Where the Hawthorn racism scandal can go from here – as Indigenous families launch new legal action
Where the Hawks racism scandal will go from here: how the club and coaches Clarkson and Fagan could still face tough punishments from the AFL and courts – as players’ families take the next legal step
- Hawthorn could lose future AFL draft picks
- The CEO of AFL is furious with the way the racism saga has been handled
- Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt have all been acquitted
- Follows lengthy probe that began last September
- First Nations players can still take legal action
The Hawthorn racism scandal will continue, with the AFL still to decide whether to sue the embattled club for bringing the game into disrepute.
Possible loss of future draft picks and the failure of the Hawks to give former coaches Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan or Jason Burt a right of reply to the allegations that emerged last September from a number of First Nations players and their partners, could be sued.
AFL CEO Gill McLachlan is also said to be furious at how poorly Hawthorn handled the saga and would not rule out further action.
“The process of making allegations without anyone having the opportunity to respond to them has created an environment in which many parties – complainants and defendants – have been put in a hugely vulnerable situation, and it has had an impact on the entire industry for everyone. Nations people and others,’ he said.
“I think that’s something to consider.”
The Hawthorn racism scandal will continue, with the AFL still to decide whether to sue the club for discrediting the game (pictured, CEO Gillon McLachlan)
Alastair Clarkson – who won four premierships as head coach at Hawthorn – has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the AFL
On Tuesday, Clarkson, Fagan and Burt were formally cleared of any wrongdoing by the AFL – and the trio have strenuously denied mistreating Indigenous players and their partners at the Hawks between 2010 and 2016.
And in another explosive development, families at the center of the Hawks saga will announce they will take further action with the Human Rights Commission.
Their legal representative, Leon Zwier, said the families will use the Commission to bring a claim against the club as well as Clarkson, Fagan and Burt.
So said Michael Bradley, managing partner of Marque Lawyers, who represents one of the members of a family involved in the investigation The age the AFL had “achieved nothing” in the settlement with those who took part in the investigative process.
Former assistant coach Chris Fagan labeled the ongoing racism investigation a ‘farce’ – and is furious that Hawthorn never gave him a chance to clear his name
Former Hawks football club welfare manager Jason Burt (pictured) has been cleared by the AFL but will reportedly be caught up in legal action taken by the Indigenous families through the Human Rights Commission
It comes as Fagan, now head coach of the Brisbane Lions, dismissed the racism investigation as a farce.
“I have always categorically denied the allegations against me. The allegations are false. I am completely innocent,” he said.
“I am happy that all my conduct and all documents will be made public in a public court or due public process and let someone impartial decide what is true and what is false,” he said.
‘I have not made any concessions. There aren’t any to make… I haven’t done anything wrong.’
Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett – who was in charge when the club’s cultural report was drawn up – said he was “pretty sure” the AFL would take no further action against the Hawks.
AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade will decide whether Hawthorn will be investigated as speculation continues as to whether the club will be charged with misconduct or bringing the game into disrepute.
Kennett has since written to the league insisting the club had strong governance.
He also demanded a “quick response” so that the saga does not drag on.