Geelong could face hefty sanctions after it was revealed the AFL is investigating the club over third-party player payments.
The Cats and the AFL have confirmed that an independent auditor was looking into their financial records to ensure everything is above board.
Seven journalist Caroline Wilson said rival clubs had raised concerns over the Cats’ list with head office.
“There are audits going on with third-party payments around the competition,” she said before adding Geelong’s case was intriguing.
Geelong’s concerns were raised last year due to Bailey Smith’s Cotton On deal and then there have been claims about Morris Finance’s deal with coach Chris Scott and a $100,000 loan between a former club sponsor which is now being investigated by police and ex-captain Joel Selwood.
“Very sensitive, the AFL were, when I started asking questions about this last week, but there have been confirmations today, both from the club and the AFL, that an audit is going is currently going on. It’s ongoing. And it’s not only concerning those two stories, but other players as well,” Wilson added.
“There have been rumours, unfair, about Geelong for many years now, but I think that those two stories – the Morris Finance and the ancient story about Joel Selwood – sparked this investigation.”
Bailey Smith. Photo: Geelong Cats
On the field, Smith, who didn’t play a game for the Western Bulldogs last year because of a knee reconstruction, starred in his first pre-season hit-out for the Cats against Hawthorn last month and is a certain starter at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday against Fremantle in what will be his first appearance at the top level since August 2023.
The 24-year-old sat out the final practice outing against Essendon after tweaking his knee but is all clear to take on the Dockers in forecast hot conditions.
Lalor to make Tigers debut
No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor has recovered from last month’s injuries and will be among three Richmond youngsters to make their AFL debuts in round one.
The Tigers have confirmed Lalor and fellow first-round selections Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong will play against Carlton in Thursday night’s season opener at the MCG.
Lalor was concussed and suffered a fractured jaw when pushed into a marking contest during match simulation on February 17 against West Coast.
But he returned in an intraclub hitout last week and kicked two goals to confirm he would be ready for the Blues.
The Tigers recruited Trainor with their fourth pick at No.21 in last year’s draft and Armstrong was recruited two selections later.
Lalor will most likely play in the midfield and forward, while Trainor is likely to start off half-back and Armstrong will be a marking option in attack.
The rebuilding Tigers had six round-one picks in the national draft.
Lions on the move
AFL premiers Brisbane have joined NRL teams Gold Coast and the Dolphins in changing their travel plans as ex-tropical cyclone Alfred continues to wreak havoc.
After their season opener at home on Thursday night against Geelong was postponed because of the weather, the Lions have returned to their waterlogged home base on Monday to work out what comes next.
They will head to Sydney early on Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s grand final rematch against the Swans.
Brisbane have been able to train outdoors since last Wednesday, when they had an intraclub hitout at their Brighton Homes Arena headquarters. They trained indoors there on Monday.
Lions football boss Danny Daly said the past week had been unprecedented, but was upbeat about being ready for the Swans.
“These things happen unfortunately in life, and you just need to be resilient, be calm about it and work your way through it,” he said.
“So, I’ve got no doubt our preparation will be spot on leading into our game against Sydney.
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
“We will train somewhere tomorrow, whether it is the Gabba or Brighton Homes Arena, which are both pretty waterlogged at the minute as you can imagine.
“We will head to Sydney on Wednesday then get training in somewhere on Thursday on a dry ground as preparation for the game.”
Daly thanked the AFL and sent the Lions’ best wishes to everyone affected by Alfred.
“On behalf of the football club I hope everyone in Queensland and New South Wales are safe and well and we are all praying for you,” Daly said.
“To make sure everyone is safe and sound that’s the first priority for us, the human element of it. Then once that is taken care of, you look at the footy side of it and you find a way to just deal with it and get on with it.”
