Ruckmen Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui used the phone to speak to Eagles ruck coach Simon Eastaugh during the final break of a match the Eagles lost by 25 points, falling to 0-3 for the season. Eastaugh had not travelled to Melbourne with the team for the round three clash.
Under section 13 of the AFL Regulations, clubs are not permitted to use any form of communications device, either during the match or at quarter breaks, within the playing arena.
While clubs can be fined up to $25,000 per breach, the AFL accepted West Coast’s explanation that the breach was inadvertent, and took into account West Coast’s admission and apology over the incident.
After the match, Eagles coach John Worsfold said he was unaware of any issues with players using a mobile phone, and believed it was the same as other communication devices such as walkie-talkies.
"We have all other sorts of communication," Worsfold said. "We can have it from a coach’s box to a player on the ground, so we're assuming there is no difference.
"It's a coaching tool. At home games Simon is around the place, but he can't be there [all the time]."
