THE AFL has confirmed its grievance tribunal will sit on Wednesday night to determine whether former St Kilda midfielder Andrew Lovett has a case against the club that sacked him last week.
It is not yet known if Lovett will be in attendance, however his legal representatives will try to convince the tribunal that he was unfairly treated following rape allegations made against him on Christmas Eve.
At the time of the allegations, Lovett was suspended indefinitely by St Kilda and prevented from having any involvement with his teammates or the club.
Lovett's lawyers are also battling to salvage his anticipated $1 million-plus earnings from his three-year contract, which was terminated when Victoria Police announced the 27-year-old had been charged.
The Saints gave numerous reasons for sacking Lovett - whom they forfeited a first-round draft pick for during last year's trade period - but off-field indiscretions, including the charge, weighed most heavily in the club's decision.
Lovett’s lawyers, who lodged fresh submissions with the AFL earlier this week, will argue that St Kilda acted unlawfully by sacking him.
The Saints have said that because Lovett is no longer an AFL-listed player, the grievance process should not go ahead.
That decision will be made by tribunal members Jack Rush QC, Kevin Power and James Dowsley, with the hearing to commence at 5pm at Etihad Stadium.
