Hawthorn’s racism saga comes to an end as the footy club settles their case with Indigenous players
Hawthorn have settled their Federal Court case with Indigenous former players and their families, and apologised to the group for their experiences at the AFL club.
After two days of mediation this week, the club and players have agreed on a statement which acknowledges the matter has been resolved.
The Hawks released a statement on Wednesday night, bringing to an end a scandal that has lasted more than two years.
Racism allegations against the club and its former coach Alastair Clarkson, his former assistant Chris Fagan and former welfare manager Jason Burt were first aired publicly in September 2022.
Clarkson, Fagan and Burt have all strenuously denied any wrongdoing since then, while an AFL investigation found no adverse findings against the trio in May last year.
AFL premiership star Cyril Rioli was the lead applicant in a statement of claim lodged in the Federal Court in July alongside his wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, former players Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, his partner Montanah-Rae Lewis, and Hawthorn’s former Indigenous liaison officer Leon Egan.
Cyril Rioli (pictured) was the lead applicant in the legal claim being made against Hawthorn
Several Indigenous players, including Carl Peterson (pictured) have now settled with the club over the claim
The joint statement said that the Hawks had apologised to the Indigenous players and their families ‘for any hurt or distress in their time at the club’
The claim included allegations of unlawful discrimination, including family separations and pressuring a pregnancy termination.
The club and legal representatives for the players involved in the case have engaged in several days of mediation this week before announcing that they had reached an agreement over a settlement.
On Wednesday morning, the issued a joint statement on it’s website, alongside the complainants, which was entitled ‘Walking Together’.
The statement read: ‘Hawthorn accepts that the allegations were made in good faith, and has heard, respects, and accepts that they represent their truths.
‘Hawthorn is sorry and apologises that the former players, partners, and their families, in either pursuing a football career, or in supporting such a person, experienced ongoing hurt and distress in their time at the Club.
‘Hawthorn remains committed to providing a safe environment for First Nations peoples and the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination.’
The case is understood to have cost the Hawks millions in legal fees, with the settlement ending proceedings in the Federal Court.
The Sydney Morning Herald adds that the players and their families involved in the proceedings were paid an undisclosed sum, following the settlement agreement.
Racism allegations against the club and its former coach Alastair Clarkson (left) his former assistant Chris Fagan (right) were aired publicly in 2022
The outlet claims that the fee will exceed earlier offers of $50,000 tabled to each of the six parties.
The statement adds: ‘No person should suffer to pursue a career in football. By the former players, partners, and their families sharing their truths and raising their allegations, this has provided valuable learnings for the Club and has greatly assisted the Club in improving its processes, education and the care it provides to each First Nations player and their support persons.
‘The Club thanks the former players, partners, and their families for their courage in providing this guidance.’
The joint statement had also detailed four proposed changes the club has made following the legal proceedings.
The club has said it has established a ‘First Nations Advisory Committee’ which it says will comprise of CEO, Professor Barry Judd, Aunty Joy Murphy, Alan Thorpe and Chad Wingard.
Next, the club has ‘developed and implemented a First Nations strategic plan with the expertise and advice from several First Nations advisors, with experience from the AFL, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission and Victorian Government.’
The Hawks have also ‘expanded the role of its Indigenous Player Development Manager, which now incorporates Head of Indigenous Affairs.’
The club have also re-designed it’s new Kennedy Community Centre to ensure the facility has a ‘culturally safe environment.’
They have re-located the Tyetdji Yulk cultural room at Bunjil Bagora, Waverley Park to a ‘prominant position’ that will over look the entrance of the Harris Elite Training Facility. The club have also included a yarning circle in their changes and added for the provision of an outdoor ceremony space.
