Fresh claims over Ross Lyon sex slur scandal set to rock AFL
THE woman at the centre of the Fremantle sex harassment scandal has been left “completely humiliated” by the AFL’s handling of the saga, as fresh questions emerge about its investigation.
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EXCLUSIVE: THE woman at the centre of the Fremantle sex harassment scandal has been left “completely humiliated” by the AFL’s handling of the saga, as fresh questions emerge about its investigation.
Sources close to the young office worker who alleged she was targeted by Dockers coach Ross Lyon at a boozy club function have told the Herald Sun that she and her family are furious with both Fremantle and the league.
The sources have dubbed the AFL probe “a sham”. One said: “It’s been a nightmare for her.”
The woman is angry at reports she changed into a revealing outfit for the event, telling friends she still had her work clothes on.
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In a series of shocking claims, sources allege:
LYON told the junior staffer in front of witnesses that he liked her “budding boobs”, before pursuing her throughout the night with inappropriate and crude remarks;
SHE was about two months’ pregnant at the time;
CONCERNS about Lyon’s conduct were reported to Dockers chiefs by a female colleague of hers immediately after, with the alleged victim giving a formal interview and written statement;
THE club probe concluded with the coach apologising to the alleged victim before she was forced to endure jokes in the office regarding the incident, and ultimately left;
THERE is a recording of exchanges between Lyon and the woman at the event, several years ago;
UNHAPPY at not being taken seriously, she made a second complaint late last year, prompting the AFL integrity unit probe;
A PAYMENT to her at Christmas, including a secrecy agreement, exceeded $100,000.
Sources have further claimed that attempts by the family to speak to AFL chief Gillon McLachlan regarding concerns over its probe have been rejected.
They have hit out at AFL integrity unit boss Tony Keane over his dealings with the woman and her family.
The AFL integrity unit probe was first revealed late last year by the Sunday Herald Sun, but last month the league reported that it concluded no sanctions were required, after the Herald Sun revealed the alleged victim had received a payment.
McLachlan and AFL chairman Richard Goyder have defended the handling of the case, amid growing unease over payments to alleged harassment victims and its respect and responsibility policy.
But one source close to the victim said this week: “If you did an investigation and found nothing, you would have to be dumb, blind and deaf. It was a pretend investigation. They want to protect themselves and the club.”
Regarding the incident, the young woman did not even intend to go to the function, sources said.
“They invited her from the office, she never changed her clothes. She was not wearing a low-cut top. She was not wearing a dress that would insinuate anything — it was just above the knee. And they know that,’’ one said.
“They were like “C’mon, c’mon, come”. She wanted to make friends, and went straight from work.”
The Herald Sun has spoken to several sources close to the victim or linked to the Fremantle football club, who have knowledge of the case. Suggestions that Lyon self-reported after the night were also disputed.
A complaint had actually been made to club chief Steve Rosich and two senior executives, sources said.
Some time after the young woman was formally interviewed, one said: “They sent Ross to say ‘Sorry’, and then she went home in tears, humiliated. That is the way Fremantle operate.”
Around the same time, sources claim a senior official was heard joking in the office: “Watch what you sit on guys, there’s a disease going around the office, everyone’s getting pregnant.”
Asked why the woman had made a fresh complaint late last year — long after she had left the club — one source said: “They sat on it for five years. It wasn’t just a complaint about Ross. It was the handling at the time.
“They (the family) just wanted a punishment, even if it was behind closed doors.”
The club and the AFL have repeatedly refused to detail why the integrity probe concluded that there should be no sanctions, how much was paid to the alleged victim, or whether it was Lyon or the club that paid it, citing confidentiality.
Mary Barry, chief executive of anti-domestic violence advocacy group Our Watch, this week told the Herald Sun: “We would never support women being silenced.
“Our Watch does not condone payments made in lieu of a proper investigation, or if this compromises the autonomy of the victim in choosing their preferred path to resolution.”
When asked whether he was the subject of the complaint, Lyon replied this week: “Under the respect and responsibility policy, no one is in a position to comment any further.”
McLachlan has said: “The core part of the policy is actually resolving the issue ... It is part of the policy for it to be confidential, and there is a wide series of options available for getting resolution.”
Lyon did not respond to calls from the Herald Sun on Friday.
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