No resolution to Melbourne Demons board stoush as private mediation falls over

There were hopes private talks between four Melbourne board members and former president Glen Bartlett would end a long-running stoush – but there’s been a “frustrating” setback.

Melbourne’s bitter boardroom war will rage on for another season after the collapse of mediation with former president Glen Bartlett.

Talks between the feuding parties were held in Perth late last year amid hope an out-of-court settlement would bring an end to the long-running dispute.

But the private mediation, conducted by a retired judge, has failed to reach a resolution.

Bartlett is suing four Demons directors, including president Kate Roffey, in the Federal Court for misleading and deceptive conduct and defamation in relation to his sudden exit in April 2021.

The matter was listed for a case management hearing before Justice Craig Colvin on Wednesday.

A further hearing will be held early in the AFL season.

Melbourne CEO Gary Pert and president Kate Roffey. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Former Melbourne vice-president and insurance industry heavyweight Geoff Freeman, who played the role of peacemaker in helping facilitate the mediation, said it was “frustrating for all concerned that the parties had not reached agreement”.

“The discussions appear to have stalled, which is disappointing because it’s in the best interests of everybody – inside and outside the club – to have it resolved,” Freeman said.

“I see the club being poised for another successful season – and going deeper into September – unlike the past two years, so I would have loved to have seen the matter put behind us.”

Bartlett had held crisis talks with AFL commission chairman Richard Goyder and ex-league boss Gillon McLachlan just weeks before being removed as president.

Documents published by the Herald Sun last year detailed how Bartlett received a telephone call just after midday on April 6, 2021 from Melbourne board members David Rennick and Steve Morris in which Rennick informed the president that they had “reluctantly come to the conclusion that the only option is to ask you to stand down as president … in favour of Kate (Roffey)”.

According to detailed notes of the conversation, Bartlett was told the decision had been made on the basis an unnamed supporter group was planning to challenge the club’s board at the end of the season.

“Are you serious?” Bartlett responded, to which Rennick replied: “Glen, I know this is pretty hard to hear … frankly you have been a great advocate for me … (but) we believe it is in the best interests of the club and your own in terms of protecting your legacy. This is a view of the majority of the board.”

Just weeks earlier - on March 11, 2021- Bartlett had been endorsed to stay on as president for another 12 months, and as a board member for a further three years.

The Demons have engaged some of Australia’s top lawyers in the Bartlett war led by Matthew Collins KC and commercial litigator Janet Whiting from law firm Gilbert + Tobin.

Melbourne is facing separate Federal Court action from board challenger Peter Lawrence, who has accused the club of engaging in “oppressive” conduct towards “non-aligned” candidates.