Australian football "legend" Barry Cable is being sued over allegations he sexually abused a Perth teenager when he was in the prime of his playing career.
The identity of the now 79-year-old had, until today, been suppressed but now District Court Judge Mark Herron has ruled Mr Cable can be named ahead of a five-day civil trial that is due to start on Wednesday.
Mr Cable is considered one of the greatest West Australian footballers of all time after a lengthy and successful career in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and West Australian Football League (WAFL).
The woman's legal action centres on allegations Mr Cable sexually abused her between 1968, when she was in her early teens and he 24 or 25, and 1973 when she was in her late teens and he was around 30.
She is also seeking damages for psychiatric harm she alleges she suffered because of continuing sexual behaviour and harassment by Mr Cable between 1974 and 1991, until she was in her late thirties.
Allegations denied, no charges laid
He denies all the allegations and he has never been charged.
The woman started her legal action in 2019, after changes to the law in Western Australia, which removed the time limit for people who alleged they had been sexually abused, to commence legal action.
At the time of the alleged abuse, Mr Cable was at the peak of his playing career.
He had already won the first of his three Sandover medals for being the best and fairest player in the WAFL.
Across his career, Mr Cable was one of the top footballers in the country, compiling a resume few players can match.
Between the VFL, WAFL and state representative matches, Mr Cable played 400 games and kicked more than 500 goals.
He won two VFL premierships with North Melbourne, as well as four WAFL flags, and was a two-time All-Australian.
It culminated in him earning some of the game's highest honours, including "legend" status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame and a spot in North Melbourne's team of the century.
He was also named both a player and coach in the Indigenous Team of the Century, having had a lengthy coaching career after retiring in 1979 following an accident in which his leg was trapped under a tractor wheel.
Cable allegedly 'stripped' before entering woman's house
In September last year, the court pre-recorded the evidence of the woman's mother, who is in an aged care facility.
She recounted an occasion when she alleged Mr Cable "stripped off" and came into her house "with nothing on at all".
"I was so shocked," she said.
"I was astonished. I said whatever do you think you're doing, and he took off."
The mother also testified to the court about her daughter telling her and her husband about the alleged abuse.
"She came in most upset and said 'Dad, Mum I've got something to tell you'."
"We were devastated because we didn't have an inkling what he'd been up to. It was a terrible shock."
Cable bankrupt, court hears
Mr Cable had not been represented by a lawyer since December last year, when the court heard he planned to take no part in proceedings and would rely on the written material already filed.
The court was told if there was a judgement against Mr Cable after the trial there would be no funds available to pay any damages that may be awarded to the woman or the costs of the court action.
Mr Cable tried on several occasions to have the case thrown out of court, including a challenge in WA's highest court, the Court of Appeal, but his case was dismissed each time.
The suppression orders on his identity remained, however, and it was not until today, after considering submissions from lawyers for media outlets, including the ABC, that Judge Herron ruled Mr Cable could now be identified.
Judge Herron ruled the need for a suppression order on Mr Cable's name was "no longer necessary or relevant".
"Although I accept that the lifting of the suppression orders, which will allow the defendant to be identified and will allow reporting of his identity, is likely to cause damage to his reputation, that is an unavoidable by-product of litigation," Judge Herron said.
Mr Cable again was not present at today's hearing but Judge Herron said a copy of the decision had been made available to him through his son.
Woman 'resolute and determined'
Lawyer Michael Magazanik, a partner with Rightside Legal, said Mr Cable claiming bankruptcy hadn't deterred his client from taking legal action.
He said she was "resolute and determined" to see her case through.
"She is now looking forward to giving evidence in court tomorrow and she's looking forward to a West Australian court and judge adjudicating her claim," he said.
"That's all she's ever asked for, that's what she's been looking for for four years and that's what she's looking forward to tomorrow."
Mr Magazanik said the woman would not be making a public statement during the trial, and that she was focused on giving evidence and "getting her story out in the open."
He said the last four years had been difficult for her.
"This has been a very long journey for my client … it's been decades," he said.
"But under the circumstances, she's tough, she's determined [and] she's resolute."
