AFL 2023: Former Melbourne president Glen Bartlett launches fresh legal action after reaching settlement with The Age

Just weeks after reaching a settlement with The Age, former Melbourne president Glen Bartlett has launched fresh legal action against Kate Roffey and the Demons board.

Former Melbourne president Glen Bartlett has launched fresh legal action against four Demons board members, including current club boss Kate Roffey.

Bartlett’s lawyers commenced proceedings in the Federal Court this week alleging misleading and deceptive conduct and defamation, claims which the club says are “baseless” and will be “vigorously” defended.

It comes just weeks after the The Age newspaper and its owner, Nine Entertainment, reached an out-of-court settlement with Bartlett over a defamation action he brought against senior football journalists Jake Niall and Caroline Wilson.

Both cases surround Bartlett’s sudden and murky exit as Melbourne president during a 2021 season that would see the club go on to win a drought-breaking premiership under coach Simon Goodwin.

Bartlett has declared his satisfaction with the Nine settlement but is yet to resolve the more damaging legal stoush with Roffey and three other Dees directors – Steve Morris, David Robb and David Rennick.

Simon Goodwin and former Demons President Glen Bartlett in 2017. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media

“I’m very, very happy with the (Nine) settlement. The terms are confidential and I can’t say any more than that,” Bartlett said.

A Nine spokesperson said: “We are very happy with the settlement.”

According to a recent report in the Perth media, Bartlett and his lawyers were seen kicking up their heels at a fancy restaurant in the hours after the Nine mediation.

It was alleged Bartlett was on the brink of a $15-20 million business deal which fell over when The Age articles were written.

The focus now turns to Bartlett’s standoff with Roffey and her co-directors.

In January, lawyers for the four Melbourne board members were successful in an application to have the case moved from Western Australia to the Victorian Supreme Court, but the Bartlett legal team changed tact and have launched new proceedings in the Federal Court – expanding his defamation claim to include misleading and deceptive conduct.

Other senior football figures could yet be sued.

Bartlett departed Melbourne in 2021. Picture: Trevor Collens

Current Melbourne president Kate Roffey. Picture: David Caird

A Melbourne spokesperson said: “Melbourne Football Club have been advised that proceedings have been issued in the Federal Court by former president, Glen Bartlett, against four current directors of the club.

“A few months ago, Mr Bartlett discontinued proceedings he had commenced in the WA Supreme Court last year against the same four directors, and the court ordered him to pay our directors’ costs of that action.

“It is, therefore, disappointing that he has now sought to re-issue proceedings having discontinued his previous claim. The four directors intend to vigorously defend the further claim, as these allegations are baseless. 

“As this matter is now before the courts, the Melbourne Football Club will not be making further comment at this time.”

A group of influential Melbourne supporters are closely monitoring the Bartlett proceedings.

Bartlett’s sudden departure came amid a major disagreement between senior club officials regarding concerns about alleged bullying and behavioural issues involving Goodwin.

Goodwin has repeatedly denied having any behavioural issues.

Bartlett alleges the four Demons directors defamed him in a board statement published in June last year.

He also alleges that Roffey defamed him in newspaper articles in September 2021 and in an extended interview on 3AW radio last year.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Former Melbourne president Glen Bartlett launches fresh legal action after reaching settlement with The Age