‘Intriguing’: AFL ‘auditing Geelong over third-party player payments’ says veteran journalist

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The AFL is “auditing” Geelong over third-party player payments, according to veteran journalist Caroline Wilson.

Both the league and the club reportedly confirmed there was an audit being undertaken, Wilson said on Seven.

An audit is an independent examination into financial reports to verify them and ensure they have been kept properly.

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“I can tell you that the AFL is auditing third party player payments at the Geelong Football Club,” Wilson explained.

“This is not an investigation, those in the know were 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 in another place about issues, potentially with the Bailey Smith-Cotton On deal.

“But since then, the Morris Finance story broke, and that is the deal that they have with the club’s 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 either the soft cap or outside the soft cap, the 20% etc.

Chris Scott, Senior Coach of the Cats talks to his players during the 2025 AAMI AFL Community Series match between Geelong Cats and Essendon Bombers at GMHBA Stadium on February 25, 2025 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“There was also a story in The Age last December, which revealed a $100,000 loan contracted with a former club sponsor now being investigated by police, and former captain Joel Selwood.

“This deal (allegedly) stood to earn Selwood $10,000. No-one is saying that Joel Selwood did anything wrong, or that the deal even took place, but this raised eyebrows at head office.

“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.”

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