Four AFL clubs have been fined for violating the league’s Covid 19 protocols in the past seven days.
Hawthorn was fined $ 50,000, of which $ 20,000 was suspended for the rest of the season. Richmond, Carlton and North Melbourne were each fined $ 45,000 and $ 20,000 suspended. All four teams have accepted their sanctions.
The Hawks’ injury occurred in their round of 16 against Sydney at SCG. The Richmond, Carlton, and North Melbourne violations occurred when the clubs were based in their Queensland hubs.
Hawthorn confirmed that her violation was “the result of unselected players entering a public area” from the SCG. The North Melbourne injury related to the partners of the players participating in a game, although the kangaroos believed they had AFL approval at the time.
“Although the club believed it was operating with the full approval of the AFL and strongly advised that a communication disorder was faulty, it accepted the decision,” the kangaroos said in a statement.
The blues said a member of their tour group “accidentally” violated protocols after seeking childcare help. A Carlton player’s children were reported to have visited a theme park with their grandparents.
In the meantime, Richmond confirmed an “accidental” protocol violation – reports say he was a player’s partner who visited a beauty salon.
The AFL also explained future sanctions for protocol violations by “club members” – expressed as players, club employees, player partners and family members as well as partners and family members of the employees.
As of Friday, a first offense will be sanctioned up to $ 25,000 (50 percent suspended), with $ 25,000 of this fine included in the 2020 soft cap. A second offense will result in a fine of up to $ 75,000, as well as the $ 25,000 previously blocked for the first offense – $ 100,000 is included in the soft cap.
The penalty for third and / or subsequent offenses is at the discretion of the AFL Commission or General Counsel Andrew Dillon and may include a fine, loss of Premiership points, or loss of draft picks.
More club officials, players and family members came to Queensland from Victoria this week, while Sydney and GWS temporarily move to Brisbane before their ninth and tenth round games.
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