The matters dealt with by the AFL Commission occurred as long ago as October 2009 when the club was faced with a unique and very difficult situation.
The club was keen to retain the services of Kurt Tippett because of the enormous value placed on him by our supporters and everyone at the club. But we were faced with a player who was homesick, unhappy in the city of Adelaide and with an offer from the Gold Coast Football Club to join them in 2011 on very favourable terms.
The club has accepted that in negotiations concerning the Tippett arrangements those responsible overreached and agreed to arrangements which the club now accepts went beyond the permitted scope of the AFL Rules.
As Chief Executive Officer, then and now, I have accepted full responsibility for what the AFL considers to be a significant transgression of the player rules. And for that I’m very sorry.
What I can say now, with the benefit of hindsight and in defence of those involved, was that we were trying to meet what we understood to be Kurt Tippett’s desire for the club to accommodate him if he wished to move on to another club at the conclusion of his renewed contract. To do the best thing for our Club!
The Club has paid a very high price for an error of judgement. But I ask people understand that when the issue was taken up by the Board and its executives, including me, full and complete disclosure was made of the Tippett deal and the club provided the AFL with full access to all player files.
The results of that forensic investigation have proven, as I said earlier, that the Kurt Tippett case presented a truly unique situation for the Adelaide Football Club.
One thing remains, and that is the club never intended to exceed, and never has exceeded the TPP limit.
The Commission has heard my explanation and has suspended me from performing any function for the club for six months, effective 1 January 2013.
As a result, my position from here is obviously in the hands of the Board. But I very much hope that I can remain in the industry - and hopefully as CEO of the club which I have served for the last 11 years. This is clearly an extraordinary position to take, but I can assure you it’s been an extraordinary situation.
Although I acknowledge the penalties imposed by the Commission on the club represent a set-back, I am confident the steps that I, along with the Board and other senior Executives, have put in place over the last few years, will see the club become stronger and more successful than ever.
