Hal Hunter Biography

Former Essendon rookie Hal Hunter says he still has no idea what the club injected him with in 2012.

Speaking on ABC's Four Corners on Monday night, Hunter says his questions to Essendon in October, 2014, were stonewalled.

"They refused to give me any information about the supplements I received," Hunter said.

"They questioned why I needed [the information], what my motives were. They claimed I was a disgruntled ex-employee. They tried to brush me off like I'm not important.

"It's been almost a year-and-a-half and I still don’t have any answers to the questions I'm asking and I'm no closer to finding out what I was given."

Essendon rookie Hal Hunter is trying to force the club and the AFL to give up documents about the 2012 supplements program that could form the basis for legal action against the organisations.

Lawyers for Hunter told a Victorian court the supplements program exposed him to significant risk to his health and well-being, and he believed he could have grounds to sue.

Hunter, who was delisted at the end of 2013 after two seasons without a senior game, agreed to participate in the 2012 supplements program because it was endorsed by senior Essendon players, the court heard.

"During the relevant period the Essendon Football Club owed him a duty of care," Arthur Moses, for Hunter, told the Victorian Supreme Court.

"The AFL may have also breached its duty to ensure his welfare as a player."

The court heard that early in 2012 a PowerPoint presentation was given to Essendon players, during which coach James Hird and senior players assured the team that the program was compliant with anti-doping regulations.

Among other things, Hunter's lawyers are seeking the record of interview between Hird and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

Mr Moses said Hunter also wants to know when the AFL became aware of the supplements program, and what it did with that information.

"We want to know what documents they had that could have put them on notice," Mr Moses said.

Renee Enbom, for the AFL, said the organisation does not accept that there could be any possible claim against it.

It objects to providing a number of documents on the grounds that they are too broad, the court heard.

Essendon lawyer Anthony Young said Hunter has no claim because he can't demonstrate loss.

"One starts with loss, there is no loss," he said.

The hearing continues before Associate Justice Nemeer Mukhtar.

Hal Hunter has lodged paperwork with the Victorian Supreme Court to begin legal action against Essendon and the AFL.

Hunter had an application to protect his identity rejected.

Lawyers for Hunter sought a suppression order on the basis that legal action would relate to medical treatment he received as well as his personal health records.

Supreme Court Justice John Dixon rejected the suppression application, and refused to allow Hunter to use a pseudonym.

He said the case would be no different to medical negligence cases where the plaintiff's identity and medical details are revealed in open court.

Hunter spent two years on Essendon's rookie list, 2012 and 2013, without playing a senior match.

Essendon delist Luke Davis and Hal Hunter.

"Luke and Hal are terrific young men who have been fantastic contributors to our football team both on and off the field," Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said.

"The club would like to wish them all the best for their future football and personal careers."