Kurt Tippett's lawyer David Galbally QC is confident the player won't be deregistered, despite the AFL laying three further charges against the Crows, chief executive David Trigg and football operations manager Phil Harper.
Adelaide football manager Phil Harper has been implicated for first time in the Kurt Tippett saga. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: The Advertiser
BESIEGED Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg is facing calls to resign before Monday's AFL Commission meeting as yet more damaging evidence against the Crows emerges.
Trigg was slapped with additional charges by the AFL yesterday over the Kurt Tippett salary cap scandal, which now seems sure to cost him his AFL career.
Crows football manager Phil Harper was implicated for the first time over alleged illegal third-party payments worth $300,000, pledged to Tippett in 2009.
The charges are understood to relate to a specific third-party payment from club sponsor Balfours, which was allegedly told to pay Tippett directly rather than through the club.
As a sponsor the South Australian bakery business allegedly was used to help divert payments to Tippett, which would be a breach of AFL salary cap rules.
Harper is believed to have signed a letter - found by AFL investigators during a search of club documents and computer files - regarding that money.
Trigg and Harper now seem almost certain to lose their jobs, amid conjecture about whether they deceived the Adelaide board as well as the league.
Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas, whose friend Matt Rendell was sacked as the Crows recruiting manager in March over a racism row, yesterday said Trigg should resign.
"I find it very interesting that Steven Trigg cited standards, morals and ethics to oust Matt Rendell when in the back of his mind he must have been aware of his own alleged shenanigans," Thomas said.
"And I couldn't believe how hastily Andrew Demetriou and the AFL acted to get on to the front foot to tell all and sundry how Matt Rendell should be looking for another job.
"All of this prior to an investigation and not having spoken to (Rendell) or considered Matt's side of the story at all. He (Demetriou) left Steven Trigg in no doubt as to what the AFL wanted to do with Matt Rendell. And guess what, surprise, surprise, he was terminated.
"I only hope that he (Demetriou) has given the same advice to his friend Steven Trigg - because that's what friends are for.
"In the absence of Andrew's advice to Steven, I might provide some to him - go and find a sword and fall on it."
Melbourne barrister Paul Ehrlich yesterday questioned whether the AFL Commission's verdict would hold up in court.
Adelaide must argue a case why it should not be fined and lose draft picks.
Ehrlich said every other tribunal saw the governing body forced to prove guilt, not the other way around.
"The procedure in Rule 17 is extraordinary, to say the least. I have never seen a tribunal or court in which the onus of proof is reversed and in which the AFL is entitled to act on the suspicions of an investigator, without proving those suspicions are correct.," Ehrlich said.
AFL Rule 17.5 states that an investigator may charge a club or individual with salary cap or draft tampering breaches if an investigator "suspects" a person has broken AFL regulations.
The club must then prove the suspicion incorrect, with the rules stating: "A person charged by the investigator shall bear the onus of establishing on the balance of probabilities that the alleged conduct was not engaged in."
The AFL Commission also has no obligation to provide reasons for its penalties, and "is not bound by the rules of evidence".
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson this morning announced three additional charges against the club, chief executive Steven Trigg and football manager Phil Harper.
The Crows and Trigg had already been charged over alleged illegal third-party payments worth $300,000 to Tippett in 2009.
It is the first time Harper has been implicated in the scandal.
Harper has been at the Crows since joining the recruiting department from SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens in 1998 and took his current position at the end of 2009, replacing John Reid.
Harper was general manager of commercial operations that season.
The club, Trigg and Harper were today charged with: "Contrary to Rule 17 of the Rules, between September 2009 and October 2012, you engaged in conduct in breach of the Total Player Payments provisions in the Rules."
Anderson said the Crows, Trigg and Harper were advised today in writing of the charges, which will be heard at AFL House on Monday at 1pm.
The Crows released a statement saying the club "has received and understands" the new charges.
"These matters are closely related to the existing charges," the club said.
"The club will present its case to the AFL Commission on Monday and is determined to explain its position to members, sponsors and all stakeholders as soon as possible.
"Out of respect for the AFL process, the club is unable to provide further comment on the charges until that process is complete."
On Monday the AFL charged the Crows and Trigg with two counts of "engaging in conduct prejudicial to the draft" and salary cap breaches.
Tippett and former Crows football manager John Reid were hit with the same charges.
The key forward, who quit the Crows last month, will be defended by leading QC David Galbally.
Galbally told the Herald Sun that Tippett will argue he was an innocent party in the deal and has threatened to sue Adelaide for damages and loss of earnings if he is deregistered or cops a lengthy playing ban.
Where to? Kurt Tippett has a big decision to make. Source: Herald Sun
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