Essendon’s disastrous week took another rough turn on Thursday evening after agreeing to a pricey wrongful dismissal settlement with former fitness boss Dean Robinson.
Robinson reached a $1 million deal with the Dons after being stood down by the club in February last year on the same day team officials came clean about the use of banned supplements during the 2012 season.
“The Weapon” as he was affectionately referred to by commentator Brian Taylor during his final full season with the club in 2012, was initially seeking as much as $2 million until the agreement was brokered ahead of an expected three to four week trial scheduled for November 10.
Robinson claimed he was the only Essendon employee not given the opportunity to defend himself in the wake of last year’s doping allegations and was seeking damages for a ruined reputation which has left the former steer wrestler and rodeo clown out of work. Representation for Robinson had previously said the fallout had left his client suffering significant bouts of depression.
Robinson was reportedly paid around $320,000 a season with the Bombers and was allegedly responsible for the hiring of Stephen Dank, the mastermind behind the club’s supplement program.
After officially stepping down in August last year, Robinson appeared in a Channel 7 interview where he revealed insights into James Hird’s leadership at Essendon.
“Everything was whatever it takes, and I guess that was the slogan they went with this year,” he said. “Whatever it takes, because that was James Hird’s attitude,” he continued, adding that he believed Hird stepping down was the honourable thing to do.
Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
