Melbourne’s board and the club’s former president, Glen Bartlett, have agreed to end their long-running and disruptive legal dispute.
The club, Bartlett and his partner, Victoria Laspas, announced on Thursday night that a confidential settlement had been reached and that all proceedings had been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.
Melbourne and Glen Bartlett (right) have reached a settlement. Simon Goodwin (left) was also offered an apology. Credit: Getty Images
Bartlett began legal proceedings against members of the Melbourne Football Club board in 2022. His defamation action related to statements made by the club about the end of Bartlett’s tenure as president in April 2021. The legal saga played out in the Western Australian Supreme Court and later the Federal Court.
In Thursday night’s joint statement, Bartlett and the club conceded the “last three years of dispute have been a difficult and stressful time for all and acknowledge that the matter could have been handled differently. All parties are sorry for the hurt that has been caused.”
They also said unrelated allegations of illicit drug use by senior coach Simon Goodwin had been investigated by the club during Bartlett’s tenure as president and were found to be false and have no basis in fact.
“These allegations have caused enormous hurt and pain for Simon and his family for which all parties are deeply sorry. This brings these matters to an end for all time. Simon Goodwin is a highly regarded and respected Demons premiership coach,” the statement read.
The agreement to settle comes a week after Gary Pert stood down as the club’s CEO and months after Kate Roffey’s departure as president.
Bartlett served as Demons’ president from 2013 to 2021, with the board stating it “acknowledges and thanks Glen for the important role he played as President, having overseen the resurgence in the Club’s fortunes”.
The agreement ends the disruptive and unsettling period for the Demons that has marred the years following their drought breaking premiership in 2021.
The joint statement from Melbourne and Glen Bartlett:
The Board of the Melbourne Football Club, Mr Glen Bartlett and Ms Victoria Laspas, are pleased to announce that all proceedings between them have been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. A confidential settlement has been entered into between the parties to avoid the costs of litigation for all.
Individual recollections and perspectives can differ and lead to many feeling aggrieved. The parties recognise that the last three years of dispute have been a difficult and stressful time for all and acknowledge that the matter could have been handled differently. All parties are sorry for the hurt that has been caused.
The Board acknowledges and thanks Glen for the important role he played as President, having overseen the resurgence in the Club’s fortunes. Glen focussed on cultural change including the development of the Club values, now known as “TRUE”, of Trust, Respect, Unity and Excellence which are reflective of values based leadership. Glen is proud of the improvements he introduced to the Club as President.
During the period in which Glen Bartlett was the Club’s President, serious allegations about Simon Goodwin’s use of illicit drugs were passed onto and duly investigated by the Club. It was found that the allegations were false and had no basis in fact. These allegations have caused enormous hurt and pain for Simon and his family for which all parties are deeply sorry. This brings these matters to an end for all time. Simon Goodwin is a highly regarded and respected Demons premiership coach.
The Board and Mr Bartlett agree that focussing on the future of the Club and particularly the welfare of its people is the most important priority.
The Board and Glen look forward to the future including the continued success of the club.
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