‘He Told Me To Kill My Unborn Kid’: Aboriginal Hawthorn Players Make Disturbing Claims About Club

An external review of alleged racism within AFL club Hawthorn will reveal claims the club was involved in separating First Nations players from families and demanded a player tell his partner to terminate their pregnancy for the sake of the player’s career, the ABC reports. The racism review will allege club staff involved included coach Alastair Clarkson

 Chris Fagan

Hawthorn had more than 20 First Nations players during that time. Three families involved told the ABC staff allegedly bullied First Nations players, removed them from their homes and into alternative accommodations and blatantly told them to choose between their careers and their families.

Coaches also allegedly coerced at least two young First Nations players, both in their first five years at the club, to remove SIM cards from their phones so they couldn’t contact their families in an attempt to make them focus on the sport.

The player told the ABC anonymously that when he joyfully announced to his teammates that his partner was pregnant after having miscarried previously, a group of coaches including Clarkson and Fagan ushered him into an office. He claimed he was told to have the pregnancy terminated, break up with his partner and move into the home of an assistant coach.

“It was so intimidating, confusing and upsetting,” the player said.

“Clarkson just leaned over me and demanded that I needed to get rid of my unborn child and my partner,” the player claimed.

“I was then manipulated and convinced to remove my SIM card from my phone, so there was no further contact between my family and me. They told me I’d be living with one of the other coaches from that night onwards.

“He told me to kill my unborn kid.”

Collingwood’s racism review in 2021Alastair Clarksonreleased a statement

The AFL also released a statement that said it took the allegations ‘very seriously’.

“The AFL takes extremely seriously all matters where people report experiencing harm, discrimination or mistreatment in our industry,” it said.

“The experiences outlined in the document are extremely serious and require further and full examination.

“The AFL is finalising a process to investigate the allegations and has sought further details of those who shared their experiences in order to progress its investigation.”

Help is available. If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.If you need mental health support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online.  Under 25? You can reach Kids Helplineat 1800 55 1800 or chat online.You can also report instances of racism or discrimination to the Australian Human Rights Commission on 1300 656 419 or lodge a complaint online.

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