Melbourne Demons board dispute: WorkSafe Victoria launches probe as Simon Goodwin hires top lawyer over drug claims

As Worksafe Victoria launches its own probe, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has engaged Sydney lawyer Rebekah Giles after court documents revealed the extent of shock allegations.

The Melbourne board dispute rolls on.

WorkSafe Victoria has launched a probe into the Melbourne Football Club’s boardroom dispute as court documents reveal claims coach Simon Goodwin was abusing drugs.

Investigators visited the club two weeks ago seeking access to papers in a twist to the saga surrounding the sudden departure of former Demons president Glen Bartlett in April 2021.

A WorkSafe spokeswoman said: “WorkSafe has received a complaint relating to an alleged contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and is investigating the matters raised.”

Goodwin has repeatedly denied having any behavioural issues and engaged top Sydney defamation litigator Rebekah Giles, who has acted for Brittany Higgins and former attorney-general Christian Porter.

It follows the release of documents by the Supreme Court of Western Australia detailing fresh claims in the legal standoff between Bartlett and four Melbourne directors.

A hearing in the dispute is scheduled in Perth on Tuesday (August 15).

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has repeatedly denied any behavioural issues. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

In the most explosive claim, Bartlett’s fiancee Vicki Laspas states that the former Dees boss was “dealing with information provided to him concerning Goodwin’s alleged drug use and gambling … among other issues … in about late 2020 and early 2021”.

Bartlett was forced out during the club’s 2021 premiership season after a major disagreement between Demons officials over Goodwin’s alleged conduct.

His exit came just months after the departure of long-time club doctor Zeeshan Arain.

In a sworn affidavit, Laspas says: “Glen told me that as a president, an OH&S lawyer and a parent, he believed that he and the MFC board had an obligation to ensure the welfare and safety of Mr Goodwin, players and staff”.

Laspas details one incident at the VIP September Club at the MCG after the 2019 AFL grand final where “Mr Goodwin stumbled into us outside” a marquee.

“Mr Goodwin was arm in arm with a woman … who was not his wife … and with another couple I did not know, incoherent and appeared to me to be affected by either alcohol or some other substance,” she alleges.

She details another conversation with Melbourne football boss Alan Richardson at the Kooyong Tennis Club in February 2021 where Richardson allegedly said - “unsolicited” - that “the senior coach was causing him serious headaches in relation to his off-field behaviour that was out of control on an interstate trip”.

According to Laspas, Richardson said that “the problem with the senior coach was that he was not that intelligent” and “felt intimidated by very intelligent people”.

“With footy people you need to sort of come at things from a kumbaya approach because they just don’t get it,” Richardson is alleged to have said.

Goodwin has engaged top Sydney lawyer Rebekah Giles, who has acted for former attorney-general Christian Porter. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Adam Yip

Before Bartlett’s removal, Laspas says “the MFC board was working well together and had set up a sub-committee to assist Mr Goodwin with his personal and professional issues”.

“I know this because whilst we were in quarantine in Western Australia, Glen was chairing the March board meeting in our dining/kitchen area and I heard the directors discussing things in relation to the senior coach’s behaviour and they discussed the option of sacking him,” she says.

“I recall Glen saying words to the effect that he would not support such a thing and said he believed that Mr Goodwin would be MFC’s next premiership coach, subject to him behaving”.

In a comment not explicitly in relation to Goodwin, she said: “Glen was always respectful to everyone, he was totally committed and not prepared to just sweep issues under the table regarding cocaine use or gambling no matter how senior or powerful the person was …”

Glen Bartlett hugs Christian Petracca in 2018. Picture: Michael Klein

Laspas also details an alleged telephone exchange with current Melbourne president Kate Roffey in March 2021 in which Roffey declared: “Look Vicki to be honest, most of the men on our board are misogynist … I think the whole footy department has a misogynist culture issue”.

She claims Roffey made “threats” about being unable to protect Bartlett from “my ABC colleagues” and allegedly claimed that as a woman “the AFL could not touch her”.

“You saw what happened to Eddie (McGuire after the ‘Do Better’ report),” Roffey is alleged to have said.

“You know that Eddie is not racist, you know that the Collingwood board isn’t racist, that investigation report was a total set up … done by the media and (Collingwood) board and if Glen isn’t careful well … I won’t be able to protect him from my ABC colleagues or other board members …”

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

Melbourne said in a statement: “The Melbourne Football Club is aware, through WorkSafe Victoria, that Victoria Laspas has made a complaint about the MFC. At no point has Victoria Laspas been a volunteer or employee of the club.

“Victoria Laspas is the partner of ex-president Glen Bartlett who ceased as a board member of the club in 2021.

“The club has responded to WorkSafe’s requests for documentation regarding club policies, staff training, employee induction and procedures. It rejects any wrongdoing.

“The club has also provided WorkSafe Victoria with documents and proof that contradict and refute claims by Victoria Laspas.

“Over the last two years, Glen Bartlett and his partner Victoria Laspas have continued to make allegations about historical events that are factually incorrect and baseless.

“The Melbourne Football Club is very proud of its culture. Its workplace policies, staff training programs, and employee inductions are highly regarded in the industry.

“The club is focused on the wellbeing and ambition of the club, its players and members. The board has every confidence in the leadership of the club. To confirm, the board of the Melbourne Football Club refute the claims made by Victoria Laspas.”

Bartlett is suing Roffey and three other Dees directors – David Robb, Steve Morris and David Rennick - alleging misleading and deceptive conduct and defamation, claims which the club says are “baseless” and will be “vigorously” defended.

Bartlett’s lawyers commenced new proceedings in the Federal Court in June after lawyers for the four Melbourne board members were successful in an application to have the case moved from the WA Supreme Court to the Victorian Supreme Court.

The AFL said it had been notified of the WorkSafe probe.

Originally published as Melbourne Demons board dispute: WorkSafe Victoria launches probe as Simon Goodwin hires top lawyer over drug claims