Gillon McLachlan says Supreme Court case over the Essendon drugs saga is a waste of money

AFL supremo Gillon McLachlan has slammed a Supreme Court case lodged against the league over the Essendon drugs saga as “odd” and “a waste of money”.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan is seen at the Sydney Opera House speaking to the media for the NSW celebration launch of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, in Sydney, Wednesday, March 28, 2018. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito) NO ARCHIVING

AFL supremo Gillon McLachlan says a Supreme Court case lodged against the league over the Essendon drugs saga is a waste of money.

Justice John Dixon ruled on Wednesday that allegations the AFL had deceived the public during the six-season scandal should be tested at trial.

But McLachlan said the case brought by Melbourne lawyer Jackson Taylor was “odd” and unrelated to footy’s greatest crisis.

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“It’s not on the Essendon issue, the Essendon issue is sort of closed and solved and it’s gone to court and the full court of the thing (the Full Court of the Federal Court) and it’s been found entirely legal,” McLachlan told 3AW.

“This is an individual who has got a grievance about some comments I made in the media, it’s actually sort of not something I’ve thought about too much.

“I think it’s an odd one and it will play out as it plays out.”

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan. Picture: Chris Kidd

The case alleges McLachlan and retired AFL commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick contravened consumer law by misleading or deceiving the public over the league’s conduct in the Bombers saga, to protect its commercial interests and reputation.

Asked by 3AW’s Neil Mitchell who was representing him, McLachlan said: “There are lawyers at the office, I don’t know who is working on it specifically. The point is media commentary said it was misleading and deceptive - it seems like a lot of wasted money to me, Neil. Anyway, it will play out.”

Pressed on his suggestion the Supreme Court proceeding was a waste of money, McLachlan said: “It is at our end, for something that’s a personal ... it’s against me individually not related to the Essendon case and I know that the Essendon footy club and the players and others, all they want to do is move on.”

The AFL’s defence in the case is being led by top law firm K&L Gates.

Partner Stephen Meade was the lead lawyer in charge when Taylor first challenged the AFL in July 2015.

Former AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick.

Meade has since joined the AFL as its head of legal and regulatory and filed an affidavit on behalf of the league in March in support of its bid for a limited trial.

McLachlan and Meade are former teammates and life members of the University Blues Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football League.

The AFL this week failed in a bid to have parts of the Taylor case heard at a preliminary hearing, limiting the need for witnesses and the discovery of documents.

The ruling brought McLachlan, Fitzpatrick and former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou a step closer to being quizzed under oath over their handling of the drugs storm.

Justice Dixon also ordered the AFL to pay Taylor’s costs for opposing the application.

Taylor is being represented by human rights lawyer Julian Burnside, QC, who represented James Hird during his fight with the AFL.

A date for the next hearing in the case has yet to be fixed.

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