Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
A former AFL player has faced court accused of corruption in his post-career as a driving examiner.
Elijah Ware played two games for Port Adelaide in the AFL before becoming a key player in a title-winning Central District Bulldogs side in the SANFL.
However, 20 years on from his brief AFL stint, he is now facing a string of criminal charges following an alleged driving exam scam.
Mr Ware, 43, appeared at Adelaide Magistrates Court this week accused of 12 separate charges relating to the alleged false issuing of provisional driving licences.
He appeared at court alongside his two co-accused, suspended police officer Scott Applebee, 46, from Adelaide and Sam Wheatley, 50, who face two charges each. They are accused of exercising power to secure benefit while in public office and dishonest dealings
Court documents made available to NewsWire show that Mr Ware, of Trott Park, is charged with exercising power to secure benefit while in a public office.
It is alleged that while working as a driving examiner and instructor, Mr Ware falsified documents to allow individuals to be issued provisional driving licences, allowing him to “secure a benefit for himself by obtaining payment for vehicle on road tests which he did not conduct”.
His alleged offences were carried out between May and August 2025.
His co-accused were both also working as driving instructors at the time of the alleged offending.
Mr Ware is charged with four counts of exercising power to secure benefit in public office, seven counts of dishonest dealings with documents and one count of not performing duties in public office to secure benefit.
He made two appearances for Port Adelaide in 2006, having been taken as pick 7 of the previous campaign’s pre-season draft.
Mr Ware made his debut against West Coast in a 37-point victory. His second and final game came in the next round against Melbourne.
However, he was one of seven players who departed the club at the end of the 2006 AFL season.
His case returns to court next month.
