Sources say the proposal to charge a charity is motivated by the club’s need to ‘clear debts’

The Saints are under fire over a push to demand fees of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from a mental health centre established in Danny Frawley’s memory.

St Kilda has been slammed over a push to demand fees of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from a mental health centre established in Danny Frawley’s memory.

Kirstan Corben, the inaugural executive director of the centre, walked away late last year after the Saints proposed to charge the registered charity for services and rent.

Sources close to the Danny Frawley Centre have described the move, which they claim is motivated by a need to “clear debts”, as “outrageous”.

Frawley’s daughter Chelsea works there, while his widow Anita had described it as a one of his greatest legacies.

Danny Frawley’s widow Anita and daughters Daniella (left) and Chelsea at the Danny Frawley Centre. Picture: Michael Klein

The centre was launched at the club’s revamped Moorabbin headquarters amid fanfare in November 2020.

The announcement came just months after it was revealed the Saints hero was suffering Stage III CTE – a crippling neurological disorder linked to repeated head knocks – when his four-wheel drive hit a tree in September 2019.

The federal government poured $8.5m into the Moorabbin overhaul, and the state government $7.3m.

A source said: “It’s outrageous that donations for such an important cause would be essentially stolen.”

The Danny Frawley Centre was launched at the club’s revamped Moorabbin headquarters in 2020. Picture: Michael Klein

A St Kilda spokesperson declined to discuss the circumstances behind Ms Corben’s departure, but confirmed plans to charge fees “as agreed between the parties, not until this is affordable” to the centre.

The Saints also insisted there had been no fallout with the Frawley family.

“DFC Community (DFCC), the charitable entity, has been formally incorporated since 1 July 2023 and to date there have been no charges by the club for the provision of services or occupation of the premises, other than minor utilities and event management charges,” the Saints spokesperson said.

“To support the operations of the DFCC, St Kilda Football Club provides facility management, security, information technology, hospitality services, workplace health and safety services, legal, finance, payroll, and marketing services, fundraising support and commercial/sponsorship support and advice, as well as occupying office space within the Danny Frawley Centre building.

Frawley died when his four-wheel drive hit a tree in 2019. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Given the significant resources and services provided to the DFCC by the club, it is the intention and agreement of both parties that the club will receive appropriate payment for the provision of the services, but, as agreed between the parties, not until this is affordable to the DFCC, and the services provided will be reviewed by independent auditors to ensure that the value of any service fee contemplated for the services is validated and assessed.

“The club is committed to establishing a strong foundation for the DFCC as demonstrated by its efforts in establishing the charity, contributing to its offerings with existing club programs, absorbing operational and other costs, sourcing and encouraging corporate donations, while also investing significant amounts of management time to support the DFCC at no cost.”

The Saints are saddled with one of the biggest debts in the AFL competition.

Frawley was a fierce advocate for mental health awareness, talking openly about his own struggles in the hope of inspiring others to seek help.

At the unveiling of the centre for health and wellbeing, Anita said: “Danny just wanted to help people.

“He suffered so much, and for this centre to come through is just incredible.

“Even though he’s not here, he will make a difference.”

Frawley played 240 games for the Saints, 177 of them as captain, and was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2007.