"Favourable treatment": AFL slammed for "weak" Geelong sanction

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Geelong have been dealt a $77,500 fine by the AFL as a result of an extensive audit over third party payments.

An investigation that looked over a six-year period found that the Cats had issued a number of infringements regarding third-party payments.

However, the club was found to have not exceeded any rules surrounding the AFL’s total player payments limit or player movement rules, with the AFL discovering that the club simply failed to disclose payments across both the AFL and AFLW.

Of the $77,500, $40,000 will be suspended pending further breaches, however the club will now be slapped with tighter restrictions over a two-year period.

"We acknowledge the outcome of the audit has confirmed the Club has not breached AFL TPP limits nor the AFL player movement rules," Geelong CEO Steve Hocking said.

"We also acknowledge the audit identified a number of non-disclosure items over the six-year period. We accept the AFL’s sanctions for these errors and will strengthen our education and governance processes moving forward."

SEN's Dwayne Russell believes that the AFL have treated the Cats rather favourably in recent years.

"The AFL has, for some reason, treated Geelong lightly this year, with the Bailey Smith non-sanction for abusing a photographer that was just going about her job," Russell told SEN Afternoons.

"That was crazy, that the AFL could be weak - and I said they were weak at the time. Nothing to see here when it comes to any fine or suspensions for their Mad Monday stuff as well, given what happened with the Giants.

"It does look like Geelong has been very lightly treated there as well, and it is sad that that has been confirmed by the AFL this year, that Geelong does seem to get lighter treatment when it comes to indiscretions of their people.

"I can see why people would be outraged today. I do think that Geelong has had favourable treatment.

"It's crazy stuff, to think that the AFL CEO went and had a cup of tea at Bailey Smith's house. How may CEO's have gone to have cups of tea with players that have caused heartbreak and heartache for the AFL, given their actions?

"And in the end, nothing to see here. Bailey Smith continues to tweet, and put himself out there as someone that divides the public. It's a weird world."

Bailey Smith’s deal with Cotton On was not a subject of the audit, and was ticked off by the AFL.