Ben Holland launches a Supreme Court
writ against Richmond and former Tigers' president Clinton Casey over alleged unpaid payments totalling over $500,000 based on a three-year contract he signed with Richmond in 2001.
Holland claims he gave up a lucrative offer to join the Crows to stay with the Tigers who offered a deal worth half a million dollars less, but who had then promised him other incentives such as land, property, shares and employment opportunities.
Holland says the promised incentives were never fulfilled by Richmond and is now suing them for the difference between the contract he gave up with the Crows and that which he signed with the Tigers.
Tigers CEO Steven Wright says he is surprised that Holland has raised this issue after believing the matter had long been settled.
"We were surprised to hear about this recently, we thought the matter had gone away a long time ago," Wright said.
"All persons involved in the discussions that Ben refers to are no longer with the club and as such we have engaged our lawyers to provide us with advice in conducting an investigation into the matters raised by Ben."
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou also says the issue had been raised in the past with the league deciding at the time that no action was necessary.
"I had a meeting with Ben Holland and Mark Brayshaw who was the then CEO about this matter back when I was general manager of football operations and when they left my office I thought this was a dead issue,'' Demetriou said.
Demetriou, however, confirms that if Holland's allegations are true, the Tigers would be guilty of breaching the salary cap.
Holland later says that his lawsuit against the Richmond Football Club and its former president Clinton Casey is more about principle than money.
"They have enticed me to stay by dangling a carrot and they haven't delivered the goods," Holland said.
"People made promises and representations. I know for a fact I am not the only one out there that it has happened to. I have had calls from other players. Clubs have to be more accountable for what they say to entice players to stay.
"It is not really against the Richmond Football Club. It is about the representations they made through Clinton Casey. I am still very fond of the footy club. I just want to hold them accountable for what they say."