The AFL has completed an audit into the compliance of Players and Football Program Staff at AFL Clubs in the current AFL season related to testing and testing reporting under the COVID-19 Protocols which form part of the AFL Rules.
The AFL audited the compliance with the Protocols and associated processes which have been established to protect the health and safety of players, staff, supporters and the wider community.
The audit by the AFL Integrity Department identified a series of non-compliance issues with the Protocols at some Clubs during the current AFL season including:
- not undertaking a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) within the period prescribed by the Protocols, and/or
- not uploading an image (photograph) of a prescribed RAT within the period prescribed by the Protocols; and/or
- Uploading an image taken of a previous RAT undertaken by that or another person.
While the audit found there were five clubs with varying levels of non-compliance, it did not find that any club had obtained a competitive advantage through failure to comply.
In determining the level of sanctions the AFL took into account, amongst other things, the number of instances of non-compliance, the period of time over which the non-compliance arose, previous breaches of COVID-19 protocols in 2020 and 2021 as well as mitigating factors such as some technical difficulties, the timing of testing and uploading windows and prioritisation of ‘pre game’ clearance tests and prioritisation of vigilant viral symptom detection and management.
As a result of breaching AFL Rules incorporating the AFL COVID-19 Protocols, the following sanctions have been applied:
Club sanctions
- Sydney Swans - $100,000 fine, with $50,000 to be included in the 2022 or 2023 soft cap
- Collingwood - $50,000 fine, with $25,000 to be included in the 2022 or 2023 soft cap
- Richmond - $25,000 fine, with $12,500 to be included in the 2022 or 2023 soft cap
- Brisbane Lions - Reprimand and $25,000 fully suspended fine
- St Kilda - Reprimand and $25,000 fully suspended fine
"Across the last two and a half years our game and our industry has survived because we have collectively led the way in being disciplined and respecting the threat the pandemic presented, which in turn protected the health and safety of our people – our clubs, our players, coaches and officials, our staff and – most importantly – our families, friends, workmates and the wider community," AFL General Counsel and EGM Football, Andrew Dillon said.
"We established a framework in 2022 for clubs to take more responsibility in managing their own people in relation to regular Covid testing. While 13 of the clubs complied with the requirements, the five clubs failed to comply as required and the sanctions they have been handed reflect the seriousness that we take in relation to the health and safety of players, staff and the wider community.
"Collectively we have worked together as an industry to navigate through the pandemic and no one in our system is above adhering to the protocols and protecting the health and well-being of their fellow workmates and the wider community.
"All clubs have since been issued a reminder about their obligations under the rules."
