Confidential Reports Expose Details of Hawthorn Racism Scandal Resolutions
Unveiled by News Corp on Thursday, exclusive insights from reports by Justice John Middleton and Gordon Legal shed light on the Hawthorn racism controversy. These revelations emerged mere days after formal mediation efforts broke down.
Conducted by Justice John Middleton and Gordon Legal, the reports concluded that there was “no basis whatsoever” supporting claims of a racist subculture at Hawthorn during the period of 2008-2015. Consequently, the AFL Commission dissolved a four-person independent panel initially tasked with investigating these allegations.
Furthermore, the reports cast doubt on some of the most severe accusations, such as claims of coercion leading to the termination of a pregnancy. These findings prompted calls for the AFL to cease its investigation.
The scandal’s timeline reveals a pivotal moment in late 2022 when Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan, and Jason Burt, the accused individuals, received detailed statements from the First Nations complainants.
Despite the cessation of mediation talks, it seems the issue may find its way to the Federal Court.
In May of the previous year, the AFL concluded its investigation into the historic racism allegations at Hawthorn, clearing former Hawks coach Clarkson, ex-football boss Fagan, and former welfare manager Jason Burt of any wrongdoing. However, this resolution did not preclude the complainants from seeking further action.
Allegations of racism, attributed to Rioli, former Hawks Carl Peterson, Jermaine Miller-Lewis, and Indigenous club liaison Leon Egan, along with their partners Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli and Montanah Miller-Lewis, purportedly span from 2008 to 2016.
Clarkson, who faced particularly grave accusations, took leave from North Melbourne last year to prioritize his mental well-being amid the inquiry.
Fagan and Burt also temporarily stepped back from their roles at the Lions and Caulfield Grammar, respectively, after the Binmada report was leaked to the media in September 2022.
The saga began with an ABC Sport report on an external review of the Hawthorn Football Club, alleging that key figures, including Clarkson, Fagan, and Burt, were complicit in the mistreatment of Indigenous players—a claim vehemently denied by all parties.
One of the most disturbing incidents outlined in the report involved an unverified allegation stating that Clarkson and Fagan attended a meeting where a player was allegedly instructed to abandon his pregnant partner and relocate to live with a club staff member.
