Geelong CEO Steve Hocking says the club isn’t concerned by the AFL audit over third-party player payments.
A report last month claimed the Cats were being audited — not investigated — by the league over third-party payments.
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The AFL said it conducts regular salary cap audit activities across several clubs as part of an annual salary cap compliance process, but didn’t confirm Geelong was one of the clubs being looked into.
Hocking on Monday spoke on the matter at Ford’s Geelong Research and Development Centre as part of the Cats’ 100-year partnership with the car manufacturer.
“All clubs are reviewed and that’s just ongoing as far as any football club,” Hocking said.
“So not a concern from our point of view.
“As the AFL have said, it won’t be commenting publicly, basically, because it goes on regularly across all clubs.”
It comes after Geelong coach Chris Scott said earlier this month people shouldn’t “jump to conclusions” regarding the audit.
Scott’s leadership consultant role with club sponsor Morris Finance has previously come under scrutiny, while Bailey Smith’s deal with Cotton On, Geelong’s major sponsor, has also reportedly pricked the ears of AFL officials.
The Age reported last December a $100,000 loan with a former Cats sponsor was being investigated by the police. The deal would’ve earned Joel Selwood $10,000.
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