Adam Treloar's manager has been cleared of any wrongdoing over the former GWS Giant's surgery controversy.
The Giants were shocked to learn that the 22-year-old underwent groin surgery without their knowledge in late September and asked the AFL Players Association to launch an investigation into the conduct of Treloar's manager Peter Blucher over the issue.
Despite handing the club a trade request, Treloar was still officially a GWS player at the time of the surgery.
But speaking to reporters after his messy trade to Collingwood was finalised, he said that he had undergone the procedure on the advice of the Magpies so that he would be better placed to start pre-season training.
Blucher, who served a 12-month suspension handed down by the AFLPA for his part in the Kurt Tippett-Adelaide Crows salary cap affair, gave evidence that he had informed GWS of the surgery.
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The AFLPA, which regulates the AFL's accredited player agents, couldn't determine whether that was actually the case but found that Blucher hadn't acted improperly.
"It was apparent in the investigation that there were differing views as to whether Blucher had notified GWS Giants," acting AFLPA general manager of player relations Brett Murphy said via a statement.
"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.
"The investigation found that, irrespective of whether the above conversation occurred, Blucher did not act improperly and sought to act in his client's best interests at all times.
"While it would have been advisable for Blucher to notify GWS Giants (as he claims he did) given Adam was still a contracted GWS Giants player, he had no express obligation to do so."
No further action will be taken against Blucher, but the AFL and the AFLPA have agreed to a minimum medical standard that states a player must inform their club of any intended surgery in the future.
The Giants maintain they were left in the dark by Treloar and his representative but are pleased steps have been taken to ensure the same scenario doesn't happen again.
"We requested the circumstances be looked into based on the fact that one of our contracted players underwent a significant medical procedure without any prior notification whatsoever," Giants chief executive David Mattthews said via a statement.
"We believe clubs should be advised or consulted on any medical procedures irrespective of whether a contracted player requests a trade."
