Player Sues Club For Not Picking Him

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday November 16, 2004

Brad Walter

In a case with ramifications for all professional sporting codes in Australia, former AFL defender Matthew Croft is suing the Western Bulldogs for not playing him in their top team.

Croft argues that the club encouraged him to sign a one-year performance-based contract at the start of the 2004 season on the understanding that he would be selected on merit, but continually overlooked him when it adopted a youth policy. Fearing the potential chaos should Croft be successful, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou yesterday pledged legal and financial assistance for the Bulldogs to fight the case.

Demetriou said the fundamental right of coaches and match committees to select their teams was under threat and the AFL would, if necessary, join in the fight.

The NRL is also monitoring the case. "It sounds highly unusual and we will keep an eye on it," NRL chief executive David Gallop said.

At the heart of the case is the decision by the struggling Bulldogs to promote youth ahead of veterans such as 31-year-old Croft and Simon Garlick after their finals hopes were dashed in a bid to give younger players experience. Former Bulldogs coach Peter Rohde said he adopted the selection policy mid-year but only as other coaches and clubs have done in the past when a season is lost. Croft is arguing that he was unfairly denied the right to play at league level, as he had been promised, and was left out of pocket up to $30,000.

"Ultimately match committees are there, and coaches are there, to pick and choose players," Demetriou said. "It has always been the case and it should always be. Whilst most players feel aggrieved when they get dropped or don't get picked, you can understand their disappointment, but seeking litigation is not the way we would prefer. Matthew has his right as an individual to pursue this but the AFL will be standing side by side with the Bulldogs, make no mistake."