Competition Statement – CCSP Review & Audit Findings

Outer East Football Netball as an affiliate of AFL Victoria took part in the Community Club Sustainability Program (CCSP) salary cap reviews and audit of all 2023 Grand Finalists across our (3) divisions.

These reviews were carried out in three stages by AFL Victoria Integrity Officers following the 2023 finals series.

Each of the six clubs were required to provide additional information following stage 1 of the integrity reviews. At the completion of stage 2 with further information being submitted, four were found to have satisfied the CCSP criteria, with two clubs required to enter stage 3.

The two clubs who entered stage 3, were Alexandra FNC and Emerald FNC.

At the completion of stage 3, the integrity officer’s investigation found that breaches had occurred and submitted a report with these findings to the Outer East Football Netball board for their consideration.

The Outer East Football Netball Board, upon considering the recommendations, accepted the findings and charged each club with the breaches. Both clubs then attended Disciplinary Hearings, to answer the charges related to breaches of the CCSP rules.

The Disciplinary Hearings took place on Monday May 6, 2024.

Both clubs were represented at the hearings, to respond to the charges. Following the hearings the Disciplinary Hearing Panel found the following:

 

Alexandra FNC

• A Breach of rule 4 b ii. Penalty – Reprimand.
• A Breach of rule 2 a i.   Penalty – A Fine of $40,000 of which $15,000 is suspended for 3 years pending continuing compliance with the rules, but payable in the event of any further breach during that time in addition to any further punishments for such further breach, plus the loss of 4 premiership points for the 2024 season.

 

Emerald FNC

• A Breach of rule 4 a i and 4 b ii. Penalty – Reprimand for each breach.
• A Breach of rule 2 a i. Penalty – A fine of $8,000.

 

Outer East Football Netball accept the Disciplinary Hearing Panels findings and the clubs will be penalised as outlined above.

Outer East Football Netball have committed to supporting all club volunteers in administering the CCSP, so potential breaches are identified early and addressed accordingly before any audit takes place, it is our role to support and assist clubs.

Outer East Football Netball remain steadfast in the importance of the CCSP and rules and thank AFL Victoria for their support with club audits.

 

Rule Descriptions:

2 – Player Payments not to exceed Allowable Player Payments

a   Subject to any guidelines that may be issued from time to time or in any particular case by the Outer East Football Netball:

(i) a Club shall not in any Football Year, give or provide to or apply for the benefit of, or offer to give or provide to or apply for the benefit of, any Player or any Associate of a Player any Player Payments or cause or offer to cause any Player Payments to be so given, provided or applied if the aggregate of all the Player Payments given, provided or applied by the Club or any Associate of a Club, would exceed the Allowable Player Payments for that Club for that Football Year;

 

Rule 4 – Reporting

a – Player Declaration

(i) If the Club expects that it, or any Associates of the Club, will make Player Payments to a Player and/or Associates of the Player in a Football Year which are in excess of the Individual Player Payments Threshold then, within 14 days of that clubs first Match, in each Football Year or such other date as determined by the Outer East Football Netball , the Club must lodge, or procure that the Player lodge, with the Outer East Football Netball a statement in the form prescribed by the Outer East Football Netball from time to time and such statement shall:

(A) set out the name of the Player;

(B) set out the total Player Payments which the Club expects that it, or an Associate of the Club, will make to the Player and/or any Associates of the Player in that Football Year, which may be expressed in whole or in part as an amount per Match;

(C) and be signed by the Player and one of the president (or their equivalent), the secretary, treasurer or football manager of the Club,

 

b – Non-Declared Player Statement

(ii) receive total Player Payments by either the Player or an Associate of the Player for the relevant Football Year less than the Individual Player Payments Threshold; and be signed by the Non Declared Player and one of the president (or their equivalent), the secretary, treasurer or football manager of the Club. If a Player Declaration or Non Declared Player statement is not lodged in accordance with, and within the prescribed times in Rule 4 (a) or 4 (b), the Club and the Player to which the Player Declaration relates shall be liable to a sanction.