AFL's Collingwood settles discrimination lawsuit with former employee

The AFL’s Collingwood Football Club has reached an out-of-court settlement with a former employee in legal proceedings in a discrimination lawsuit.

Mark Cleaver, the former Head of First Nations strategy at the club, had claimed he was humiliated by Magpies Chief Executive Craig Kelly who allegedly used slurs and made jokes about Indigenous culture in his presence.

In response, the Club defended the allegations and its staff, saying an external review had investigated Cleaver's claims and that no workplace laws had been breached.

On Monday evening, the parties released a joint, two-line statement confirming the case had been settled at mediation.

It read "Mark Cleaver and the Collingwood Football Club announce that the legal proceedings have been resolved.

"It is requested that Mark's privacy be respected and the parties have agreed not to make any further statements."

No details of the settlement were revealed.

Cleaver filed the lawsuit in July, claiming he had suffered "hurt, humiliation and distress" and "economic loss" after the club terminated his employment in May.

In court documents, Cleaver alleged the club breached several laws, including the discrimination acts around race, disability and equal opportunity.

The allegations against Kelly included that he threw a ball at Cleaver, causing him humiliation and pain because of his multiple sclerosis.

Cleaver also claimed Kelly made disparaging comments about Indigenous culture and a female elder.

When the legal claim was lodged, Collingwood insisted its staff had acted lawfully and said it intended to defend the case.

The club said Mr Cleaver's termination was due to conduct unrelated to his complaint.

Image: Collingwood's training base at Melbourne's Olympic Park Oval.