September 13th 2024.
A professional Australian Football League (AFL) club is facing a difficult legal battle as they appeal against a multi-million dollar payout to a survivor of child sexual abuse. The survivor, Adam Kneale, bravely came forward to take legal action against the club, previously known as Footscray, after suffering years of abuse at the hands of a fundraising volunteer named Graeme Hobbs between 1984 and 1990.
In 2023, a jury found the club to be negligent and awarded Kneale a record-breaking sum of $5.9 million in damages, the highest amount ever given to a survivor of abuse in Australia. This case was also the first of its kind against an AFL club, making it a significant moment in the history of the sport.
As the club prepares to appeal the decision in court, news of a second claim against them has emerged. This development has added to the already tense atmosphere surrounding the case, with the appeal set to be heard today. Kneale's lawyer, Michael Magazanik, has expressed his clients' determination to see this through to the end, despite the long and difficult road they have already faced.
Magazanik has also made a plea for any information regarding Hobbs, the perpetrator of the abuse. Hobbs admitted to sexually abusing Kneale and served only a short time in jail before passing away in 2009. Magazanik believes that there may be other victims of Hobbs who were involved with the Western Bulldogs during his time as a fundraising volunteer, and he is urging anyone with information to come forward.
The Western Bulldogs have been contacted for comment, but in a statement to News Corp Australia, the club has stated that they intend to defend the matter. They have also made it clear that they take any allegations of this nature very seriously and are committed to supporting all those involved.
Hobbs was known to be a volunteer at the Footscray Football Club, where he trained the under-19s and was heavily involved in fundraising efforts. He first abused Kneale when he was just 11 or 12 years old, after being introduced to him through a schoolmate. As Kneale got older, the abuse continued, and Hobbs revealed more about his twisted activities, including gatherings at farmhouses and "swap meets" where pedophiles would bring their "best boys" to be abused by different individuals.
For those who have been affected by sexual abuse, support is available through organizations such as 1800 RESPECT and the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service. The brave actions of survivors like Kneale serve as a reminder that it is never too late to seek justice and bring awareness to these important issues.
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