Exclusive: 'They've ruined my life': A former Essendon employee is suing the AFL mega club over a serious back injury caused by 'continually carrying heavy kegs and slabs of beer' at its home venue
- Lee-Anne Beryl Cleland has filed a writ with the Supreme Court of Victoria
- Ms Cleland says she was forced to carry heavy loads of beer and coins for pokies
- Claims management had 'heads in the sand' at height of doping scandal
A former gaming room manager at an AFL club has filed a lawsuit against the club amid claims she was forced to carry huge loads that left her a virtual cripple.
Lee-Anne Beryl Cleland claims the Essendon Football Club ruined her life and tossed her aside after she got injured on the job.
Ms Cleland worked for the club at its Napier Street facility at the home of the Bombers' Windy Hill facility from July 2011 to May 2013.
Greg Cleland and his wife Lee-Anne claim their life has been put through hell by the Essendon Football Club due to a workplace injury that is set to go to court
It was the height of what would become known as the Bombers' doping saga, which ultimately saw the club fined and 34 players suspended for two years.
Ms Cleland, who was 57kgs at the time of her employment, told Daily Mail Australia she had severely injured her back lifting everything from heavy loads of coins to beer kegs, slabs and heavy concertina gates.
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A writ filed with the Supreme Court of Victoria claims the Bombers breached their duty of care under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations to Ms Cleland in 21 different ways.
The documents state Ms Cleland suffered a serious injury to her L4-5 disc, which required repeated surgery, including an L4-5 discectomy and laminectomy and subsequent instrumented interbody infusion.
The 58-year old said Bombers management had its head in the sand about all sorts of things during the tumultuous period.
The home of the Essendon Bombers, Windy Hill. It was the venue that ruined Lee-Anne Cleland's life after she sustained serious back injuries working there
Former Essendon coach James Hird celebrates with the team after a 2013 win in a year that would be tainted by the drugs saga
'No-one would say anything or do anything. It's just a weird set-up. It's the first venue I've ever known that (the general manager) had an assistant that's his partner,' she said.
This caused various complaints to fall on deaf airs, Ms Cleland claimed.
Ms Cleland said she was forced to routinely carry 1000 coins in a container with no handle.
'Every other places I'd worked at was 500,' she said.
Similar beer kegs to those a 57kg Lee-Anne Cleland claims she was forced to move alone
Court documents claim the Bombers failed to heed information about Ms Cleland's previous spinal injury and surgery when she was made to perform the heavy lifting.
'It was just bizarre ... I've never bit**ed. Work was who I am, what I was. That was my identity,' Ms Cleland said.
She said she had not been contacted by the Bombers despite having multiple operations on her back.
Her husband also lost his job after becoming distracted by her situation and they lost their home, Ms Cleland said.
'They've ruined my life and I haven't heard hide nor hair from them ... not one phone call,' she said. 'We've lost everything.'
While the club continues to pay Ms Cleland her 2013 wage, she said it did not compensate her for the life she has lost.
'I would rather be fixed than have my pay,' she said.
The Bombers have been contacted for comment.
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