THE AFL has announced that Melbourne player, Jake Melksham, has been fined $10,000 for a breach of the AFL Rules.

The AFL conducted an investigation in relation to betting activity occurring on accounts belonging to Melksham. The betting activity did not relate to the AFL, but was highlighted because it appeared that Melksham had allowed his account to be used by a third party. The investigation is now closed without any further action being required.

Melksham was interviewed in the course of this investigation and was found to have provided misleading evidence to the AFL’s investigators in breach of AFL Rule 2.5(c).

In determining the sanction, in this case, the AFL took into account Melksham’s guilty plea, remorse and the fact that he has agreed to assist the AFL in future education programs for other players.

Andrew Dillon, the AFL’s General Counsel said, “It is crucial for the integrity of the competition that participants in the AFL give honest evidence in the course of investigations under the AFL Rules. Jake has acknowledged his mistake in this case, is genuinely remorseful and will assist us to deliver this message in the future to players coming into the system.”

Josh Mahoney, Melbourne’s General Manager of Football said, “Although Jake has been cleared of any wrongdoing, relating to the betting activity from June last year, his mistake was not presenting all the information to the AFL investigators at the time of initial contact. He accepts his sanction on that front. All players and staff, when asked to be involved in an AFL investigation, must take them seriously and provide all the information when required. Jake is genuinely remorseful about his mistake and as a Club, we will continue to support and educate all of our players on the importance of these matters.”

Note: AFL Rule 2.5 (c) reads: ‘A Person must not … give any false or misleading evidence to any hearing, investigation, inquiry or appeal conducted under the AFL Rules and Regulations;’