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 star struck down again
Lincoln McCarthy has a fresh ACL rupture, just days away from a potential AFL comeback.
It is the same right knee injury he suffered in round eight last year, meaning a season-ending reconstruction on the anterior cruciate ligament that caused him to miss out on the Lions’ premiership.
The 31-year-old small forward had made a successful return in the pre-season and was pushing for a senior berth.
But McCarthy reported swelling and soreness in the knee at training last week, and scans revealed the horrible news.
While the Lions did not say how long McCarthy will be sidelined, he is unlikely to play this season.
“It’s incredibly disappointing and heartbreaking for Linc, his family and everyone at the Brisbane Lions to see him injure his ACL again,” Lions general manager of football Danny Daly said on Tuesday.
Lincoln McCarthy. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“But we have all been so impressed with the way Linc dealt with his last ACL injury and how committed he was to return, so we have no doubt he will tackle this injury with the same attitude.
“In the meantime, everyone at the club will rally around Linc and support him through this process, and he is a fan favourite as well, so no doubt they will be sending their support for Linc.”
McCarthy has played 151 AFL games since his 2012 debut at Geelong, starting with the Lions in 2019.
Brisbane have had a spate of ACL tears, with Keidean Coleman, Darcy Gardiner and Tom Doedee all sidelined last season with the injury.
Gardiner tore his ACL in the same round-eight match as McCarthy.
Doedee is yet to debut for the Lions after moving from Adelaide, suffering his third ACL rupture a year ago.
Meanwhile, the Swans will be without Aaron Francis and Indhi Kirk with concussion for their grand final rematch against Brisbane at the SCG on Saturday.
Tall defender Riak Andrew will also miss with a shoulder injury.
with AAP