Players say $5000 fines really sock
Michael Gleeson
The Age
July 12, 2006
THE AFL has ordered players to pull their socks up. Or at least, not cut them down, and the players aren't pleased.
In a strict edict to clubs to smarten their look, the AFL has dished out $2500 suspended fines to Western Bulldogs players Scott West and Daniel Giansiracusa for chopping the tops off their socks. The AFL also issued a warning to clubs that in future, players would be fined $5000 for cutting their socks down.
The league's fashion police will visit change rooms before and during games to check players' sock lengths to ensure footballers adhere to the strict dress code. They do not yet have a prescribed minimum length of sock.
Another Bulldog, Matthew Robbins, was also accused of cutting his socks down, but managed to satisfy the league's fashionistas: he had merely rolled his socks down and tucked them into his boots.
St Kilda's property steward received a "please explain" last week over Nick Dal Santo's hose, but the Saints midfielder is also a roller and tucker, not a chopper. Adelaide Crows star Andrew McLeod and
Richmond's Nathan Brown both used to cut their socks, but have not done so since being warned a couple of years ago.The fashion edict from the AFL's football operations department is understood to have come with the endorsement of chief executive Andrew Demetriou, who arrived home from the World Cup impressed with how sharp soccer players looked with their socks up.
But much of that has to do with the need to keep shinguards in place — a practice usually limited to some ruckmen in the AFL.
It is not the first time Demetriou has dabbled in the world of football fashion. He issued a similarly stern fashion warning before last year's Brownlow Medal: the black tie dress code would be tightly policed and non-conformist lounge suit-wearers would be barred entry.
Roger Berryman of the AFL football operations department sent an email to club football managers on July 6 warning that breaches of the socks policy would attract $5000 fines.
"Sanctions have this week been issued in respect of a number of players who have worn 'cut off' socks," Berryman's email stated.
Several clubs yesterday pointed out the inconsistency and punitive excess of the fine compared to fines for other more demonstratively ugly blights on the game, such as wrestling, melees and obscene gestures.
A first offence for wrestling or an obscene gesture attracts a $1200 fine. Players involved in a melee risk a $2000 fine for a first offence.
AFLPA general manager Matt Finnis said players were already angry at the AFL's apparent earnestness in issuing fines.
"The preparedness of the AFL to impose substantial fines for relatively minor or insubstantial matters is a major concern to players," Finnis said. "There are ways and means by which the rules can be upheld in a manner that does not need to result in significant financial repercussions for players. The level of fines … is equivalent to multiple match payments which a player has earned by running out on the field."
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