The author of an explosive report into allegations of racism at the Hawthorn Football Club has faced court for the first time after Victoria’s fraud squad announced he would be charged with more than 70 criminal charges.
Former Richmond Tigers player Phil Egan, 60, appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday for a filing hearing over allegations he stole from an Indigenous organisation between 2010 and 2015.
Mr Egan, who has previously denied any wrongdoing, appeared relaxed and calm as he sat chatting with his legal team in the body of the court before the case was called.
Last week, Victoria Police announced Mr Egan had been charged with 73 offences, including obtaining financial advantage by deception, using false documents, and receiving secret commissions.
The charges relate to his time as the chief executive of the Murray Valley Aboriginal Collective – a not-for-profit organisation that provides a range of programs committed to improving health and welfare of Aboriginal people in Robinvale.
According to documents released by the court, police allege Mr Egan “secretly gained” almost $780,000 from the organisation through fraudulent invoices submitted to the Collective, on top and above the $823,000 he was paid.
An investigation was first launched in 2018 after the new chief executive Paul O’Neill filed a complaint alleging financial losses sustained from previous staff and contractors.
It’s alleged Mr Egan and others used their positions at the Murray Valley Aboriginal Collective to obtain financial advantage that they were not entitled to.
He worked as the non-profit’s chief executive from 2010 to 2012 and was later contracted to provide services as an executive consultant from 2012 to 2014, the court documents allege.
Mr Egan, who played 125 games for Richmond from 1982 to 1990, was first arrested as part of a fraud investigation in February, with police laying charges on August 3.
In court, his lawyer from Doogue and George, said the case against his client had “significant complexity” with a number of moving parts.
He said it was possible the allegations could change significantly before the case made it to trial.
Mr Egan authored a damning external review of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s experiences with the Hawks, after former premiership star Cyril Rioli went public with allegations of racism at the AFL powerhouse.
Mr Egan was granted bail on his own undertaking to return to court for a committal mention on October 30.
