Secret documents expose how Melbourne directors plotted to overthrow president Glen Bartlett

Amid serious allegations surrounding the club’s culture and the behaviour of Simon Goodwin, a group of Melbourne board members plotted to overthrow president Glen Bartlett. This is how they executed their plan.

Glen Bartlett was replaced as Melbourne president in 2021. Picture: AFL Media

Secret documents reveal how a group of Melbourne Football Club board members plotted to overthrow president Glen Bartlett at the height of an internal crisis into illicit drug use at the Demons.

Melbourne chiefs had been grappling with serious allegations surrounding the club’s culture and the behaviour of coach Simon Goodwin when the group of directors made the decision to force Bartlett out.

The documents detail 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)”.

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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.”

Glen Bartlett with Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin in 2017. Picture: AFL Media

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

“I cannot believe that you are doing this to me,” a stunned Bartlett told the pair.

Morris explained that it was “the most difficult thing personally that I ever have been involved with”, while Rennick said the group had “agonised” over the decision.

When Morris said the decision was “certainly very tough, very hard”, Bartlett fired back: “You blokes don’t know what tough is. This is disgraceful in terms of our club’s values of unity, trust and respect - you have got the trifecta there, the absolute trifecta … it will do a hell of a lot of damage to the club”.

Bartlett was told if he did not agree to stand down immediately they would call a board meeting to remove him. Bartlett said: “That won’t be happening … this is the craziest thing of all time”.

In an email sent to all board members by Melbourne company secretary David Goldberg later that evening, Goldberg revealed that he had “received a request by (directors) David Rennick and Steve Morris for a board meeting to be convened at 5.30pm tomorrow”.

“Pursuant to Rule 8.2 of the constitution, the board resolves that the office of the president is vacated by Glen Bartlett with immediate effect,” the email says.

But the proposed board meeting did not go ahead because “reasonable notice” as required under the club constitution had not been given.

Kate Roffey stepped up to take over as Melbourne president. Picture: Getty Images

In an email to the full Melbourne board on the afternoon of April 7, Bartlett declared: “I am profoundly saddened and upset by these events. They reflect the pursuit by a few of personal ambition over the best interests of the Melbourne Football Club.

“We are fiduciaries, and we must always act in the best interests of the club.

“The values of our club which include the following are not mere words; they define our culture: the Melbourne Football Club DNA. Trust. Respect. Unity.”

Bartlett announced he was standing down on April 11.

The coup was presented publicly by Melbourne as an orderly “succession plan”, while Bartlett released a statement at the time suggesting he had decided to step down for “personal reasons”.

But the Herald Sun has since revealed that Bartlett’s sudden departure came amid a secret dispute between the president and other senior club figures, including CEO Gary Pert, regarding the management of Goodwin’s behaviour.

In early 2021, the board even considered standing Goodwin down, amid a major investigation.

AFL chiefs Gillon McLachlan and Richard Goyder met with Bartlett and then-vice president Mohan Jesudason in February 2021 to discuss the Goodwin storm.

Minutes from a March 2021 MFC board meeting published by the Herald Sun this week revealed Demons bosses had agreed to start “scenario planning” for Goodwin’s sacking.

The minutes contradict the club’s repeated claims they had no concerns over Goodwin’s conduct at the time.

Gillion McLachlan and Richard Goyder were across the issues at Melbourne. Picture: David Crosling

Plans for the establishment of an illicit drugs “working group” were also discussed at the March board meeting, while club emails reveal Bartlett had been pushing for the introduction of hair testing for senior office holders at the club, including for the coaches.

It followed the sudden sacking of longtime club doctor Zeeshan Arain, who had raised the alarm about Goodwin’s conduct and the club’s culture.

But the group of Melbourne board members opted to change tact and turn their guns on Bartlett, a workplace lawyer who had been hand-picked by the AFL to lead the Demons in 2013.

Goodwin survived and the club went on to win a drought-breaking premiership but fresh incidents involving illicit drugs and player misconduct have come back to haunt the Demons in recent weeks.

WorkSafe Victoria, which has launched a probe into Melbourne’s boardroom dispute, said its “investigation is continuing”.

Bartlett is suing Roffey, Rennick, Morris and fellow board member David Robb in the Federal Court, alleging misleading and deceptive conduct and defamation, claims which the club says are “baseless” and will be “vigorously” defended.

Melbourne declined to comment.