Collingwood sacked former head of First Nations strategy Mark Cleaver after he contacted reporters

Mark Cleaver’s move to reach out to two senior footy reporters to blow the whistle on the alleged racist behaviour of chief executive Craig Kelly cost him his job at Collingwood.

An attempt by Collingwood’s former head of First Nations strategy to alert media to alleged racism at the club triggered the move to dismiss him, prompting a bombshell legal fight.

The Herald Sun can reveal Mark Cleaver reached out to two senior footy journalists in April to blow the whistle on the alleged behaviour of Magpies chief executive Craig Kelly, days after an internal investigation had cleared the 1990 premiership defender of wrongdoing.

But Collingwood chiefs found out about Mr Cleaver’s overtures to the media, with the club official ultimately being sacked for alleged misconduct in May.

Breaking his silence for the first time since his court case against the club was revealed by the Herald Sun on Tuesday, Mr Cleaver declared: “All I can say is that honesty and integrity are two of my core values and I would never waver on them.”

Mr Cleaver said he was unable to comment further due to the ongoing legal dispute.

The revelations come after federal court documents filed by Mr Cleaver’s lawyers detailed how Mr Kelly was accused of joking about putting a “live f***ing possum” in a special room for Indigenous players and calling an Aboriginal elder a “dumb old bitch”.

Former head of First Nations strategy at Collingwood, Mark Cleaver. Picture: Supplied

Mr Cleaver, a Palawa person, also claimed in the documents that Mr Kelly quipped “why do you need Google Maps, I assume your people can navigate with their eyes closed” and joked about sending a photograph of a ‘Free Palestine’ sign to a Jewish colleague to wind her up.

Sources close to the club have told the Herald Sun that after Mr Cleaver had approached the journalists, Collingwood was informed of the contact and questioned him.

Mr Cleaver is understood to have denied getting in touch with the media.

The First Nations strategy head was also accused by the club – as a further basis for his dismissal – of overstating a comment made by Mr Kelly about a “boomerang” which Mr Cleaver had asserted was insulting.

And he was accused of misrepresenting a conversation with Collingwood people and culture manager Galit Yaary on April 17, in which Mr Cleaver claimed she had given him the green light to contact Victoria Police.

A spokesman for Maurice Blackburn, Mr Cleaver’s lawyers, said: “We deny that our client is dishonest, and the circumstances surrounding his departure from Collingwood will be the subject of the upcoming hearing.”

Collingwood President Jeff Browne and CEO Craig Kelly. Picture: Michael Klein

Another source added that it seemed “absurd” in the wake of the “Do Better” scandal that the club would sack someone for seeking to call out alleged racism and a couple of misunderstandings.

“You would have thought the bigger issue for Collingwood would be getting to the bottom of more allegations,” he said.

Regarding one of the misunderstandings which contributed to Mr Cleaver’s sacking, the unfair dismissal application filed on Monday said the First Nations strategist had met with Ms Yaary on April 17 and asked why Mr Kelly had not been suspended over alleged racial slurs and physical attacks.

“Ms Yaary asked what Mr Cleaver needed to feel safe,” the document says.

“Mr Cleaver responded that he didn’t know and that he was considering going to the police because the club was not doing anything and Mr Kelly’s behaviour towards them was escalating. Ms Yaary replied stating: ‘do whatever would make you feel safe’.”

Pies president Jeff Browne on Wednesday refused to explicitly address the racism claims levelled against Mr Kelly, but said he “totally and absolutely” supported the Pies boss.

“We’re backing in Craig Kelly … and we intend to fight these proceedings and see them through to a judgement,” Mr Browne said.

Craig Kelly arrives at the club. Picture: David Crosling

Jeff Browne addressed the media on Wednesday. Picture: David Crosling

During a fiery press conference, Mr Browne would not be drawn on whether Collingwood’s top brass were outwardly calling Mr Cleaver a liar, saying the matter needed to play out before the courts.

“Just wait to see the outcome of these proceedings before you finally make a judgement on that,” Mr Browne said.

But Mr Browne said Mr Cleaver had been dismissed from the club for “dishonest conduct … in a number of respects”.

The club president was forced to confront the claims on a day which the Pies’ top brass hoped would be focused on former captain Scott Pendlebury’s 400th AFL game.

Collingwood champion Pendlebury refused to discuss the allegations against his club boss, which have marred the week of celebrations leading up to the big occasion against Carlton at the MCG on Saturday.

“Jeff (Browne) spoke earlier I believe about that,” Pendlebury told reporters at a press conference held to mark his milestone match.

“So I’m just going to leave it with what he said earlier.”