Former Melbourne Football Club president Glen Bartlett has called for a comprehensive review of the Australian Football League’s handling of off-field integrity issues, citing a culture of concealment that has caused harm to individuals involved.
Bartlett, who led the Demons between 2013 and 2021, argued that the league’s practices around integrity matters require significant reform. He contended that the AFL’s traditional emphasis on deal-making, effective in commercial negotiations, has been inadequate when applied to sensitive areas such as occupational health and safety and illicit drug use. “Deals don’t work in the integrity space,” Bartlett stated during an interview on a sports-focused podcast. He urged for thorough and independent investigations rather than efforts to protect the league’s image at the expense of transparency. “Cover-ups or things being swept under the carpet end up being a bigger problem and people probably get more hurt by that,” he said.
Bartlett specifically called on newly appointed AFL commission chairman Craig Drummond to spearhead a long-overdue overhaul of the league’s integrity frameworks. He acknowledged that some efforts to shield star players from scrutiny have led to collateral damage, as illustrated by an incident where an innocent player was wrongly identified to protect a more prominent teammate involved in inappropriate late-night activities.
The AFL has faced multiple high-profile integrity controversies in recent seasons, including the investigation into Luke Sayers’ conduct, a flawed inquiry into racism allegations at Hawthorn, and a recent Geelong concussion waiver controversy. These events have drawn considerable criticism of the league’s processes and transparency.
Bartlett’s tenure as Melbourne president followed a tumultuous period marked by the club’s “tanking” scandal. He worked closely with chief executive Peter Jackson and coach Paul Roos to restore the club’s reputation and competitiveness, culminating in the Demons’ premiership victory in 2021. Despite enjoying a collaborative relationship with former AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou, Bartlett’s presidency ended abruptly in April 2021 amid a disputed boardroom challenge that led to his replacement by Kate Roffey.
In the aftermath, Bartlett engaged in protracted legal disputes with both Melbourne and the AFL over the circumstances of his departure. The parties reached an out-of-court settlement in November 2024, the terms of which remain confidential.
Reflecting on internal dynamics, Bartlett expressed disappointment with the leadership style of former AFL commission chairman Richard Goyder and former CEO Gillon McLachlan, describing McLachlan primarily as a deal-maker focused on commercial matters such as broadcasting rights and expansion efforts. Bartlett suggested that these priorities detracted from attention to cultural and integrity issues within the league.
He also revealed that McLachlan had intervened to deter him and his wife from entering the field during Melbourne’s 2021 premiership celebrations, a move Bartlett ignored.
On personnel matters within Melbourne, Bartlett noted that Gary Pert’s appointment as club CEO in 2018 came with a strong recommendation from McLachlan, highlighting the AFL’s financial influence over club decisions.
Bartlett’s last contact with premiership coach Simon Goodwin was at the club’s celebratory event following the 2021 grand final, underscoring his support for Goodwin’s leadership despite the challenges faced internally.
Bartlett’s comments come amid growing calls for greater accountability in the AFL’s governance and integrity management as the league seeks to rebuild trust with players, clubs, and supporters.