Achi news desk-
The Western Bulldogs will face a hefty fine of $20,000 if the breach of AFLW player payments discovered from the 2022 season is found to have been repeated.
The AFL slapped the club with the delayed fine after the Bulldogs made “administrative errors” in reporting third-party contracts held by women’s players, according to a league statement on Thursday.
The Bulldogs will also have to pay the fine if a similar mistake is identified in their AFL program in recent seasons.
The league said it did not believe the error was intentional or significant enough in value to warrant a greater penalty.
“The club will not have to pay the fine unless a similar breach is identified in the AFL or AFLW programs until the end of their respective 2024 seasons,” an AFL spokesman said.
“These errors were identified in the normal course of audit procedures carried out by the AFL and were not considered material in nature in terms of value or intent.”
The AFL did not specify whether the break occurred in season six or seven during 2022.
The Bulldogs finished 7th and missed the finals in season six but made the elimination final in the following campaign after carrying a 7-3 record through the home and away season.
The collective bargaining agreement in place at the time allowed AFLW players to sign “additional services agreements” worth up to $100,000 per club.
These rules allowed players to drive club sponsor cars or accept promotional offers from businesses, with the value recorded outside the salary cap.
Melbourne premiership captain Daisy Pearce attracted interest from other clubs in late 2022 when she appeared to be taking a dig at clubs using player payment rules to attract recruits.
“We’re not the most popular team and we don’t have all the bells and whistles,” Pearce told Channel 7 while on the pitch celebrating the Demons’ premiership win.
“We don’t give away cars to players who come to us – but we have the best coach in the competition who helps make you a good footballer.”
