The Western Bulldogs are facing a lawsuit potentially worth millions of dollars over claims the club did nothing to protect a little league player from sexual abuse.
Adam Kneale was sexually abused by paedophile Graeme Hobbs between 1984 and 1990, starting when he was just 11 years old.
Hobbs was steward of the under-19s team and chairman of the then Footscray Football Club's fundraising committee.
He targeted Mr Kneale, now 49, during games at Whitten Oval.
Mr Kneale reported the abuse against him when he was 20. Hobbs was arrested days later and confessed to his abuse of Mr Kneale and another person, resulting in a minimum 15-month prison sentence. Hobbs died in 2009.
No dollar amount is yet named in the lawsuit, filed in Victoria's Supreme Court, but similar cases in recent months have netted big sums.
Wesley College was ordered to pay $3 million compensation to an ex-student abused by teacher John McMillan and school counsellor and teacher Steward Heywood, while Geelong College was ordered to pay $2.7 million to a survivor of abuse by woodwork centre volunteer Bert Palframan.
Both those cases, like Mr Kneale's, were brought by Rightside Lawyers and director Michael Magazanik.
He told AAP this was the first suit of its type against a sporting club, but would not be the last.
"The terrible abuse had a profound effect on Adam and he's going to make the Bulldogs pay him his full legal entitlement," he said.
At the time his goal was to have Hobbs face justice and to protect other children from his sexual offending.
"Now he's suing the Bulldogs ... to hold them to account, face up to the fact his life was ruined by a paedophile at the club," Mr Magazanik said.
He also wants to shine a spotlight on the issue of sexual abuse in sporting clubs, and encourage other survivors to come froward.
Mr Magazanik said there was abuse "everywhere" in sporting clubs in the 1970s and later, especially in junior clubs.
"Nobody was taking steps to protect kids," he said.
The next step is for the Western Bulldogs to file a defence to the claim, ahead of a trial likely next year.
In a statement, the Bulldogs said "due to the sensitive nature of these issues, and the commencement of legal proceedings before a jury, the club is not in a position to comment further at this time".
It follows a statement club chief executive Ameet Bains made a week ago when the ABC first reported the abuse.
"We have been shocked and dismayed to learn about the terrible abuse suffered by Adam Kneale in the 1980s," Mr Bains said at the time.
"Football clubs should be a safe and enjoyable place for all people, especially children, so Adam's experiences and the fact that elements of this abuse occurred at the hands of a Footscray Football Club volunteer are simply devastating."
The club says it had reached out to meet with Mr Kneale and his family to provide any direct support and convey its sorrow. It will seek advice from police and expert agencies on supporting alleged victims.
