Melbourne board challenger lodges Federal Court action against the club over ‘oppressive’ election system

A Melbourne board challenger has gone to court seeking an overhaul of the club’s election rules, accusing the Demons of engaging in ‘oppressive’ conduct towards ‘non-aligned’ board contenders.

Current Melbourne president Kate Roffey. Picture: Getty Images

A Melbourne board challenger has lodged Federal Court action against the club over its “closed shop” director election system.

Finance expert Peter Lawrence, who is running for a seat on president Kate Roffey’s board, filed court papers on Monday.

He is seeking an overhaul of the club’s election rules, accusing the Dees of engaging in “oppressive” conduct towards “non-aligned” board contenders.

Melbourne members began voting on the make-up of the club’s 2024 board last Thursday, with eight candidates, including Lawrence and football director Brad Green, vying for three seats.

The documents filed by Lawrence claim Melbourne’s election process is being conducted “contrary to the interests of the members as a whole”.

Lawrence is seeking orders to allow board contenders to make public statements and campaign about their candidacy.

Melbourne CEO Gary Pert and club president Kate Roffey. Picture: Getty Images

The Demons are the only Victorian AFL club that prevents electioneering, he says.

Lawrence also wants greater transparency around the announcement of club elections and a committee “independent of the board” used to assess the suitability of future directors.

Under the current system, preferred inhouse candidates are given an unfair advantage, he says.

Three current Demons board members - Green, Geoff Porz and Sarah Robinson - are contesting a group of five independent candidates; Tori Williams, Barry McIlwaine, Paul Rushton, Alison Anthony and Lawrence.

Porz and Robinson filled two casual vacancies on the Demons’ board in late September, replacing retiring directors Mohan Jesudason and Steve Morris.

Lawrence, who forced the first Melbourne board election in almost two decades in 2021, has since formed the “Deemocracy” group pushing for more open and transparent elections.

“We should have a level playing field that unearths quality (board) candidates from our over 70,000 membership base because the ‘Old Melbourne Way’ is not serving us well at the moment,” Lawrence said earlier this month.

“It is a closed shop board which chooses itself. Members are kept at arm’s length.”

The winning candidates will be unveiled at the club’s annual general meeting on December 19.

Melbourne has been contacted for comment.

In an email to Demons members on Monday, Lawrence revealed Melbourne’s returning officer had “suspended my ability to communicate further with members during this election”.

“My suspension was not mentioned in the voting materials sent to members last Thursday … when the election commenced,” Lawrence said.

“I stand by the position in my candidate statement that discussion, negotiation and settlement beats litigation. However, today I made an application to the Federal Court of Australia relating to the conduct of the Melbourne Football Club around its election processes. At the time of writing I am still a candidate for the current election …

“If you have not voted, please send the strongest message you can that our club belongs to its members and vote as follows - Barry McIlwaine, Peter Lawrence, Tori Williams.”