The AFL has imposed a $20,000 suspended fine on the Western Bulldogs following the discovery of administrative errors in the club’s submission of player payments for the 2022 AFLW season.
This fine pertains to breaches related to third-party agreements, with the condition that the Bulldogs will only be required to pay the fine if further breaches are uncovered in either the AFL or AFLW programs before the conclusion of the 2024 seasons.
According to a statement issued by the AFL, the errors were identified during routine audit procedures but were deemed not to be significant in nature. The statement emphasized that these errors were neither substantial in value nor intentional.
The statement did not specify whether the breach occurred during the sixth or seventh season of 2022.
In the sixth season, the Bulldogs narrowly missed qualifying for the finals after finishing in seventh place. Subsequently, the AFLW expanded from 14 to 18 clubs in the following season.
In the seventh season, the Bulldogs once again finished in seventh place but managed to secure a spot in the finals. However, their finals campaign ended abruptly with a five-point loss to Collingwood in an elimination match.