Western Bulldogs set to face second legal claim over historical sexual abuse

The Western Bulldogs are facing a second potentially devastating legal action over alleged abuse by a convicted pedophile who volunteered at the club in the 1980s, reports MARK ROBINSON.

The Western Bulldogs are facing legal action over alleged historic sexual abuse.

The Western Bulldogs are facing a second potentially devastating legal action over alleged abuse by a convicted pedophile who volunteered at the club.

The alleged victim, now 51, claims he was abused by child predator Graeme Hobbs in 1987 after meeting him at Whitten Oval.

Hobbs’ first victim, Adam Kneale, was awarded $5.9 million in November 2023, after the club stalwart had admitted abusing him, was jailed and the Bulldogs were found negligent in protecting him from harm.

The landmark judgement was hailed as an “earthquake” in Australia’s legal system, with the sum dwarfing previous compensation payouts to abuse survivors.

It was also the first successful claim against an AFL club.

Kneale was aged 11 when the “jack of all trades” Hobbs first raped him at the ground in 1984.

Adam Kneale was awarded $5.9m after suing the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Josie Hayden

Adam Kneale as a child. Picture: Supplied

The Western Bulldogs have challenged the negligence verdict in the Kneale case, with the hearing scheduled to start in the Court of Appeal on Friday.

But a second alleged victim – a schoolmate of Kneale – has now claimed in Supreme Court documents he too was befriended and abused by Hobbs at the club and off-site.

He alleged Hobbs twice took him, when he was 14, from the club to an Essendon house where he was abused.

On one occasion, he alleged he was forced to watch Hobbs molest Kneale, while another time he claimed he was asked to strip naked and Hobbs tried to rape him.

Hobbs, who is now dead, was a club volunteer, fundraiser and under 19s training staff member.

Rightside Legal partner Michael Magazanik, who represents Kneale and the alleged second victim, said both abuse survivors were committed to holding the club to account.

“Both of my clients have lived with their shocking consequences of their abuse for decades,’’ Mr Magazanik said.

“It has caused mental illness, torment and suffering. Hobbs and his pedophile friends were convicted and jailed but that doesn’t give their victims their lives back.

Whitten Oval in February 2020.

“That’s why both my clients want justice from the Western Bulldogs and it’s why the jury (in the first case), six Victorians chosen at random, thought justice was required.’’

Mr Magazanik said the Bulldogs’ appeal had ‘’prolonged the torment of the survivor’’.

“That’s why the second survivor will have to take the club to another trial,’’ he said.

“The Bulldogs’ decision to deny any legal responsibility for these men who were abused at their ground, means we have renewed our search for other victims of Hobbs, and people who may know something about Hobbs’ offending at the Western Bulldogs to gather more information for any future trial.’’

Mr Magazanik said that in his experience of litigating sexual abuse claims, appeals against jury verdicts were very rare.

Acting for the Bulldogs in Friday’s appeal is high-profile silk Bret Walker, who successfully represented Cardinal George Pell at his appeal in the High Court in 2019.

A club spokesperson said: “The Western Bulldogs can confirm that a statement of claim has been issued against the club relating to allegations from the 1980’s.

“The club intends to defend the matter, noting that it treats any allegation of this nature with the utmost seriousness and care for all involved. With the matter concerning Mr Adam Kneale scheduled to be heard in the Court of Appeal this week, the club will not be making any further comment on either matter at this time.”

Originally published as Western Bulldogs set to face second legal claim over historical sexual abuse