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Find your frequency here“This one is intriguing”: Geelong subject to AFL probe over third-party payments
SEN • March 11th, 2025 10:34 am
Geelong is the focus of a third-party payment audit with the rest of the league’s clubs “on notice”, according to Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson.
While there is no suggestion of wrongdoing, the audit is said to have been sparked by two historic deals involving coach Chris Scott and former captain Joel Selwood.
Clubs being audited is not unusual with up to half a dozen carried out each season to varying levels and Wilson was emphatic that this was an integrity move by the AFL and not an investigation.
“I can tell you that the AFL is auditing third-party player payments at the Geelong Football Club,” she said on The Agenda Setters.
“This is not an investigation — those in the know are at pains to tell me today — it’s an audit, and there are audits going on with third-party payments around the competition.
“But this one is intriguing.
“It began last year. We spoke about issues potentially with the Bailey Smith Cotton On deal.
“But since then, obviously the Morris Finance story broke — and that is the deal that they have with the club coach Chris Scott; that story came to light when Morris Finance wanted more out of their man and asked that he wear the club colours, and that caused some problems.
“Some of that money is now going into the soft cap, or outside the soft cap.”
Wilson also cited a story from 2024 which revealed that a $100,000 loan with a former club sponsor was being investigated by police. The deal would have earned Joel Selwood $10,000.
The audit is also believed to have been initiated because of concerns raised by other clubs.
“The Melbourne Football Club raised questions about who Clayton Oliver spoke to and what was involved in that potential deal last year,” Wilson continued.
“The Bulldogs remain very, very angry about what went on with Bailey Smith and the club. GWS, ditto, Jeremy Cameron.
“I’m not saying Geelong have necessarily done anything wrong, but there is no doubt (rival clubs are concerned).”
The Cats get their season under way this Saturday against Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium.
