The AFL advised the Fremantle Football Club on Tuesday that its Integrity Department had concluded its investigation on a matter involving Hayden Ballantyne.

Ballantyne was the subject of an investigation after using his phone from within Fremantle’s change rooms after he left the ground due to injury during last week’s NAB Challenge match against Richmond.

“The investigation determined that Ballantyne would be issued with a formal warning but no further penalty imposed, due to the particular circumstances of this case,” the AFL said in a media release. 

Ballantyne on track for round one

“The player’s phone records confirmed he had spoken to a family member after suffering an injury that had seen him leave the game.” 

AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said while a formal warning was appropriate in the circumstances, all players and officials were on notice that the game’s integrity rules must be fully complied with at all times, regarding the use of phones in restricted areas, and a warning may not apply in future cases.