The Adelaide Crows have been fined $7,500 by the AFL after players Ben Keays and Josh Rachele were caught wearing banned metal stops in their boots, despite repeated warnings from the league.
The AFL confirmed on Tuesday that Keays and Rachele had also been personally sanctioned, fined $5,000 and $2,500 respectively, following multiple breaches of the rule.
Both players continued to wear metal stops even after the club received official warnings and a league-wide memo was sent to all teams on 4 June reminding them of the ban.
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“Despite multiple warnings…”
According to the AFL, Keays wore the prohibited boots on four separate occasions after the initial warning, while Rachele did so twice.
“Player health and safety is paramount to the AFL and the wearing of metal stops poses a significant injury risk to other players,” said AFL Executive General Manager of Football Operations, Laura Kane.
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“Disappointedly, despite multiple warnings, the players elected to wear the incorrect football boots.”
The league took action after issuing a "please explain" letter to the Crows, triggered by ongoing concerns that went unaddressed. The fines reflect the AFL’s hardline stance on player safety and the expectation that clubs and individuals comply with clear directives.