Collingwood returns fire on former staffer Mark Cleaver

Collingwood has labelled the legal action brought by its former head of First Nations strategy “objectionable, irrelevant, vague, embarrassing” amid demands for the case to be thrown out of court.

Collingwood Football Club has demanded explosive racism allegations against chief executive Craig Kelly be thrown out of court, labelling legal action by its ex-head of First Nations strategy “objectionable, irrelevant, vague, embarrassing”.

The Pies have returned fire on its former staffer Mark Cleaver, who accused Kelly of racial slurs and physical assaults, of joking about putting a “live f***ing possum” in a special room for Indigenous players and calling an Aboriginal elder a “dumb old bitch”.

Mark Cleaver, ex-head of First Nations strategy at Collingwood Football Club. Picture: Supplied

In fresh documents filed with the Federal Circuit and Family Court on Friday afternoon, Collingwood called for Cleaver’s Fair Work action to be dismissed, stating it fired their staffer “solely because it was satisfied that he had engaged in misconduct”.

That misconduct included “dishonestly stating on multiple occasions that he had not contacted the media, despite having done so” and “dishonestly stating that the CEO ... had told him to “go throw a boomerang” when that was “untrue” and “likely to be damaging to the reputation of the CEO and the club”.

Collingwood also claims Cleaver “dishonestly stat(ed) that a manager involved in the investigation of his complaints had encouraged him to file a police report”.

All 11 allegations put by Cleaver – including for bullying – have been denied by the club, which also denies Kelly made racial comments “as alleged” about a cultural room for Indigenous players, and during and after meetings with mens’ behaviour change group Dardi Munwurro.

Collingwood Football Club has demanded that explosive racism allegations against CEO Craig Kelly be thrown out of court. Picture: Darrian Traynor

According to Cleaver’s claim, Kelly asked who the “old bird” was in a Dardi Munwurro meeting before stating the “dumb old bitch was really angry but I got her to come around”.

Dardi Munwurro has since terminated its partnership with Collingwood.

Court documents also assert Kelly made comments during a staff meeting about a cultural room.

“Mr Kelly picked up a marngrook (a ball made of possum hair used by Indigenous peoples in Victoria) that was on the desk and said ‘I don’t give a f*** what you put in there, put this shit in there’ and forcefully threw the marngrook at Mr Cleaver,” court documents allege.

“The marngrook hit Mr Cleaver, which humiliated them and caused them pain because of the paraesthesia caused by their multiple sclerosis.

“Mr Kelly continued talking and said ‘I don’t give a f*** if you put a live f***ing possum in there, just get (president) Jeff (Browne) and (Indigenous vice-president) Jodie (Sizer) off my arse’.”

Cleaver – who identifies as a Palawa person, non-binary and gay – lodged court action in July seeking declarations, compensation and penalties.

But in its response, Collingwood opposed all bids and asked for the case to be dismissed, stating Cleaver’s claim included allegations of fact and law that were “objectionable, irrelevant, vague, embarrassing and liable to be struck out”.

“The (club) denies that it has engaged in any contraventions alleged in the claim or that it is liable for any of the loss and damage alleged,” Collingwood’s response stated.

The case will be set down for mediation after October 9.

If it can’t be resolved, it will be listed before Judge Karl Blake for case management.

Cleaver had been hired by Collingwood in late 2023 as part of its commitments following the secret “Do Better” report that found “systematic racism” within the club.

The report was kept under wraps by the board of former president Eddie McGuire, who resigned amid the scandal.