>
The AFL’s investigation into Indigenous families’ bombshell claims over their treatment in Hawthorn has reached an early roadblock.
The families are reportedly hesitant to revisit the traumatic allegations against Hawthorn, most notably ex-coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan, and former player development manager Jason Burt.
Those harrowing allegations include claims that an Indigenous player was urged to tell his partner to abort their child and break up with him.
That same player, alias ‘Ian’, claims he was ‘rigged and convinced to remove my SIM card from my phone so that my family and me would no longer be contacted’.
Former Hawthorn coaches Alastair Clarkson (left) and Chris Fagan (right) are at the center of harrowing accusations of racism against the club
Hawthorn’s former player development manager Jason Burt has also been named in the club’s investigation into racism claims by Indigenous players
The allegations came to light after an independent investigation by Hawthorn into the way Indigenous players at the club were previously treated.
When the ‘distressing and disturbing’ claims in a ABC reportAFL boss Gillon McLachlan acknowledged it was a “challenging read” and promised the league would conduct their own independent investigation.
That investigation would be conducted by a panel of four, with Clarkson, Fagan and Burt given the right to answer.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan was quick to announce that the league would conduct an independent investigation into the racism claims
Since the Native families have already described the traumatic allegations in graphic detail to Hawthorn study author Phil Egan and ABC journalist Russell Jackson, they would have “serious reservations” about being interviewed again, according to the Herald Sun.
Some of the claims in the investigation have also reportedly been backed up by an assistant coach from Hawthorn.
Assembling the four-member panel will be a delicate process to ensure that all parties have their say and are given the right to reply.
Indigenous former Hawthorn players have made some disturbing allegations over their treatment at the club
On Monday, the AFL Coaches Association (AFLCA) issued a statement imploring the league to appoint a former coach or administrator to the panel, thereby providing context to coach-player communications.
“The AFL Coaches Association urges the AFL to include on its panel a well-qualified current or former football manager,” the statement said.
‘It would improve the research considerably if someone who understands that environment (soccer clubs) well and has a lot of experience in managing the well-being of players is included in the panel.
“The AFLCA fully endorses the AFL’s decision to investigate the confrontational allegations,” the association’s statement said.
The AFL has already engaged former Bulldogs president Peter Gordon, one of the nation’s top class action attorneys, to act as legal counsel.
The lawyer of the indigenous families Leon Zwier is also consulted about the composition of the panel.
The process of assembling the panel is delicate and nuanced as the league will be aware that all parties — particularly Clarkson and Fagan who have vehemently denied the allegations — should be pleased enough that a fair investigation is underway.
Alastair Clarkson (left) and Chris Fagan (right) have vigorously refuted the charges against them and will participate in the AFL’s investigation
If not, the scandal could drag on in the legal system for years, due to the seriousness of the charges and the potential career implications.
Given that high-profile Indigenous players such as Eddie Betts and Cyril Rioli have spoken out in the past about feeling let down by a lack of support from the AFL when it comes to investigated incidents of alleged racism; you also have to take that into account.
A ‘devastated’ Fagan, who was Clarkson’s chief lieutenant at the club from 2008-2016, who vigorously refuted the allegations when they arose, confirmed he had hired lawyers.
Current Lions coach Chris Fagan has also strongly refuted the allegations against him from his time at Hawthorn
“I have hired Clayton Utz attorneys along with attorneys Liam Kelly KC and David Turner to act on my behalf in relation to the proposed upcoming investigation by the AFL,” he said in a statement Tuesday morning.
“I affirm, as I said in my previous statement, that I categorically deny allegations of misconduct by me regarding First Nations players at Hawthorn Football Club and that I intend to defend myself.
“I also affirm my intention to participate fully in any investigative process, provided it is independent, fair and impartial and my right to be heard is respected,” Fagan said.
Clarkson, who won four premierships at Hawthorn during his tenure with the club from 2005-2021, also strongly refuted the allegations, condemning the way his former club conducted the investigation.
Alastair Clarkson and Hawks skipper Luke Hodge win the 2014 AFL Premiership Cup The pair won four premierships together
“The health, care and wellbeing of our players, staff and their families have always been my top priorities during my time at Hawthorn Football Club,” he said in a media statement.
“I was therefore shocked by the extremely serious allegations that appeared in the media earlier today. I have not been interviewed by the authors of the report on behalf of the club, nor have I received a copy of the report.
“I was not given a fair trial and I am refuting any allegations of wrongdoing or misconduct and look forward to the opportunity to be heard as part of the AFL’s external investigation,” Clarkson said in the statement.
These allegations are about the worst ever to be leveled against a coach, so the upcoming AFL investigation will likely go down as the most important in its history.