at Geelong for six-and-a-half years, before moving across to the AFL as General Manager Club Finance, Performance and Growth.

 

[Sttew]

Maybe Craig Drummond is in the box seat to be the next AFL Chairman and that’s why the AFL went soft on the audit. It’s funny how Caro was banging on about Godyer stepping down and now she’s silent. Drummond was Godyer preferred candidate. That would mean we’d have Hutchinson running AFL media, Sheehan overseeing the AFL Coates Development Program and Tom Harley appointed Chief Operating Officer. All Geelong people. And people question the influence Geelong has inside the AFL. Didn’t we just have Simon Kelleher oversee an audit of Geelong’s accounts and he was previously the Chief Operating Officer at Geelong for six-and-a-half years, before moving across to the AFL as General Manager Club Finance, Performance and Growth.

Who is Godyer?

 

[The Vaucluse]

Who is Godyer?

Typo Goyder

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

The fine is akin to a judge saying "you only murdered him a little so we will give you a 3 month jail term". You either did it or you didnt. The punishment is either extreme or non existant

Dancing around the topic just shows weakness. Either target the topic or dont.

 

[Sttew]

The fine is akin to a judge saying "you only murdered him a little so we will give you a 3 month jail term". You either did it or you didnt. The punishment is either extreme or non existant

Dancing around the topic just shows weakness. Either target the topic or dont.

Most ridiculous analogy which underpins your inability to understand what Geelong was found to have breached, or you are just trolling?

Let me ask you how does failing to report on time or at all third party gratuities like a bottle of wine or use of a car on an ad hoc basis compare with falsifying records?

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Most ridiculous analogy which underpins your inability to understand what Geelong was found to have breached, or you are just trolling?

Let me ask you how does failing to report on time or at all third party gratuities like a bottle of wine or use of a car on an ad hoc basis compare with falsifying records?

A salary cap dodge is a salary cap dodge. The hows and why isnt relevant at all.

 

[Sttew]

A salary cap dodge is a salary cap dodge. The hows and why isnt relevant at all.

You know the AFL concluded Geelong did NOT commit any salary cap breaches.

 

[Elixuh]

Based on how many ‘admin errors’ the Cats continue to make despite their promises over the years, I think it’s time for the AFL to performance manage them until they stop rorting admin errors.

 

[Hollow Knight]

What’s the point of auditing whether Geelong’s reported payments are under the cap? No one really thought otherwise.

No smart club is going to cheat by going over the salary cap. The trick is to make the salary cap itself just part of your player payroll.

 

[archereleven]

You know the AFL concluded Geelong did NOT commit any salary cap breaches.

The AFLs conclusion was an admin error and they are reassessing.

They've stated they won't let work experience kids from Geelong Grammar do future audits.

 

[The Vaucluse]

You know the AFL concluded Geelong did NOT commit any salary cap breaches.

The AFL’s audit of Geelong’s player payments is an idea that Humphrey from “Yes Minister” or Jim Gibson from “Utopia” would dream up. Let’s get Simon to oversee the Audit because it’s not in his interest to find anything. Then we’ll keep sweet with the new Chairman, Goyder working the phones hard and it looks like Craig will get over the line.

 

[PhatBoy]

The AFL’s audit of Geelong’s player payments is an idea that Humphrey from “Yes Minister” or Jim Gibson from “Utopia” would dream up. Let’s get Simon to oversee the Audit because it’s not in his interest to find anything. Then we’ll keep sweet with the new Chairman, Goyder working the phones hard and it looks like Craig will get over the line.

So you wanted the AFL to look into Geelong. Then they announced they were. Then you waited eagerly to hear the outcome. Then you heard it.

Who has the problem here again?

 

[kreuze_missile]

So you wanted the AFL to look into Geelong. Then they announced they were. Then you waited eagerly to hear the outcome. Then you heard it.

Who has the problem here again?

Mate, the problem is that the AFL "looking into something" when it involves Geelong has all the credibility of a Jeff Kennett apology.

Let’s be real here. The issue is that Geelong has consistently operated in a grey zone for years, and every time questions are raised, the AFL’s response is either delay, deflect, or quietly close the book. So no, it's not that fans "have a problem" accepting an outcome. It's that the process is broken and appears designed to protect certain clubs.

Here’s why people call Geelong cheats or question their integrity.

First, the salary cap magic. Geelong keeps managing to attract and retain stars without ever seeming to face a cap squeeze. Dangerfield, Cameron, Smith, Higgins, Bowes, Bruhn, Henry. The list keeps growing. And the excuse is always that they take unders or want to live in Geelong. Funny how no other club gets that same luxury. No stars ever leave for more money. Their list managers must be magicians. And when people ask for details, all we get are vague explanations about culture and loyalty, never actual cap transparency.

Second, the draft manipulation. Geelong has benefited massively from father-son selections and NGA loopholes. They accessed elite talent through concessions that most clubs would never get away with. They squeezed value out of Category B rookies. They pushed for the Barwon zone access while other clubs got told to back off theirs. And somehow, every time the AFL closes a loophole, it's right after Geelong has already milked it dry.

Third, the connection to AFL House. Geelong has always had strong links to the AFL’s inner circle. Brian Cook, Andrew Dillon, long-standing relationships with decision-makers. Chris Scott gets protected by the media like no other coach. When Carlton, Essendon or North Melbourne make mistakes, it’s front-page news and a full-blown crisis. When Geelong does something shady, it gets brushed away with a shrug and a pat on the back.

Fourth, the lack of transparency. When the AFL says they “looked into” something involving Geelong, what does that actually mean? Was it an official investigation? Was a report published? Was any evidence made public? Or was it just a couple of quiet phone calls and a media statement to say “nothing to see here”? Fans aren’t stupid. If this was another club, we’d see public scrutiny and genuine consequences.

So yeah, people waited for the outcome, and the AFL gave the same generic line they always give when it's Geelong. The frustration isn't just about the decision, it's about the process. And how convenient it always seems to be for one club in particular.

This isn’t sour grapes. It’s about fairness. One club keeps getting the benefit of the doubt, the soft coverage, the special treatment. That’s why people keep calling it out.

The real problem isn’t the fans asking questions. It’s a system that never seems to ask them when it comes to Geelong.

 

[RCAB]

kreuze_missile there are several players at Geelong that aren't getting "unders". They just managed to do it creatively.

 

[The Vaucluse]

So you wanted the AFL to look into Geelong. Then they announced they were. Then you waited eagerly to hear the outcome. Then you heard it.

Who has the problem here again?

The bloke who oversaw the audit was employed by the Geelong FC as the Chief Operating Officer when the alleged breaches occurred. There’s little integrity or independence to process if the person conducting the investigation has a VESTED interest in not finding any significant breach.

 

[PhatBoy]

Mate, the problem is that the AFL "looking into something" when it involves Geelong has all the credibility of a Jeff Kennett apology.

Let’s be real here. The issue is that Geelong has consistently operated in a grey zone for years, and every time questions are raised, the AFL’s response is either delay, deflect, or quietly close the book. So no, it's not that fans "have a problem" accepting an outcome. It's that the process is broken and appears designed to protect certain clubs.
Here’s why people call Geelong cheats or question their integrity.

First, the salary cap magic. Geelong keeps managing to attract and retain stars without ever seeming to face a cap squeeze. Dangerfield, Cameron, Smith, Higgins, Bowes, Bruhn, Henry. The list keeps growing. And the excuse is always that they take unders or want to live in Geelong. Funny how no other club gets that same luxury. No stars ever leave for more money. Their list managers must be magicians. And when people ask for details, all we get are vague explanations about culture and loyalty, never actual cap transparency.

Second, the draft manipulation. Geelong has benefited massively from father-son selections and NGA loopholes. They accessed elite talent through concessions that most clubs would never get away with. They squeezed value out of Category B rookies. They pushed for the Barwon zone access while other clubs got told to back off theirs. And somehow, every time the AFL closes a loophole, it's right after Geelong has already milked it dry.

Third, the connection to AFL House. Geelong has always had strong links to the AFL’s inner circle. Brian Cook, Andrew Dillon, long-standing relationships with decision-makers. Chris Scott gets protected by the media like no other coach. When Carlton, Essendon or North Melbourne make mistakes, it’s front-page news and a full-blown crisis. When Geelong does something shady, it gets brushed away with a shrug and a pat on the back.

Fourth, the lack of transparency. When the AFL says they “looked into” something involving Geelong, what does that actually mean? Was it an official investigation? Was a report published? Was any evidence made public? Or was it just a couple of quiet phone calls and a media statement to say “nothing to see here”? Fans aren’t stupid. If this was another club, we’d see public scrutiny and genuine consequences.

So yeah, people waited for the outcome, and the AFL gave the same generic line they always give when it's Geelong. The frustration isn't just about the decision, it's about the process. And how convenient it always seems to be for one club in particular.

This isn’t sour grapes. It’s about fairness. One club keeps getting the benefit of the doubt, the soft coverage, the special treatment. That’s why people keep calling it out.

The real problem isn’t the fans asking questions. It’s a system that never seems to ask them when it comes to Geelong.

Couldn’t be more pleased for you

 

[PhatBoy]

The bloke who oversaw the audit was employed by the Geelong FC as the Chief Operating Officer when the alleged breaches occurred. There’s little integrity or independence to process if the person conducting the investigation has a VESTED interest in not finding any significant breach.

So why didn’t he oversee an audit that found us guilty of nothing at all

 

[STPer18]

The bloke who oversaw the audit was employed by the Geelong FC as the Chief Operating Officer when the alleged breaches occurred. There’s little integrity or independence to process if the person conducting the investigation has a VESTED interest in not finding any significant breach.

What did the AFL mean by this?

The AFL says it undertook the process with assistance from EY Australia.

It was led internally by AFL general counsel Stephen Meade, GM of clubs and scheduling David Grossman, and head of salary cap and soft cap Jennifer Macmillan.

The AFL said its GM of clubs — finance, performance and growth, and former Cats employee, Simon Kelleher, had no involvement in the investigation.

Just because you didn't get the result you wanted doesn't mean you get to make your own facts up.

 

[RCAB]

So why didn’t he oversee an audit that found us guilty of nothing at all

Who audits the auditor? Who audits the AFL?

 

[PhatBoy]

Who audits the auditor? Who audits the AFL?

Coast guard

 

[RCAB]

Coast guard

2022*