The text message from Gary Pert that exposes hole in Melbourne’s Glen Bartlett story
Melbourne has portrayed Glen Bartlett as a troublemaker who unfairly hounded Simon Goodwin. But a text from the CEO exposes holes in the club’s narrative. SEE THE MESSAGE
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If Melbourne’s strategy in its war with former president Glen Bartlett is to portray him as a troublemaker who unfairly hounded coach Simon Goodwin, the facts aren’t proving very helpful.
Take this text message sent by Demons chief executive Gary Pert to Bartlett on the morning of the club’s drought-breaking premiership triumph in September 2021 – six months after his removal – as an example.
“Hi Glen – I know I will see you at the game but I just wanted to say I hope you watch today with real pride,” Pert’s 9:26am SMS reads.
“Forget the shit in the media which I find so disappointing. You wrested this Club back up onto its feet. You and I know there will always be people rushing to the front of the line to take the limelight when success happens.
“You made the tough calls and took the hits when no one else was prepared to do that. Now the spotlight is on people are appearing from everywhere. Many who have done very little to actually drive our performance.
“In tough times you did what a leader needed to do. That is rarely popular because you are creating change. I hope you feel proud of your leadership and impact on the club throughout your time as president. See you at the game – Perty.”
Hardly the sort of words one would fire off to a man Melbourne now insists was forced out for rocking the boat.
How does that even correlate with the club’s narrative since the boardroom dispute first came to light?
If Bartlett’s contribution to the flag was so praise-worthy, why did they get rid of him?
In truth, very little adds up when it comes to Melbourne’s version of events surrounding Bartlett’s sudden departure at the end of a tumultuous 2021 pre-season.
According to their latest story, the Demons board had no option but to remove Bartlett because of his relentless pursuit of the coach.
“Simon talks openly that this was one of the toughest times in his life as a leader … he was trying to coach the team while at the same time he felt then-president Glen Bartlett was using the unsubstantiated rumours to target him as a way to terminate his contract,” the club declared last week in a statement.
Apparently Pert had “thoroughly investigated” the rumours, including that Goodwin was drinking with players at the Sorrento Hotel, by following up “directly with individuals who were sharing” them.
“All of those spoken to by Gary indicated they had no proof of any of the claims they were making,” the statement said.
One wonders if Pert took his Inspector Clouseau magnifying glass to the Sorrento Hotel or just made all of his inquiries by phone.
How many nights did he stay at the pub before getting to the bottom of it?
It was a statement that ignored other allegations surrounding the club’s culture and Goodwin’s own behaviour at the time.
There was the abusive tirade directed at club doctor Zeeshan Arain after the medico advised that Angus Brayshaw required further rest after suffering another concussion – as well as Dr Arain’s subsequent six-figure payout after hitting the Demons with an unfair dismissal claim – and the AFL’s own information about Goodwin’s drinking and gambling at the Sorrento Hotel.
“I know for a fact your coach is out drinking with players at the Sorrento pub – are you crazy? That doesn’t work,” then-AFL boss Gillon McLachlan told Bartlett and then-Demons vice-president Mohan Jesudason at a crisis meeting in early February 2021.
“There are two things here, one about his (Goodwin’s) health and wellbeing and then a broader reputational issue including his ability to do his job …,” McLachlan said.
Then there are the minutes of the March 11, 2021 Melbourne board meeting which clearly show Bartlett was no lone wolf as the club embarked on “scenario planning” for Goodwin’s possible departure from the club – where director David Robb even complained that the coach shouldn’t have been given “that extra year” on his contract.
What is now clear is that Melbourne botched its assassination of Bartlett, triggering a bitter legal stoush that threatens to devour them all.
The league, too, is not without blame.
For an organisation that bangs on about good corporate governance, it was a typical AFL way of dealing with a problem – chop off Bartlett’s head and hope he stays silent.
And given their involvement in the February crisis meeting, it’s implausible to think that the Demons directors acted without a nod and wink from head office.
If they could have their time again, surely the orchestrators of the coup would have handled it better?
“Glen, we think your position has become untenable. Let’s discuss an exit strategy that works for all of us”, is the way it should have gone.
Instead we got smoke and mirrors, claim and counterclaim, lingering tension and unresolved litigation.
It’s time for the Demons to find an adult in the room to step in and fix this.
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