THE MANAGER of Collingwood midfielder Adam Treloar has been cleared of wrongdoing by an AFLPA investigation into off-season surgery the 23-year-old had before being traded to the Magpies.
The AFLPA found that Peter Blucher had "not acted improperly and sought to act in his client's best interests at all times".
Treloar's former club, Greater Western Sydney, requested the investigation claiming it had not been notified by Treloar's manager of the groin surgery that occurred while the Giants and the Magpies were negotiating his trade.
The surgery was carried out in Tasmania two weeks after Treloar formally requested a trade to Collingwood.
The AFLPA's acting head of player relations Brett Murphy said it became apparent during the investigation there were differing views as to whether the Giants had been notified.
"Blucher said that he notified the club prior to Adam’s surgery. The Giants maintain that at no time were they notified of Adam’s surgery until after it occurred. The investigation was not able to reach a definitive position on this issue," Murphy said.
The investigation found that although it would have been preferable if the Giants were aware of the surgery the manager "had no express obligation" to inform the club".
The case highlighted varying understanding of what the rules were when a trade was being negotiated and players would now be obliged to notify the club doctor of any intended surgery.
Giants CEO Dave Matthews said the club was pleased that firm guidelines had been set to ensure the Treloar situation did not occur again.
"The AFLPA’s investigation clearly exposed an important issue with regard to the integrity of player contracts in relation to a number of factors with player health and welfare, risk management and liability being chief among them," he said.
The AFLPA conducted the investigation in its role as regulator of AFL accredited agents.
Treloar joined Collingwood in exchange for a range of picks after 79 games in four seasons at the Giants.