The Club accepts the sanctions from the AFL Commission and accepts that the AFL does not tolerate any breach, intended or unintended.
The sanctions are:
• A $300,000 fine against the Club
• The loss of our first two picks in the 2013 NAB National Draft on top of the first two picks in this year’s 2012 NAB National Draft that we gave up as a gesture of goodwill
• A six month suspension for Steven Trigg, effective 1 January 2013. It is listed as 12, with half of the suspension to be deferred in recognition of his exemplary record and on condition of no further infraction of AFL rules and a $50,000 fine
• A two month suspension for Phil Harper, effective 1 January 2013. It’s listed as six, but with four months of the suspension deferred in recognition of Phil’s exemplary record and on condition of no further infraction of AFL rules
The Club is confident that the youth, ability and character of its player list, the capacity of its coaching panel and off-field leadership, coupled with the quality of its strategic recruiting in the 2011 and 2012 drafts and trading periods, will help it offset the loss of high draft picks this year and next year.
On top of this, the new free agency rules offer unprecedented recruiting flexibility.
These are harsh sanctions for what were mistakes in process and errors of judgement. Never was there any intent to gain unfair advantage, compromise the draft, breach the salary cap or make improper player payments.
The Club and its officers always acted consistent with their intent to uphold the integrity of the draft and the Club did not breach the salary cap. This is accepted by the AFL.
However, it was wrong to generate a letter of agreement outside of Kurt Tippett’s AFL-lodged contract.
The Club’s Board will meet soon to decide how to structure the Club’s management in the short term, to provide continuing leadership and strength at the Adelaide Football Club. The Club has been planning for all contingencies and we are well advanced in our thinking. A full announcement will be made as soon as possible.
ROB CHAPMAN
Chairman
