Port Adelaide great Warren Tredrea is suing Channel 9.
The AFL Hall of Fame inductee has launched legal action in the Federal Court over the infamous vaccination saga that ultimately ended with his axing.
The 43-year-old suddenly took leave from his position as the sports presenter for 9News in Adelaide in December without any explanation given.
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After taking leave for several weeks it was announced in January Tredrea had parted ways with the broadcaster after a partnership that stretched more than 10 years.
Court documents, obtained by News Corp, show Tredrea claims he was banned from the studios and forced out of his job.
Channel 9 had introduced a double vaccination mandate for everyone on all its sites nationally in the days leading up to his decision to step down and take indefinite leave.
Nine announced a company-wide decision that all employees must provide a digital certificate to prove their vaccination status.
Tredrea, a four-time All-Australian who played all 255 games of his AFL career for the Power including captaining the side’s 2004 premiership team, previously described himself as “pro-choice” when it comes to the Covid vaccinations.
The Adelaide Advertiser reported the court documents show Tredrea was halfway through a two year, $192,500-per-year contract.
The report details the legal dispute settles around Tredrea’s claim Nine had no grounds to terminate his contract.
As reported by News Corp, it was a condition of his contact that Tredrea comply with “all reasonable directions” of Nine.
Tredrea is arguing his violation of the company’s mandatory vaccination policy was “not reasonable” grounds for his contract to be terminated.
The dispute is set to be a high-profile test case of legal claims being made by unvaccinated people following employment terminations.
Tredrea had been working for Nine Adelaide since 2013 and had also been a regular guest and expert commentator on radio station FIVEaa for the AFL season.
Speaking on the radio station earlier this year, Tredrea shared that he believed in was an individual’s right to make their own choice.
“No I’m not, I’m fully vaccinated … but I’m not Covid vaccinated,” he said in September. “Everyone is entitled to what they want to do because it’s your body.”
When speaking about the double vaccination mandate for AFL players, he also said: “It’s everyone’s individual situation and choice. So if a player doesn’t want to do it, that’s fine, that’s their decision. You shouldn’t be able to lose your employment.”
Tredrea also labelled the vaccine as “discriminatory” as certain religious and age groups can’t get the vaccine and said that it should be “a confidential right” and that people should be able to “make your own choice and do your own homework.”
He is now demanding the full value of the outstanding amount left on his two year deal — $176,458.32 plus GST — and the lost opportunity to renew his agreement later this year.
