The breach, which happened in 2013, was uncovered by Essendon employees during an internal audit of the club's football department policies and procedures, and it was subsequently reported to the AFL.

 

The AFL, which controls the medical testing of potential draftees, confirmed it had clarified the breach and announced the penalty on Monday.

 

AFL rules say that clubs are not permitted to request, invite, allow, require or direct a player who had attended a combine or state screening session to be tested, evaluated or to do any form of training with either the club or an associated club before being drafted. 

 

Clubs were warned against conducting their own medical tests on under-age talent ahead of last year's NAB AFL Draft after a number of players were sounded out by clubs after the state screenings and draft combine.

 

It is common for clubs to request additional medical assessments via the AFL, but they are then made available to all clubs.

 

Clubs face a fine of $10,000 for a first offence and a $20,000 fine for subsequent breaches.

 

The Bombers last year broke AFL rules on unlisted players training in the lead up to the NAB AFL Rookie Draft. They were fined $20,000 with $10,000 of that penalty suspended.