“The extended audit found, on the basis of the information obtained and reviewed by the AFL, that the club did not breach the AFL TPP limit nor the AFL player movement rules in any season within the timeframe assessed,” the statement said.
“In respect of the AFLW program, the non-disclosures identified were found to be administrative errors and do not amount to material breaches of the TPP rules or player movement rules,” the AFL said.
As part of its findings, the AFL ruled Geelong would have to complete additional compliance requirements, such as maintaining active registers of arrangements with club associates and third parties, expanded disclosure procedures involving club associates and improved internal governance protocols.
Such tightening of requirements are expected to spread across the competition as a result of the lessons learnt through the audit.
The audit of the Cats was initially announced in March this year amid industry speculation about the club’s recruitment of players, including when St Kilda coach Ross Lyon made comments at a function late in 2024.
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The Cats also came under scrutiny when an existing deal between club sponsor Morris Finance and their coach Chris Scott was looked at and cleared by the AFL. Smith also has a marketing deal with Cotton On, which he signed while playing for the Western Bulldogs.
The league’s player payments team audits clubs every season.
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