Roast Gold Coast Suns potentially rorting the soft cap!

[STPer18]

BARRETT: Rival clubs query Suns' job for Hardwick's partner

The impact on Gold Coast's soft cap is central to opposition clubs' concerns over the Suns' decision to employ Damien Hardwick's partner, writes Damian Barrett

www.afl.com.au

BARRETT: Rival clubs query Suns' job for Hardwick's partner​

The impact on Gold Coast's soft cap is central to opposition clubs' concerns over the Suns' decision to employ Damien Hardwick's partner, writes Damian Barrett

GOLD Coast's decision to employ the partner of coach Damien Hardwick has raised eyebrows at rival clubs, which now intend to seek answers from the AFL's integrity department.

Alexandra Crow, Hardwick's partner, recently started with the Suns as a consultant on the club's consumer and commercial strategy projects.

Crow's employment has prompted some clubs, already agitated over restrictions on football department spending, to ask questions around the Suns' hiring of Crow and whether the wage was to be included in the club's soft cap.

When contacted by AFL.com.au, Suns CEO Mark Evans said: "I know the role and the size of the role and I am certain there will be no issues for the AFL or club on any front."

Hardwick was appointed coach of the Suns in late 2023, just 90 days after he had walked out on a contract with the Tigers citing personal burnout.

The soft cap for each club in 2025 is $7.7 million. Twenty per cent of a senior coach's salary can be paid outside the cap.

Understandably rival clubs are demanding the AFL's integrity(LOL) department investigate, but I speak for everyone when I say we hope the Queensland-based expansion club isn't doing anything too dodgy. We await the AFL's findings with bated breath.

 

[PzBlinky]

BARRETT: Rival clubs query Suns' job for Hardwick's partner

The impact on Gold Coast's soft cap is central to opposition clubs' concerns over the Suns' decision to employ Damien Hardwick's partner, writes Damian Barrett

www.afl.com.au

Understandably rival clubs are demanding the AFL's integrity(LOL) department investigate, but I speak for everyone when I say we hope the Queensland-based expansion club isn't doing anything too dodgy. We await the AFL's findings with bated breath.

Well, the AFL were totally fine with Chris Scott's outside thingy without revealing any details...you think it's going to be any different for a club they're riding super-hard to be successful?

 

[STPer18]

Well, the AFL were totally fine with Chris Scott's outside thingy without revealing any details...you think it's going to be any different for a club they're riding super-hard to be successful?

Scotty's extracurricular activities may have just opened a can of worms the AFL wish would've stayed shut.

 

[bzparkes]

Can't believe this thread was started by a Geelong supporter...

 

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[Forward Press]

 

[Colonial]

 

[STPer18]

Can't believe this thread was started by a Geelong supporter...

View attachment 2235228

Investigated(LOL) and cleared.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Scotty's extracurricular activities may have just opened a can of worms the AFL wish would've stayed shut.

Agree,
Nothing against Geelong I don’t think they were/are doing anything that most of the other teams could be found guilty of it was just a matter of Geelong being the 1st one under the microscope due to media pressure

I don’t even blame the clubs, it falls at the feet of the AFL who have neglected to investigate and inforce the rules they put in place

But now that the bandaid is starting to get ripped off all kinds of shit will come out

 

[Muddiemoose]

Also if found guilty and the suns need to pay a soft cap tax

It’s literally pointless since they aren’t self sufficient and rely on the AFL’s coffers

So any “tax” would be just paid by the AFL itself

 

[bzparkes]

Investigated(LOL) and cleared.

The investigation:

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Trend setters at the cattery. Now other clubs want to be us.
Cheap imitations.

 

[Supersuns]

Gee a man can't his mistress, sorry partner, a job with him without it being a federal investigation these days.
Bloody woke mind virus

 

[Cam Payne]

Are rorts being done in alphabetical order? If so, I am happy all this stuff should be sorted out by the time they get to my mob.

 

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[Vikingnz]

She has experience in commercial operations for AFL clubs, and lives on the Gold Coast; whats wrong with working for the Suns?

 

[Elixuh]

Didn’t she used to work for Richmond in a similar role? Doubt there are too many on the GC with previous experience like that. I’m fine with it.

Geelong fans being unable to distinguish this and fake jobs created by sponsors to rort is a thing of beauty. Their minds have been corrupted to what a rort is.

 

[tiger_tough]

I don't see what the big deal is? She been in the industry for a long time (12 years), it's not like they've plucked her straight from a school canteen or something.

She was at Richmond for 11 years across a few decent roles including corporate sales manager, head of consumer and head of stakeholder engagement and according to LinkedIn is now working as director of some sort of business consultant in the GC. Plus a year in the Eagles membership dept.

She seems more than qualified to take on a role in 'consumer and commercial strategy', with or without Dimmas influence.

Nothing story.

 

[STPer18]

Good on the opposition clubs for dobbing this rort in. GC probably thought being all the way over in Queensland they'd be able to get away with it.

 

[Bluelegs]

It's a pity he no longer works for the Tigers or we might have had another Richmond/Geelong shitfight on our hands.

 

[Bluelegs]

I don't see what the big deal is? She been in the industry for a long time (12 years), it's not like they've plucked her straight from a school canteen or something.

She was at Richmond for 11 years across a few decent roles including corporate sales manager, head of consumer and head of stakeholder engagement and according to LinkedIn is now working as director of some sort of business consultant in the GC. Plus a year in the Eagles membership dept.

She seems more than qualified to take on a role in 'consumer and commercial strategy', with or without Dimmas influence.

Nothing story.

As long as her salary isn't wildly overinflated then I tend to agree.

 

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[projectv]

Ah yes because nepotism is something that has never happened before in the history of the AFL.

 

[Elixuh]

Good on the opposition clubs for dobbing this rort in. GC probably thought being all the way over in Queensland they'd be able to get away with it.

Odds are it was Geelong dobbing it in.

 

[Jarman3]

She has experience in commercial operations for AFL clubs, and lives on the Gold Coast; whats wrong with working for the Suns?

Sorry, is that last bit a stand-alone question, or should it be considered in the context of the immediately preceding statements?

 

[STPer18]

Odds are it was Geelong dobbing it in.

Clubs, as reported, so plural. Fair enough too, I hope my club is amongst those demanding the AFL intervene if there is any sort of rorting occuring.

 

[Colonial]

Giants got done when we did it for Scully.
Interesting Geelong got away with it.

Wonder how the Suns will go.

 

[Iago]

She seems more than qualified to take on a role in 'consumer and commercial strategy',

I have no idea what this role entails. I kind of understand commercial strategy although I would have no idea what she would do each day (I could say that about any number of corporate jobs).

But consumer strategy? Is that referring to members or the match day punter? Does that mean she is responsible for picking the music after a song or what kind oof condiments go on the hot dog.