Essendon doctor Bruce Reid claims the AFL is biased and conflicted and cannot provide a fair hearing into allegations he helped establish an illegal supplements program.
Dr Reid has launched Victorian Supreme Court action in a bid to have a recently retired judge and not the AFL decide if he has brought the game into disrepute.
In documents filed with the court on Monday, he has sought an injunction preventing the AFL from further prosecuting any charge against him until it is referred to an independent body.
Dr Reid claims the AFL is conflicted after reaching settlements with other Essendon officials including coach James Hird.
He argues the AFL has already “committed itself” to factual findings based on these settlements.
“We believe that in such an instance, a finding in favour of Dr Reid in respect of the charge would be embarrassing to the AFL,” the document reads.
Dr Reid also claims the AFL commission cannot hear the charge in an unbiased manner, based on several comments made at a commission meeting.
He relies upon one comment from AFL commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick who allegedly described the supplement scandal as “probably the worst thing that has happened in a footy club”.
The AFL charged Dr Reid and other Essendon officials with bringing the game into disrepute over the supplements scandal which saw players subjected to injections.
Three other Bombers officials – Hird, assistant Mark Thompson and football manager Danny Corcoran – accepted AFL penalties on Tuesday night over the saga, as did the club, leaving Reid as the sole Essendon representative fighting on.
Dr Reid’s case will be heard by a Supreme Court judge on Thursday.
If granted a hearing before an independent body Dr Reid will argue to have the charge struck out on the basis that it’s an abuse of process.
Dr Reid, the AFL’s longest serving senior club doctor, argues the accusation should be heard by the retired judge because a case involving a medical professional’s reputation fits in a special category.
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