by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
David Galbally, Kurt Tippett's lawyer, has called on the AFL to hold educational forums for players to outline the rules of the draft and salary cap to give them a better understanding of the legalities of their contracts. He also believes the Commission was softer on Adelaide CEO Steven Trigg than they were on his client, pointing out the fact that Trigg had been dealing with such issues for 15 years. In calling on the AFL to hold such forums, he said they had a responsibility to inform players of something which could affect their livelihoods, saying "If you're going to hold someone responsible ... you've got a moral obligation to make sure they understand (the rules) ...". He said any such forums should clearly explain "what the draft rules mean, what the salary cap (rules mean), what inquiries they should make ... who should they ask ... not just their agent." He compared such topics to club boards accepting expert advice but not relying blindly on such advice, rather sometimes asking questions or seeking a second opinion.
In his statement after the Commission hearing, Tippett claimed that he was unaware that the deal he had made with Adelaide was against the rules. Galbally did not explicitly confirm that he had advised Tippett to plead guilty, only that he and Tippett had private conversations. He said Tippett pleaded guilty to "speed ... the proceedings ... to get on with his ... career."
Tippett's manager, Peter Blucher, is also due to face a hearing by the Accreditation Board, which is under the authority of the AFLPA. He and his management company. Velocity Sports, could face serious sanctions.
Source: afl.com.au
Article last changed on Friday, February 01, 2013 - 9:59 PM EST
