Essendon has called for a full audit of the club to prove its innocence in the AFL's latest salary cap controversy.

The Bombers are being investigated over buying out the personal internet site rights of captain James Hird and vice-captain Matthew Lloyd in 2001.

Essendon had legal advice that this constituted "legitimate agreements" for the purchase of an asset from the players rather than a payment for services and therefore the contracts did not have to be lodged with the league.

There was further talk that other senior Bombers were the focus of a league probe, something the club rejected.

"The club has been most disappointed at the mischievous rumours circulating recently regarding other senior players at the club and alleged undisclosed payments made to them," Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson said.

"We emphatically deny these rumours - they are completely without foundation."

"I am angered that the character of the staff responsible for overseeing the contracts of players at this club is continually being questioned because of unsubstantiated rumour.

"We will be officially requesting the AFL come and do a full audit of the club as soon as possible so we can put this continued rumour and innuendo to rest."

League investigation manager Ken Wood is looking closely at the Lloyd and Hird deals to see if they constituted either a playing services payment or, what the league termed, an `additional services payment' and whether they should be considered as a breach of the salary cap.

AFL football operations manager Andrew Demetriou said the Essendon payments must be looked at.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP