AFL WAG Jesinta Franklin ‘advised to keep a low profile’ amid Hawthorn racism scandal

By William On Sep 24, 2022

Sydney Swans star Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin and his wife Jesinta have reportedly been told not to hold back amid the ongoing Hawthorn racism scandal.

According to the Sydney Morning HeraldMedia outlets were keen to speak with Buddy and Jesinta ahead of the AFL Grand Final, but the pair have been “advised not to comment for the time being.”

Buddy is a proud Indigenous man and both he and his wife Jesinta have been incredibly outspoken when it comes to issues surrounding race and the people of Australia’s First Nations.

Sydney Swans star Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin and his wife Jesinta have reportedly been told not to hold back amid the ongoing Hawthorn racism scandal. Pictured in 2017

He also previously played for Hawthorn from 2005 to 2013, before moving to Sydney.

Staying low can be difficult for socialite and beauty queen Jesinta, who is a successful brand ambassador and fashion influencer.

The AFL WAG features a slew of appearances from luxury brands such as Fendi, Armani and Lancôme, and is often hired to appear at events or give interviews promoting the products.

Lying low can be hard for socialite and beauty queen Jesinta, who is a successful brand ambassador and fashion influencer

Earlier this week, she hinted that she had work commitments scheduled around the Grand Final after landing in Melbourne.

‘A big week for work, fun, conferences, family time…. Oh, and a Grand Final,” she wrote to her 373,000 followers.

Jesinta keeps her fans updated about her Melbourne activities on social media but has clearly avoided giving official interviews or making statements about the current Hawthorn racing scandal.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Jesinta for comment.

The AFL WAG has a slew of gigs representing luxury brands and is often hired to appear at events to promote them. Pictured to promote Lancôme on July 14 in Sydney

The independent inquiry into allegations of assault against Indigenous players at the Hawthorn club must strike a balance between speed and due process, Australian rules chief Gillon McLachlan said Friday.

The Australian Football League (AFL) has promised an investigation into “serious allegations” of compulsive control over the former players, including an investigation in which coaches urged a player to have his partner’s pregnancy aborted.

“I think the correct response is that we will speed it up because that is what is needed for both the courageous plaintiffs and the accused,” said AFL chief executive McLachlan.

“But… we need the right panel, we need the right process, and everyone needs to feel safe telling their story. They do clash a bit, we have to find that balance and we are working hard on that.’

Buddy, who is native, previously played for Hawthorn from 2005 to 2013, before transferring to Sydney. Pictured on September 17

The allegations about the unnamed players are in an independent review commissioned by Hawthorn and reported Wednesday by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Former Hawthorn head coach Alastair Clarkson and his former assistant Chris Fagan flatly denied doing anything wrong during their time at the Melbourne-based club.

Both have resigned their current positions with other clubs pending the investigation and released statements saying they would cooperate with the investigation.

Earlier this week, Jesinta hinted that she had work commitments planned around the Grand Final after landing in Melbourne. Pictured above

However, McLachlan is also coming under pressure to investigate the treatment of Indigenous players at every club in the league.

“It’s clear that the AFL industry has a problem with its treatment of First Nations and multicultural players,” Paul Marsh, the head of the players’ union, told the Herald Sun.

“These are essentially human rights issues. To move forward, the industry must understand, recognize and try to fix the problems of the past.”

Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves sent a letter to fans on Friday explaining that the review was commissioned following media reports earlier this year about native player Cyril Rioli’s bad experience at the club.

Hawthorn players celebrate their victory in the 2013 grand final. Daily Mail Australia does not claim that any of the players in the photo are in any way involved in the allegations uncovered by the club’s external review

“We received the results of that work about two weeks ago. And as you can see now, some of those stories are disturbing,” he wrote.

“We are heartbroken that there are people who feel this way about their experience at our club.”

Showing just how important the sport is in the southern interior, the people of the state of Victoria enjoyed the holiday celebrated every year on the eve of the AFL Grand Final on Friday.

HAWTHORN RACISM CLAIMS

* Players were bullied for moving, made to choose between career and family.

* At least two players had to replace the SIM cards in their phones to cut them off from their partners.

* A group of coaches, including Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan, urged a player to have his partner’s pregnancy terminated.

* The same player was told to “get rid of” his partner and move to an assistant coach’s house.

* Another player was told that his partner was holding him back and that he had to end the relationship to fulfill his football potential.

* The player was moved to another residence and cut off from his partner, who was pregnant at the time and miscarried a few weeks later.

* Another new Interstate recruit was separated from his partner and young child, who was born shortly after arriving at the club. The family was not allowed to visit the player until the child was four months old, as the club felt that the family would be a ‘distraction’ for the player.