THE AFL has ruled that the boots Sydney debutant Sam Wicks wore in Thursday night's loss to Collingwood were not compliant with League regulations.
The issue came to light after Magpie Isaac Quaynor sustained a severe 16-21cm gash on his right leg, following an attempted tackle on Wicks in the final term.
The Swans confirmed post-match and again on Friday that Wicks' boots were standard-issue screw-ins, with a hybrid soleplate that includes plastic and aluminium stops.
>> READ THE AFL'S FULL STATEMENT ON SAM WICK'S BOOTS
The club said in a statement: "Following discussions with the AFL, it has become clear that these boots are not compliant with AFL regulations."
"The Sydney Swans will take steps to rectify this immediately to ensure that all boots are compliant going forward. The club has been in contact with Collingwood to express its regret for the incident and concern for Isaac, whom we wish a speedy recovery."
>> WATCH THE INCIDENT IN THE PLAYER BELOW
The AFL confirmed to AFL.com.au that there would be no sanction for Sydney or Wicks, but the AFL's general manager of football operations, Steve Hocking, contacted all clubs to remind them "any form of exposed mental studs or stops" were not permitted.
"Football boots with exposed metal studs have the potential to cause injuries and have no place across any level of our game," Hocking said.
"There are players in the competition who have been wearing boots direct from manufacturers that feature screw-in studs that have a hybrid soleplate, which includes both plastic and aluminium stops, and these are not compliant with AFL regulations.
"It is the responsibility of clubs and players to work with manufacturers to ensure football boots worn by all players are compliant with AFL regulations and ensure a duty of care to themselves, their teammates and opposition players."
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan earlier confirmed on radio station 3AW that an investigation into Wicks' boots was underway.
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McLachlan said: "It's against AFL regulations, clearly, to have metal stops.
"The umpires don't (check boots) because there's bootstudders and multiple staff.
"But I think the clubs and the individuals need to be accountable for not having dangerous footwear, and steel stops in the regulations are deemed to be that.
"I don’t know if he did (wear metal stops) or he didn't. That’s obviously being worked through this morning."
AFL regulations state that "metal stops on boots are not permitted to be worn during a match".
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said: "(Wicks') studs raked across (Quaynor's) shin and actually split his shin six to eight inches completely open.
"[Wicks] could have had metal studs in as well, so that was his bad luck to fall on the only kid (on the ground) who had that.
"[Quaynor's injury] will be a couple of weeks. It will depend on how you clean the wound and heal that up.
"In the end we don't get [boots] checked. It is not the under-12s where the umpire comes and checks all the studs before you play."
