Geelong may face hefty sanctions after it was revealed the AFL is investigating the membership over third-party participant funds.
The Cats and the AFL have confirmed that an unbiased auditor was trying into their monetary data to make sure every part is above board.
Seven journalist Caroline Wilson mentioned rival golf equipment had raised considerations over the Cats’ record with head workplace.
“There are audits occurring with third-party funds across the competitors,” she mentioned earlier than including Geelong’s case was intriguing.
Geelong’s considerations had been raised final 12 months resulting from Bailey Smith’s Cotton On deal after which there have been claims about Morris Finance’s take care of coach Chris Scott and a $100,000 mortgage between a former membership sponsor which is now being investigated by police and ex-captain Joel Selwood.
“Very delicate, the AFL had been, once I began asking questions on this final week, however there have been confirmations right this moment, each from the membership and the AFL, that an audit goes is presently occurring. It’s ongoing. And it’s not solely regarding these two tales, however different gamers as nicely,” Wilson added.
“There have been rumours, unfair, about Geelong for a few years now, however I believe that these two tales – the Morris Finance and the traditional story about Joel Selwood – sparked this investigation.”
Bailey Smith. Photograph: Geelong Cats
On the sphere, Smith, who didn’t play a recreation for the Western Bulldogs final 12 months due to a knee reconstruction, starred in his first pre-season hit-out for the Cats in opposition to Hawthorn final month and is a sure starter at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday in opposition to Fremantle in what can be his first look on the prime stage since August 2023.
The 24-year-old sat out the ultimate follow outing in opposition to Essendon after tweaking his knee however is all clear to tackle the Dockers in forecast scorching circumstances.
Lalor to make Tigers debut
No.1 draft decide Sam Lalor has recovered from final month’s accidents and can be amongst three Richmond kids to make their AFL debuts in spherical one.
The Tigers have confirmed Lalor and fellow first-round choices Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong will play in opposition to Carlton in Thursday evening’s season opener on the MCG.
Lalor was concussed and suffered a fractured jaw when pushed right into a marking contest throughout match simulation on February 17 in opposition to West Coast.
However he returned in an intraclub hitout final week and kicked two targets to verify he could be prepared for the Blues.
The Tigers recruited Trainor with their fourth decide at No.21 in final 12 months’s draft and Armstrong was recruited two choices later.
Lalor will most certainly play within the midfield and ahead, whereas Trainor is more likely to begin off half-back and Armstrong can be a marking choice in assault.
The rebuilding Tigers had six round-one picks within the nationwide draft.
Lions star struck down once more
Lincoln McCarthy has a contemporary ACL rupture, simply days away from a possible AFL comeback.
It’s the identical proper knee damage he suffered in spherical eight final 12 months, that means a season-ending reconstruction on the anterior cruciate ligament that triggered him to overlook out on the Lions’ premiership.
The 31-year-old small ahead had made a profitable return within the pre-season and was pushing for a senior berth.
However McCarthy reported swelling and soreness within the knee at coaching final week, and scans revealed the horrible information.
Whereas the Lions didn’t say how lengthy McCarthy can be sidelined, he’s unlikely to play this season.
“It’s extremely disappointing and heartbreaking for Linc, his household and everybody on the Brisbane Lions to see him injure his ACL once more,” Lions normal supervisor of soccer Danny Daly mentioned on Tuesday.
Lincoln McCarthy. (Photograph by Michael Willson/AFL Images by way of Getty Photographs)
“However now we have all been so impressed with the best way Linc dealt together with his final ACL damage and the way dedicated he was to return, so now we have little doubt he’ll sort out this damage with the identical angle.
“Within the meantime, everybody on the membership will rally round Linc and assist him by way of this course of, and he’s a fan favorite as nicely, so little doubt they are going to be sending their assist for Linc.”
McCarthy has performed 151 AFL video games since his 2012 debut at Geelong, beginning with the Lions in 2019.
Brisbane have had a spate of ACL tears, with Keidean Coleman, Darcy Gardiner and Tom Doedee all sidelined final season with the damage.
Gardiner tore his ACL in the identical round-eight match as McCarthy.
Doedee is but to debut for the Lions after transferring from Adelaide, struggling his third ACL rupture a 12 months in the past.
In the meantime, the Swans can be with out Aaron Francis and Indhi Kirk with concussion for his or her grand remaining rematch in opposition to Brisbane on the SCG on Saturday.
Tall defender Riak Andrew can even miss with a shoulder damage.
with AAP
