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Property deals affects Lions camp

By Mr Dandalooa

The AFL in May was notified of a property transaction of a two-storey unit at Noosaville, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast involving Brisbane Lions player Jonathan Brown and club officials.

Lions captain Brown, Brownlow medallist Simon Black and former football manager Graeme Allan have been linked to the deals.

It’s alleged Brown bought the unit from a company owned by Allan and then sold it to a trust that had the club’s player recruitment manager as a trustee.

Ownership of the property has since been transferred to Allan’s wife as a trustee and beneficiary of the trust.

Allan left Brisbane this year and has taken up a key role with the incoming Greater Western Sydney franchsie.

This week, Brisbane Lions boss Michael Bowers said it was disappointing the AFL club became aware of the alleged property transactions involving only after the deals were made.

FootyGoss has learned AFL investigations manager Ken Wood is looking into the matter.

Wood is expected to see whether the deals comply with strict AFL salary cap rules.

FootyGoss attempted to contact Wood and the Lions camp, but was unsuccessful in obtaining a response.

It’s understood Channel Nine’s The Footy Show has claimed other former and current Lions players are also involved in Wood’s inquiries, but it’s not clear what that entails.

Bowers told The Footy Show he made Allan aware that he would like to know about such issues before they happen.

“If you’re going to the AFL advising them of something, it’s a lot better than reading about it in the paper,” he said.

“It is a disappointing thing from our point of view that happened.”

Eastern States media aired allegations last month that Brown and Black had bought property five years ago in Noosaville and that Allan was involved.

Bowers said the “curious thing about all that” was that Brown and Black bought properties and for some reason one was sold at a loss.

“If it’s a salary cap issue, the numbers are going the wrong way,” he said.

“But Ken is going to have a look at it, we have no problems with that, we’d just love to be involved before the transactions.”

The AFL has promised much tighter control of third-party player payments as the game heads to limited free agency.