AFL’s Hawthorn hit by ‘disturbing historical allegations’ of racism and bullying

The AFL’s integrity unit is to investigate claims that First Nations players at Hawthorn Football Club were bullied by senior coaching staff.

Hawthorn Football Club players were reportedly isolated from family, told to leave their partners and one alleges he was ordered to end a pregnancy.

As the League prepares for its Grand Final at the MCG on Saturday, the ABC today published details of the confidential review of the team's treatment of its Indigenous players.

Hawthorn Chief Executive Justin Reeves says the “heartbreaking” findings of a review alleging serious mistreatment of its former Aboriginal players came as “a surprise to everyone” who worked for the club at the time.

Reeves spoke to media shortly after the AFL announced it will create an external independent panel to investigate the “challenging, harrowing and disturbing” allegations, including that the club separated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players from their families and pressured one couple to terminate a pregnancy.

Hawthorn commissioned the review after former First Nations Hawks star Cyril Rioli made allegations of racist treatment in April, though Reeves said the process “wasn’t an investigation as such”, rather a means of checking the welfare of Indigenous players and staff, past and present.

Reeves stated “I read the report like you guys today, and it is tough reading.

“It is heartbreaking … we are profoundly disappointed that some of our former players and their families feel like this about their experiences at the club.”

Reeves said the club received the final report two weeks ago, but that it was “more complicated” than a case of reacting immediately, given its participants were de-identified.

AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan advised that the governing body had received the report “about a week ago.

Reeves went on to explain “we spoke to a really wide range of people who were at the club at that time and it has been a surprise to everyone that I’ve spoken to.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to speak directly to those affected but certainly the people I’ve spoken to (were not aware) of these allegations historically.”

He said this included current Head Coach Sam Mitchell.

Reaction
The Brisbane Lions announced that Head Coach Chris Fagan, a former Hawks staff member, would take a leave of absence so he could fully cooperate in the investigation.

North Melbourne then followed suit, issuing a press release to say incoming Head Coach Alastair Clarkson, who led Hawthorn between 2005 and 2021, would delay the start of his tenure.

McLachlan pledged the AFL would “get to the bottom of it”, going on to say “what we have seen today is a challenging, harrowing and disturbing read.

“I acknowledge the hurt, the anger and the grief of people who have shared their experiences and told their stories and all of those impacted.

“I want to say to the women and the partners and also the players who have shared their stories that our first priority is to you, and to provide the care and the support that you need. You have been heard, and as a support and a community, we will do our best to wrap our arms around you in support.

“It is important that we continue to communicate with you and to you. Your welfare is the most pressing priority for us because I know that sharing these stories is not easy, but it is important that you do, and we want to thank you all who have shared their experiences as part of this review.”

The AFL Players’ Association Chief Executive, Paul Marsh, said the organisation was “extremely concerned” by the allegations, while its president, Geelong midfielder Patrick Dangerfield, labelled them “disturbing”.

Marsh commented “we have spoken to the AFL and communicated our expectations that an independent investigation must be conducted,” Marsh said. “It should also be well-resourced and wide-ranging in scope.”

ABC interviews
The ABC interviewed three unnamed players who were at the Melbourne club - also known as the Hawks - between 2005 and 2021. During that time, they say they were forced to choose between their careers and their families.

One said coaching staff had "demanded that I needed to get rid of my unborn child and my partner".

Another player told the ABC Hawthorn reacted similarly when they learned his partner was pregnant. He said he was forced to break up with her and cut off contact. She later miscarried.

A third player - who was from another state - told the investigation the club had actively tried to stop his young family from relocating to Melbourne to be with him.

All three couples spoke about their mental health struggles since the incidents.

Indigenous AFL legend Adam Goodes says years of racist abuse from rival fans left him "heartbroken" and led to him retiring in 2015.

A review into Collingwood in 2020 found it was guilty of "systemic racism".