Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has revealed the Hawks have begun working with the five First Nations families at the centre of the club’s racism storm, the news coming as Alastair Clarkson was cleared to return to work next Tuesday.
As North Melbourne confirmed Clarkson will officially begin as coach on November 1, having taken a leave of absence in September when the racism allegations emerged from his time as coach at Hawthorn, Kennett said the Hawks had reached out to the families who had accused the club of inappropriate conduct, including racist behaviour, bullying, inappropriate intrusion or control over the family between 2008-16, in an internal club report.
“We were deeply saddened by the findings of the survey among our First Nations players, past and present. While that (club) survey re-enforced that the club is a culturally safe workplace for our current players, it did highlight some serious issues with some past players and their families,” Kennett said in a letter to club members.
Retiring Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says the club has begun working with the five families who have made racist allegations against the club.Credit:Getty Images
“Their stories, anonymously told, were provided to the AFL integrity unit as we were required to do and as was recommended in the survey report. The AFL is now conducting its investigations. That said, we have already been working with the families concerned to better understand their concerns and assist them where possible and reasonable. We, like you, await the results of the AFL’s investigation.”
A four-person panel, led by Bernard Quinn KC, will lead the investigation, but the five families have yet to confirm whether they have confidence in the process and are willing to participate in the hearings. The investigation and findings are due to be released by December 22.
The families had laid out their concerns in an internal probe of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s experiences with the Hawks, launched by the club, and authored by consultant Phil Egan, a former Richmond player.
“As we work hard to provide a safe and enjoyable workplace for all our employees, no workplace should ever be afraid, as we have at Hawthorn, to survey employees, to get their honest reaction to their experiences. If and where fault is found, it can then be addressed. Without that knowledge, more faults may continue,” Kennett said.
“Asking the questions of our past players was the right thing to do. The survey results were made public before we could address the allegations through a proper process.”
The Kangaroos said they have confidence Clarkson, who has vigorously denied the racism allegations, would be able to fulfil his pre-season coaching duties while dealing with the independent investigation. Clarkson officially starts work on November 1 – Melbourne Cup day – but this first day at the club had been in doubt.
“We support the process to provide a voice for all parties. That includes former Hawthorn players and their families, as well as former coaches and staff, including Alastair,” club president Dr Sonja Hood said.
“The board came to its decision after consulting with a range of stakeholders.”
The Brisbane Lions have confirmed coach Chris Fagan, also fighting racism allegations from his time as Hawthorn football manager, will return to work. Fagan had also taken a leave of absence, and has strenuously denied the allegations. Fagan and Clarkson have engaged legal counsel.
The AFL had said it was a club decision whether the two men returned to work before the investigation ended.
Meanwhile, the retiring Kennett, set to undergo back surgery, has temporarily handed power to his deputy Peter Nankivell, whom Kennett and the board have backed to take the job top come the December 13 AGM.
However, Ed Sill, president of the Box Hill Hawks, and 1991 premiership player Andy Gowers, a former board director, are also running for the presidency, while former deputy premier James Merlino is among a group eying a seat on the board.
Gowers says the club’s standards have slipped and fears the Hawks will fall down the “slippery slope”.
Kennett said the board endorsed the return of Dr Anne-Marie Pellizzer and Katie Hudson as directors, and had nominated lawyer Maria Lui, the chair of the Hawks Community Foundation, to fill a vacancy. Kennett said the board had the “right mix of skills” to usher the club through its next phase under coach Sam Mitchell, warning “we have seen recently with some other clubs where division has led to great difficulties”.
