TOPIC:

Why get the players to sign a stat dec, don't we have to tick a box when registering about all the rules and regulations of the Waafl, I'm sure getting payments to play is one of those things. Is this going that step further because they have someone in the gun.
Monitor clearance after the 14 days is up and that should tell us all something.

Hi Guys
Have always followed the site but never really had much time to interact

Agree with most that has been said and definitely that the WAAFL needs to look much deeper than A Grade if they are serious about trying to stamp out the payments, for what it is worth I have been around the system for 20 years as a player, coach and president and can guarantee you payments are rife in A and B Grade at least
There are many people at clubs in denial primarily due to the fact they are not told of the going ons, I even know of payments made by third parties without presidents knowing, deals set up between coaches, players and sponsors
If you are one of those that is in denial don't feel disheartened to one day learn your club may have been a culprit as they were only doing what they have to do to survive, the club can't tell everyone can they and generally even payed players do not know who else is being payed

Payments happen and there is no way of eradicating it completely the WAAFL will just have to accept it and try to work with it perhaps making it transparent for all to see
I am not involved deeply enough anymore to know the names of the current players receiving cash incentives but I do know the rumors are still out there

A Stat Dec brings with it quite severe penalties on both clubs and individuals for making a false statement - penalties which are totally separate from those the WAAFL will impose their rules.

It will also mean the involvement of the Taxation Department (as some country leagues are now finding out). This will make for further penalties for the clubs and individuals concerned.

The repercussions for individuals who are involved in business, accountants, company directors, etc will be HUGE.

The LAST government body you want to upset is the Taxation Department - bear in mind that they can (and probably will) audit all your tax returns over the previous seven years.

Those who have paid out money (either under or over the counter) will likely be in the Taxation Department's firing line also.

Stat Decs are not worth the paper they are printed on. Anyone who has any sensible knowledge of the workings of the law will tell you that. There has never been anyone in West Australia ever prosecuted for a Stat Dec breach that I know of. As for the Tax dept you are absolutely kidding yourself Birdman if you think for one second that the Tax Dept will put one second of its resources towards trying to prosecute someone for getting paid cash to play football. They are hard pressed keeping up with all the other tax fraud going and it is totally unrealistic to think that they would bat an eyelid to it.

I heard today that the waafl will hit up B Grade next after they have all the paperwork back from the A Grade clubs. I guess they have to start somewhere.

B grade got hit up yesterday

The Phantom Piddler wrote:

Birdman wrote: There wouldn't be too many clubs paying out $15K to each of their coaches - it's unaffordable for most clubs.

Equally, there wouldn't be too many coaches who are only putting in 10 hours per week.

I have heard of one coach last year on a package (including a job outside his coaching role) of $105K.

I have heard of one player this year on $1400 per game.

I am pleased to hear about the Stat Decs going out. I hope both the clubs and the players concerned fully understand the repercussions of being caught signing a Stat Dec which is untrue.

My club does not pay players. We have lost people to country leagues and to other clubs because of money this year. Despite not paying players, we have also picked up many more players than we have lost - unfortunately they are, for the most part, not league level players.

You have heard have you? a coach on 105k and a player 1400 a game, wow with that sort of funds maybe they should enter the wafl or maybe even the afl

hearsay and crap, how about some real facts

I have to agree with Birdman, I too have heard of a player getting around $1400 pre game for one of the clubs routinely mentioned on this site. Can anyone tell me where to find penalties of making a false stat dec in relation to playing a game of footy?

Making a false statutory declaration is the same as committing perjury.

For example, a guy over East was jailed for making a false statutory declaration when it came to a traffic infringement.

Making a false statutory declaration in relation to a game a football is irrelevant - it's still perjury.

Does anyone know the legality about having to sign a stat dec. Surely for one it could be classed as discrimination making someone sign it cause they play in a grade but someone in c grade doesn't have to. Fair enough if you have evidence on a certain person but does the whole grade have to sign it. A traffic infringement is a lot different to an amateur footy club so what right do they have to get you to sign one. If I think Billy stole a packet of burger rings from the canteen can I make him sign a stat dec saying he didn't steal it or suspend him. I obviously have no legal background but can't see why you would have to sign one if it isn't through a law enforcement or someone with certain power if you haven't been accused of anything personally.

It's in the WAAFL by laws:

1.5 Any club official, coach, member or player, upon being directed to do so by the General Manager or Investigation Tribunal shall be required to appear before the Tribunal and answer questions directed to him or her and if required to do so by the Tribunal, verify the answers by statutory declaration. If any person upon being directed to do so refuses or fails to sign a statutory declaration, in the case of an official or coach, the refusal or failure will be deemed to be a breach by the club of By-law 1.3 and in the case of a player, be deemed to be a breach of By-law 1.3.1 and the club and player or players will be subject to the prescribed penalties in By-law 1.3 or 1.3.1 as the case may be.

Every player that registers to play in the WAAFL has to abide by the constitution, by-laws and spirit of the game statement.