Legal battle between Glen Bartlett, Demons and AFL settled out of court

The long-running battle between former Dees president Glen Bartlett and Melbourne appears finally over, with a confidential settlement reached between the parties.

The legal battle between Glen Bartlett and the Demons is over. Picture AAPImage/Julian Smith

The AFL says “all legal matters” in the Melbourne boardroom war have been resolved after a breakthrough out-of-court settlement.

Following Melbourne’s statement on Thursday night revealing that the club’s long-running legal battle with former president Glen Bartlett had been settled, the league said on Friday defamation proceedings against them had also been “withdrawn and resolved”.

“The AFL is grateful for Mr Bartlett’s contribution to football through his eight years as president of the Melbourne Football Club where he guided the club as it built the foundations for the Demons’ 2021 premiership,” the league statement said.

“The AFL also acknowledges the time and effort Glen and (his fiance) Victoria (Laspas) gave to the game during his time as president and acknowledges the contribution Glen has made to the game over 40 years in Western Australia and in Victoria and the role that Victoria played in supporting Glen during his time at Melbourne.”

Simon Goodwin and Glen Bartlett in 2017. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media

In the joint statement, Bartlett said: “Victoria and I are very happy to resolve all legal disputes and we would like to acknowledge the key role (AFL CEO) Andrew Dillon played in bringing the parties together to achieve a result through his leadership where we can now all focus on the future.

“I look forward to working with Andrew, his colleagues and the broader AFL community in the future.”

It emerged on Friday that high-profile litigator Leon Zwier played a central role in helping to broker the deal between the AFL, Melbourne and the Bartlett camp.

The Demons released a statement on Thursday night, announcing that a confidential settlement had been reached.

Bartlett is firming as a likely WA Football Commissioner with the election process already underway. WAFL clubs view him as a possible future chairman of the WAFC. His run for the commission is not related to the end of the litigation process, but key AFL figures had believed it was critical for him to resolve his legal battles with Melbourne and the AFL in particular. It is understood extensive mediation talks were taking place over the past three weeks between all parties.

Bartlett began legal proceedings against members of the Melbourne Football Club board in 2022, but on Thursday the Demons confirmed middle ground had been reached.

Significantly, the club’s statement spoke glowingly of Bartlett and his contribution to the club. Equally significant the club sought to discredit allegations that coach Simon Goodwin had had an issue with illicit drugs.

Goodwin’s off-field behaviour had been a central issue in 2021 when the board moved to push Bartlett out only weeks after endorsing him to continue in his role as president.

The Demons went on to win the 2021 AFL premiership but Bartlett, who had sought and believed he had support from the AFL in how the issue would be dealt with, was told by the board he had to resign.

The issue has festered since and has come to a head again this year as Melbourne struggled on field while the club’s chief executive Gary Pert and Bartlett’s successor as president, Kate Roffey, have since stepped down from their roles.

The statement from the Demons said: “A confidential settlement has been entered into between the parties to avoid the costs of litigation for all. Individual recollections and perspectives can differ and lead to many feeling aggrieved. The parties recognise that the last three years of dispute have been a difficult and stressful time for all and acknowledge that the matter could have been handled differently. All parties are sorry for the hurt that has been caused. The Board acknowledges and thanks Glen for the important role he played as President, having overseen the resurgence in the Club’s fortunes.”

“The Board and Mr Bartlett agree that focusing on the future of the Club and particularly the welfare of its people is the most important priority. The Board and Glen look forward to the future including the continued success of the club.”