Mick Gatto claims he spoke to Essendon during height of doping scandal
UNDERWORLD enforcer Mick Gatto has sensationally claimed he was approached by a senior Essendon figure at the height of the drugs saga to “find out what was going on with it all”.
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UNDERWORLD enforcer Mick Gatto has sensationally claimed he was approached by a senior Essendon figure at the height of the drugs saga to “find out what was going on with it all”.
But Bombers chairman Lindsay Tanner on Thursday night insisted it was Gatto who came to the club offering help, and he was knocked back.
The Bombers are locked in a bitter legal stoush with dual premiership hero Dean Wallis and ex-team manager John Elliott — the latter alleging that bosses reached out to Gatto.
Mr Tanner said on Wednesday: “Allegations of (name removed) having dealings with Mick Gatto are false.” But Gatto said on Thursday: “I did get embroiled in it and I was approached.”
In other revelations on Thursday:
BOMBERS chief executive Xavier Campbell secretly recorded a meeting with Mr Elliott’s father in a bizarre coffee shop sting.
ESSENDON stonewalled over alleged sexual harassment by an official towards a female staff member in December 2014.
MR ELLIOTT’S father said he had a cafe meeting in late 2014 with a senior Bombers official — whom the club denied had dealings with Gatto — who had asked him to arrange a meeting with the Carlton identity.
Police confirmed they are investigating a “report of a blackmail matter” after the Bombers said they had lodged a complaint regarding alleged threats.
The Herald Sun obtained a video of Gatto being interviewed by The Footy Show star Sam Newman at a Lygon St restaurant on Thursday afternoon.
Asked by Newman if he was approached by an official of the Essendon Football Club to help fix the doping mess, Gatto responded: “I was. I was. But it wouldn’t be very professional of me to divulge who. They just wanted me to find out what was going on with it all and what I could find out and have a feel around.”
The claims and counterclaims regarding Gatto’s involvement with Essendon fired up after the Herald Sun reported that Mr Elliott Jr had alleged in a signed statement as part of a compensation action that: “In November 2014 I was asked to set up a meeting off-site with Mr Mick Gatto, an external well-known dispute resolution specialist.
“The purpose of the meeting was in regard to obtaining information from Mr Shane Charter, who was a supplier to Mr Stephen Dank.’’
After Mr Tanner rejected the claim regarding a specific senior official, Mr Elliott Sr hit back. He said that in a meeting at The Delicious Afare cafe in Strathmore held with the official in late 2014, he was asked to set up a meeting with Gatto. A third party could verify that cafe rendezvous, he said.
“He (the official) asked me to organise a meeting with Mick Gatto if I could,’’ Mr Elliott Sr said. “I said I would make a phone call and would get back to him. I spoke to Mick Gatto and he said ‘I’m happy to help’.’’
“I organised a meeting within three days but the Essendon official pulled out due to another commitment. A week went by and I spoke to the official, and he was umming and ahhing.
“So I rang Mick Gatto and told him, ‘The meeting won’t go ahead this week’.
“I spoke to the official again and he eventually said he did not wish to proceed with the meeting and that was the end of it. I don’t know what happened after that.”
The Herald Sun was provided with footage of the interview by sports and gossip website 15 Minutes of Fame.
Mr Tanner did not respond to Mr Elliott Sr’s claims regarding Gatto on Thursday night, but said: “I am advised by my predecessor Paul Little that he was approached by Mick Gatto offering his assistance and this offer was declined.”
FURTHER REPORTS
STORY 1: Bombers accused of asking Mick Gatto to help fix doping mess
STORY 2: Ex-Essendon bosses covered up alleged healthcare rebate fraud, two former staff members claim
STORY 3: Secret Dons tape — Crisis meeting recording emerges
Originally published as Mick Gatto claims he spoke to Essendon during height of doping scandal