Mick McGuane Implicated in Salary Cap Scandal, 2023 Premiership Stripped from Club

AFL Legend Mick McGuane Involved in Keilor Salary Cap Scandal
(Images would be placed throughout the article with captions as noted below.)

Image 1: AFL great Mick McGuane (pictured) has been linked to a salary cap breach at Keilor Football Club.

The Keilor Football Club, led by AFL legend Mick McGuane, has been stripped of its 2023 Essendon District Football League (EDFL) premiership after being found guilty of salary cap breaches. The EDFL ruled Keilor overspent by $45,100 in 2023 and $605 in 2022, resulting in a $50,000 fine ($20,000 suspended), a 15% reduction in player payments for three years, and the loss of its 2023 title.

Image 2: Keilor under McGuane’s leadership has claimed five EDFL premierships.

McGuane, a Collingwood premiership player and five-time EDFL premiership coach, was not directly implicated in the breaches. Club president Shaun Morris emphasized McGuane’s lack of involvement in financial decisions, calling him “the best coach this competition has ever seen.”

EDFL Integrity upheld
EDFL Chair Ian Price stressed the league’s commitment to fairness: “Our rules must be respected. While Keilor cooperated fully, penalties reflect the seriousness of the breaches.” Price noted there was no evidence of dishonesty.

Club Leadership Reacts
Morris defended the club’s transparency: “No players were involved in this review. We accept the findings and will learn from them.” McGuane expressed devastation but urged resilience: “The past won’t define us. We’ll focus on the future.”

False Allegations Surface
Rumors swirled that ex-player Damien Cavka, who left Keilor for Hillside in 2024, reported the breach. Cavka denied this, calling the claims “disgraceful and offensive.” McGuane publicly supported Cavka, condemning the “baseless social media speculation” harming the club’s staff.

Image 3: Damien Cavka (left) denied involvement in exposing the breaches.

Moving Forward
Captain Kane Barbuto pledged the team would rebound: “This fuels our fire. We’re not going anywhere.” McGuane echoed this, vowing Keilor won’t grow complacent after winning three of the last four flags.

Image 4: McGuane and son Tom remain focused on Keilor’s future success.

The club now faces a challenging road ahead, balancing financial penalties with their pursuit of redemption on the field.