Lawyer says "high-powered legal representation" an unfair advantage

The "revenge" photos of nude St Kilda players released onto the internet by a disgruntled 17 year-old were published only after the AFL made a determined effort to placate the girl, or so says league boss Andrew Demetriou:

Mr Demetriou said the league has meet with the girl at least 20 times since April.

"We've also provided her with counselling services, support services, certainly accommodation," he told Fairfax Radio.

"We've offered her assistance to provide counselling, offered assistance to her parents.

With the girl threatening to release more photos, St Kilda management had no choice other than legal action. Unfair screams Melbourne barrister Jeremy Sear:

I suppose [St Kilda is] banking on being able to run her into the ground with the significant funds at their disposal – certainly they’re not skimping on the high-powered legal representation. Big football club vs 17 year old nobody: what kind of a fair fight is that?

Seriously, St Kilda and the AFL are in trouble here because of the allegations that their players abused and took advantage of a teenage girl. Do they really think upping the ante and crushing her as thoroughly as they can will improve their image?

Yeah, like posting compromising, alleged stolen photos of players not accused of "abusing" or "taking advantage" of the lass is fighting fair – as far as I know no player has been publicly accused of any impropriety in relation to the girl.

And what's with the complaint about St Kilda hiring "high-powered legal representation"? Surely barrister Jeremy would advise anyone pursuing legal action to hire the most competent representation available. Nah, do the right thing and go for the low-powered representation. Hey, here's a thought, perhaps Jeremy could offer the girl some legal advice to, you know, put her mind at ease.

Anyway, it was, coincidentally 17 years ago that a jury awarded $350,000 to rugby player Andrew Ettingshausen for an unauthorised nude photo that may, or may not, have shown his penis. Yikes!

It'll be really interesting to see how this stoush works out.

Update: The girl and St Kilda have reached an agreement:

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, appeared five minutes late to today's hearing in Melbourne's Federal Court.

Her lawyer told the court his client is a vulnerable child who is estranged from her parents and only received legal advice for the first time this afternoon.

Lawyers for the St Kilda Football Club were also present, and the parties have agreed all images allegedly taken from Gilbert's computer will be destroyed, except for one copy to be kept on a USB stick at the court.

Rest easy, Jeremy.

Update II: Jeremy should be aware that wealth is no guarantee of legal success. Earlier this year a solitary individual, paying his own way, took on the multi-million dollar media company for whom Sear writes and beat them like a rented mule. Booyah!