The ongoing legal saga surrounding former Melbourne Football Club President Glenn Bartlett has intensified, with Bartlett filing a lawsuit against the AFL over his controversial 2021 exit from the club.
Represented by prominent law firm Clayton Utz, Bartlett's legal action, filed on Thursday, marks a significant escalation in a long-standing conflict that has cast a shadow over Melbourne's boardroom and management.
The defamation case, which centres on statements made around Bartlett's sudden removal as Melbourne's president in April 2021, was lodged in the Federal Court.
This move follows earlier separate legal actions initiated by Bartlett against current Melbourne president Brad Green, vice-president David Rennick, and several other directors.
These legal proceedings stem from alleged concerns raised by Bartlett regarding Melbourne's off-field culture, a factor he claims contributed to his ousting.
Bartlett, who served as Melbourne's president from 2013 to 2021, was removed from his post shortly after holding crisis talks with AFL Commission Chairman Richard Goyder and then-AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan.
While the specific content of these discussions remains undisclosed, it is understood Bartlett had been conducting internal investigations into cultural issues within the club.
His ouster, orchestrated by a faction within Melbourne's board, has since become a contentious point for Bartlett and his legal team.
The AFL has remained tight-lipped on the matter, stating that it was not previously aware of the legal action taken against it by Bartlett. However, the case is expected to prompt further scrutiny of the league's role in handling the affairs of club presidents and board dynamics.
The legal battles add to the troubled off-field narrative of the Melbourne Football Club, which, despite recent success on the field, has been mired in controversy. Since winning the 2021 premiership, Melbourne has experienced internal challenges, including publicised disputes involving star players Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.
CEO Gary Pert previously dismissed allegations of a "culture problem," yet mounting controversies—ranging from player dissatisfaction to drug suspensions and mental health issues—have kept the spotlight on the Demons.
Bartlett's defamation case, along with his continued lawsuits against Green, Rennick, and other former board members, shows no sign of resolution. Legal observers anticipate a drawn-out court battle as Bartlett continues to challenge the handling of his presidency, asserting it was undermined by those dissatisfied with his leadership and approach to governance.
Bartlett, a former AFL player with West Coast Eagles and a legal professional with a longstanding tenure at Clayton Utz, had been unanimously endorsed to continue as president shortly before his removal. His legal team argues that his abrupt exit damaged his professional reputation and unjustly framed his leadership as a liability to Melbourne's administration.
While Bartlett seeks legal redress, Melbourne remains in a phase of reflection and potential restructuring. The club's struggles have coincided with multiple consecutive finals exits and a failure to regain the premiership-winning momentum they achieved in 2021.
As the legal proceedings unfold, both Melbourne and the AFL may face growing pressure to address and resolve these internal tensions for the betterment of the club and the league.