City of Marion expels Adelaide AFL team from sportsgrounds over 'inappropriate behaviour'

A local Australian rules club in Adelaide has been evicted from its clubrooms after an independent investigation found a culture of "inappropriate and intimidating behaviour" from some members and associates of the club.

A two-month independent investigation launched by the City of Marion into The Cove Football Club revealed complaints that some female netball players that share the same Council-owned sportsground in Hallett Cove felt they were being sexually harassed.

As reported by the ABC, the Council investigation found some of the other sporting clubs were not using The Cove Community and Sports Club's grounds because they felt unwelcome.

The Council made the decision to cancel the Australian rules football club's tenancy in a confidential meeting last night.

City of Marion acting Chief Executive Fiona Harvey said the Council was left with no choice other than to evict the club due to the severity of the allegations, advising that the “Council concluded that the allegations appear to involve a culture of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour from some senior players and members.

“(We have now) made the decision to cancel the tenancy and send a strong message that it will not condone this type of extreme behaviour in its community facilities."

The Cove Football Club co-President Tony Kernahan said there was an enormous amount of anger from members about the decision and it was looking at challenging the decision to evict it.

Kernahan stated "I'm absolutely gutted with that decision, I'm also gutted for the large number of families and kids that this will affect in the Hallett Cove region.”

He explained that the club, which has 400 members, would have to close after operating for 37 years if it could not find a new base, telling the ABC “if they remove us and there is no ground for us to relocate to, the football club will be forced to close, which is an unbelievable drastic step.”

Kernahan said he did not think the decision was fair and it was not given much opportunity to respond to the allegations, adding “at this stage I don't have anything formal in writing in regards to those instances, but I'm not saying that it did or didn't happen - I need the details of those allegations when and where before I can make comment.

"There's no names, there's no evidence presented before me to be able to act, which makes it extremely difficult to act or take action against."

The Cub said it asked the Council for further details but said it was told because the allegations were brought up in an independent investigation it would not be provided those details.

The two-month investigation, conducted by EMA Consulting, involved interviewing multiple witnesses.

The final investigation outlined complaints of intimidating conduct, inappropriate behaviour and disrespectful language by numerous club members and associates, which had resulted in other sporting clubs not using the facility because they felt unwelcome or unsafe.

The Cove Sports and Community Club serves more than 1,500 players and members of the local community from six sporting clubs.

In a statement, the SANFL said it was seeking further advice on the matter and would work to better understand the rationale behind the decision.

It advised “while (the) SANFL has not been made aware of the specific allegations surrounding the decision by the Council, we express our disappointment in a decision that will have a far-reaching impact on the 438 registered members and the wider community.

"More than 70% of the club's participants are aged between five and 14 and, therefore, such a decision will have a resounding impact on these families.

"(We) will explore every available avenue to ensure participants can continue to play at their local football club."

The Cove Football Club is not associated with The Cove FC which competes in Football Federation South Australia afflitiated competitions.

Lower image: The Cove Football Club shares The Cove Sports and Community Club with five other clubs. (Courtesy of the City of Marion).