Melbourne’s off-field woes proceed, with former president Glen Bartlett saying he tried to free the AFL membership of office bullying, playing, harassment and unlawful medication.
Bartlett has additionally accused unnamed events of subjecting himself and his accomplice to threats and a public marketing campaign to discredit them since March final yr.
The bombshell growth is the primary time in months that Bartlett has commented publicly about issues at Melbourne.
Stories have emerged since earlier this yr about off-field issues on the Demons through the 2020-21 summer time, when coach Simon Goodwin was underneath rising strain.
Bartlett resigned immediately as president in April final yr after serving within the position since 2014, with Kate Roffey taking on.
He mentioned on the time he was “totally cooked” and Bartlett then resigned from the Melbourne board in November final yr.
In the assertion, launched on Thursday, Bartlett says: “The resolution to step down once I did was mine.
“I did so to make sure minimal distraction, after a really promising and certainly historic begin to the season.
“As president, a office/OHS lawyer, and a father or mother, I used to be not prepared to compromise on basic values, the legislation and anticipated requirements of behaviour.
“I consider that my strategy and the elevating of those points resulted in a marketing campaign in opposition to me from varied quarters
“Since March 2021, we (he and his partner) have been subjected to threats, deceitful conduct, and a public campaign to discredit us professionally and personally.”
Bartlett added that in his time as president, he “was doing everything possible to have a club free of workplace bullying; gambling; harassment and illegal drugs.”
When Bartlett resigned from the presidency, the Demons had made a 4-0 begin to final season and they might go on to win the premiership, breaking a 57-year drought.
But after beginning their flag defence with a 10-game successful streak, Melbourne have misplaced their final three matches.
Apart from the continuing media tales about Melbourne’s off-field previous, fullback Stephen May was suspended for a recreation final week after a battle at a neighborhood restaurant with teammate Jake Melksham.
Captain Max Gawn can also be out for a number of weeks with an ankle harm.
The Demons declined to remark about Bartlett’s assertion.
© AAP
