The president of the AFL club at the centre of racism allegations has hit back at the league, amid speculation the club faces sanctions over the unsavoury affair.
Hawthorn Football Club president Andy Gowers said the months-long investigation into historical allegations of mistreatment of First Nations players at the Melbourne club had been “extremely difficult … for all involved”.
“It has been very complex but I do genuinely hope the resolution announced last night creates a step towards healing and to address the hurt felt by many,” he said on Wednesday.
“We’d be extremely disappointed if this matter led to sanctions, including financial, but what I would say is that we went into this process with the best of intentions. I don’t think anybody is questioning that.”
It came as the Nine newspapers reported that the families at the centre of the saga would pursue claims in the Australian Human Rights Commission against the three Hawthorn staff at the centre of the allegations, and the club itself.
Wednesday’s developments followed a late-night announcement by AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan that the independent inquiry into the allegations would end after eight months, following an agreement with six of the complainants.
The most serious of the accusations is that an Indigenous player was told to encourage his partner to have an abortion.
The Hawks saga started last year after former Indigenous star Cyril Rioli and his wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli publicly claimed they were treated poorly during their time at the club.
That prompted a Hawthorn review of current and former Indigenous players, which led to the bombshell racism claims being leaked to the media last September.
The AFL called a snap media conference on Tuesday night to announce its decision. The AFL said coaches Chris Fagan, Alastair Clarkson and former staffer Jason Burt had all been cleared of breaching league rules while at Hawthorn.
Within minutes of the announcement, however, Fagan issued a strongly worded statement saying he was vindicated and would welcome the chance to test the bombshell claims in a public court.
He said the leaking of the initial allegations to the media, the AFL investigation and further media leaks were a “travesty of justice”.
While Fagan, Clarkson and Burt were not party to the agreement reached by six of the complainants, the AFL and the inquiry panel, the Lions coach said those matters are “fully justified”.
“I have always categorically denied all the allegations against me. The allegations are false. I am completely innocent,” he said.
“I am happy for any of my conduct and any documents to be aired publicly in a public court or proper public process and let someone impartial decide what is true and what is false.
“I have made no concessions. There are none to make … I have done nothing wrong.”
The AFL investigation stalled for eight months, with coaches and the Hawthorn families involved confirming they were not formally interviewed before it was wound up.
Fagan added he bore no ill will against the complainants.
“I am conscious this farce of a process cannot have been easy on those First Nations people who were complainants,” he said.
“Those whom I knew, I hold no grudges against and hold only a wish that whatever pain they are suffering can be healed over time.”
On Tuesday, Mr McLachlan said Hawthorn’s handling of the initial allegations had put many parties involved in a “hugely vulnerable situation”.
Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett questioned “on what basis” the Hawks could be charged. Mr Kennett said he had written to the AFL Commission asking it to finalise the process “very quickly”, fearing it might run another eight months.
“We did what we had to do,” Mr Kennett told Melbourne’s 3AW on Wednesday.
“We got a complaint, we set in place a process to hear the stories from our Indigenous people.
“Once we got the report, we realised what was contained in it, we gave it to integrity.
“That is not acting against the interests of the AFL, that’s acting in the interest.”
Mr Gowers reiterated that the club welcomed the AFL’s decision to end the inquiry. Asked about the potential for sanctions against Hawthorn, he said there were “a number of discussions” ongoing with the AFL.
He said the Hawks went “by the book” by referring the report to the AFL integrity unit without first speaking to Clarkson, Fagan and Burt.
“It was also our expectation this would allow all parties to give their versions of events … the leaking of that work had a significant impact. It did not allow for a fair and just process,” he said.
Mr Gowers said “that blew up everything”.
“Otherwise I think those people would’ve got the opportunity to be heard,” he said.
“Where it ended up, nobody is happy about, that is clear.”
– with AAP
