Ex Geelong Cats player and Indigenous elder sues AFL club over alleged gang rape at Aberdeen House
Footy star is suing for alleged gang rape by three older players in a group home
- Former Geelong Cats player is suing club for alleged gang rape
- Ex-player says he was raped in the shower by three former players
- He sues the Cats for failing to protect him from sexual assault
A former Geelong player is suing the AFL club for failing to protect against sexual assault after claiming he was gang raped at a residence maintained by the club.
The former player – who declined to be named – said he was sexually assaulted by three elderly players at the Cats’ rural recruit residence.
The former footballer launched legal action for the historic rape, claiming the club failed to protect him from sexual abuse by a trio of players.
He claims he was only 15 or 16 when the athletes cornered and raped him in the shower at the club’s Aberdeen House in the early 1980s.
A former Geelong Cats player and native elder is suing the AFL club for failing to protect him from sexual assault after alleging he was gang raped in properties maintained by the club while playing for them
He claims he was only 15 or 16 when the athletes cornered and raped him in the shower at the club’s Aberdeen House in the early 1980s (Photo: Aberdeen House)
Aberdeen House was a site that previously housed the Cats’ rural recruits.
The man, now in his late 50s, is a prominent native elder.
He initiated legal action against the Cats in the Supreme Court and is seeking a jury trial.
The former player claims the club owed him a duty of care and was required to take ‘reasonable care for his welfare, safety and supervision’ while he lived in the football house as a minor. Announce sun.
His lawyer Angela Di Carluccio said the man “showed a lot of courage and strength in coming forward about his abuse.”
“He is a proud and respected Indigenous man who has fought hard in his life to overcome his trauma and make a positive contribution to his community,” Ms Di Carluccio said.
The former player claims the club owed him a duty of care and was required to take ‘reasonable care for his welfare, safety and supervision’ while he lived in the football house as a minor.
The former Cat played for the club’s Under 19 side before leaving the club following the alleged attack.
He claims the Cats were “vicariously liable for the abuse” because the three alleged perpetrators were contracted to the club at the time.
Ms Di Carluccio said Geelong Cats had a ‘duty to look after his well-being and safety’.
“There was a mistake in guiding Aberdeen House properly or separating my client from players who were grown men,” she said.
The names of the three players have not been mentioned.
“(Geelong) placed senior players in a position where they had authority, power, trust, control and the ability to achieve intimacy with the plaintiff, giving them the opportunity to abuse (him),” the document accompanying the court has been filed.
“Plaintiff was vulnerable because of his age, family displacement and home disruption.”
The writ served on the club alleges that Geelong FC failed to protect minors from abuse.
The former Cat played for the club’s Under 19 side before leaving the club following the alleged attack. Geelong has not commented on the allegations
This includes not separating minors from adults at Aberdeen House and not supervising the house parent and providing channels to report incidents.
Following the alleged attack, the former Geelong player says he suffered a psychiatric injury that ultimately led to a loss of income and future earning potential, as well as medical expenses.
Aberdeen House recently sold in 2021 and said community members would tell them the cats used to stay at the property and there were a lot of ‘wild parties’.
A spokesman for Geelong Cats said the club could not comment on the matter.