Members may have seen a report by Andrew Hamilton in today's Courier Mail that the Board has rejected a financing package from the AFL.

These claims are incorrect and deliberately misleading. I have spoken to AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou this morning and he has strongly rejected the claims.

The AFL Commission has agreed a financial advance contingent on board stability. This package has been discussed over an extended period.

Mr Demetriou this morning confirmed that the financing remains in place with the condition remaining that the board must be stable.

The AFL’s financing package is not linked to the compromise proposal put forward by the AFL and rejected by a majority of the Board, as is claimed by Andrew Hamilton.

Based on media reports, it appears that information is being misrepresented to the media and to Leigh Matthews.  Members have every right to be angry that they are being deliberately misled by false claims through the media.

While the Club enjoys a positive relationship with The Courier Mail as a media partner, it is important to note that I was not contacted by the journalist for the Board's views before this damaging and factually incorrect article was published.

I will continue to update Members in the lead up to the EGM on 13 November.

Angus Johnson