Scott Pendlebury launches legal action against former financial adviser over alleged secret withdrawals

Collingwood star Scott Pendlebury is suing the former boss of a failed A-League club, claiming he misappropriated more than $2 million when he managed the premiership player's finances.

Pendlebury, 37, has launched a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Victoria against Jason Sourasis, a former AFL player agent and businessman who went on to take the top job at Western United FC before the club financially collapsed.

Court documents filed on behalf of the Collingwood star claim that in February this year, Pendlebury realised $2,148,900 had been transferred out of his investment account by Mr Sourasis, who had been working as his financial adviser since 2013.

Pendlebury claims the money was "improperly withdrawn" without his knowledge or authorisation into accounts associated with Mr Sourasis.

Mr Sourasis has told the ABC he vigorously rejected the allegations.

"The allegations are vehemently denied and, as a legal process has been started, we can't make any further comments at this stage," Mr Sourasis said.

A decade of secret withdrawals alleged

Court documents filed by Pendlebury's lawyers detail more than 50 transactions from the Collingwood star's investment account with withdrawals dating back to 2015 and amounts as high as $305,000.

The lawsuit also claims that Mr Sourasis owes Pendlebury $300,000 for a personal loan, which the premiership player said would be paid back in just a day.

Pendlebury claims he agreed to extend the loan by up to 12 months at a 50 per cent interest rate per year, but that it was never repaid.

Pendlebury's lawyer, Leon Zwier of Arnold Bloch Leibler, was contacted for comment.

Court documents show that much of the money allegedly misappropriated from Pendlebury's Macquarie account was transferred with descriptions that appear to refer to the Western United football club or property developments related to it that Mr Sourasis was undertaking.

This includes transfers to Sayers Road Investment Co, which is ultimately owned by Mr Sourasis and shares its name with a site in Tarneit where Western United's parent company, Western Melbourne Group, was developing a stadium complex.

Other transfers were marked as investments by Pendlebury in WMG or to Jaszac Investments, which is also owned by Mr Sourasis.

In August, the Federal Court ordered the liquidation of the company that held the Western United licence, WMG Football Club.

However, it has appealed the ruling and a hearing is due in December.

The club is in "conditional hibernation" and will not play in the 2025-26 season, football governing body Australian Professional Leagues said in September.

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