Outspoken former Port Adelaide great Warren Tredrea has claimed in court he cannot pay legal costs to ex-employer Channel 9 following an unsuccessful wrongful dismissal lawsuit, because of issues he has with Australia’s legal tender.

Tredrea, whose controversial off-field views including opposition to COVID vaccinations saw him sacked as Nine News Adelaide’s sports presenter in 2021, sued the network over nearly $6 million in lost wages, but was unsuccessful.

Following an appeal against the verdict which was likewise denied in court, Tredrea ordered to pay Nine’s legal costs in April 2025.

However, the 46-year old, who captained the Power to their sole AFL premiership in 2004, told the Federal Court he had cleared his debt via a ‘promisorry note’ in November last year, which serves as a written promise to make payment at a future date, because Australia lacks gold or silver coins to cover the costs owed.

Bizarrely, Tredrea claimed in court documents that he is ‘not an entity, legal person, citizen, resident or any form of creature of statute’.

“I answer to the name Warren Tredrea of South Australia, a private man, my yes be yes, my no be no,” Tredrea wrote, according to the Herald Sun.

“I am not an entity, legal person, citizen, resident or any form of creature of statute.

“I have not been provided with any material facts or evidence that shows there exists any lawful gold or silver coin of substance in common circulation upon which to close, pay and extinguish an account.

“I believe sincerely that none exists … I believe no gold or silver coin in circulation can pay a debt.”

Nine’s lawyers have stated that they have not accepted Tredrea’s promisorry note, despite Tredrea claiming his ‘liability has been discharged’ due to Nine having ‘held onto the promissory note for over 72 hours’ – in other words, that his debt to the network was fully covered.

Tredrea and Nine will return to court at a later date, while the Power have released a statement distancing themselves from their former champion, who controversially remains on the club’s board.

“The club won’t be making any official statement as it considers this to be a private matter between Mr Tredrea and the Federal Court,” a Port Adelaide spokesperson said.

Speaking on Seven’s The Agenda Setters, former premiership teammate Kane Cornes expressed his sadness for Tredrea’s situation.

“I’ve got a lot of affection for Warren because he was such a good mentor for me when I was a young player coming through, and I will always be grateful for that,” Cornes said.

“He helped me through some challenging times when I was young and coming through and wanted to get there quickly.

“He’s the best player I’ve ever played with, alongside Gavin Wanganeen and Robbie Gray.

“I guess my overriding remotion is I feel a bit sad that he’s in that situation. I don’t think anyone wants to be door-stopped out the front of court.”

Cornes also criticised the Power’s response, urging the club to make a stronger public stance.

“This isn’t ideal for the Port Adelaide Football Club at all,” he said.

“They should be a bit stronger with what they are saying – it’s not a private matter now, the fact that it is in court is a public issue.

“Their statement has been around ‘this is a private matter, so we won’t be commenting’. I think the Port Adelaide fans deserve a little bit more than that.

“There is a instability there, and I just think they needed to be a bit stronger … I don’t think ‘no comment’ is satisfactory for a big issue like this.”

Warren Tredrea. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

Capper cops massive AFL ban over ‘vile behaviour’

Controversial former AFL great Warwick Capper has been handed a five-year ban from all AFL venues, over ‘vile behaviour’ at last year’s grand final.

The 62-year old has become renowned for his colourful off-field personality, while his penchant for high-flying marks and infamous tight shorts made him an iconic figure for Sydney in their formative years in NSW after relocating from South Melbourne, and then later for the Brisbane Bears.

However, according to 7 News Melbourne, Capper was hit with multiple complaints from MCG staff for his behaviour during the 2024 grand final between the Swans and Lions, which included him being ‘heavily intoxicated’, the use of ‘derogatory language’ and having ‘intimidated a female staff member’.

“MCG employees told the AFL Capper yelled ‘Wozza’s in the house!’ before he was kicked out of a corporate suite, and evicted from the ground,” 7 News reporter Mitch Cleary said.

According to Nine News’ Tom Morris, Capper also told one staff member she would ‘get a job in a brothel’.

The Melbourne Cricket Club have banned Capper from all events at the ground, including cricket matches and concerts as well as AFL games.

In response, Capper’s manager Tony Marks told News Corp that the sanction was over the top.

“No doubt there’s a few inappropriate things said in the caricature that is Warwick Capper and playing the class clown, but five years from every AFL venue, including no cricket, concerts … that stinks,” Marks said.