Brisbane Lions midfielder Hugh McCluggage hopes the serious racism allegations levelled against coach Chris Fagan will not derail their premiership bid.
The AFL has launched an investigation that stemmed from an internal Hawthorn review into First Nations players’ experience at the club, which a Hawks statement said unearthed some “disturbing” allegations.
Fagan, who was Hawthorn’s head of football at the time, Alastair Clarkson and then-player development manager Jason Burt were accused in an ABC article during grand final week of being complicit in several alleged incidents.
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They have denied any wrongdoing but both Fagan and Clarkson, who is set to coach North Melbourne next season, stood down temporarily.
Fagan resumed his Lions duties on Wednesday, while Clarkson will officially start his new job on Melbourne Cup day (Tuesday).
The league’s investigation is set to be completed in December, with McCluggage saying he and his teammates were kept “in the loop”.
“The club’s been really good with us. They’ve supported ‘Fages’ and our indigenous boys as well and there’s constant communication between everyone, which has been really important,” McCluggage told News Corp.
“We’re just going to have to wait and see how it all plays out but I’ve seen ‘Fages’ a few times and everyone’s in good spirits around the place.
“We’re all away from the club at the moment, so I don’t know exactly how it will go – no one does – but we’re a really tight-knit group and we can only judge based on what we’ve seen so far, and he’s been awesome for us.
“I have no doubt that when everything is done; the group will be able to bond together and give it another good crack (in 2023).”
Brisbane played at least two finals in each of the past four seasons, including reaching a second preliminary final in three years this September.
A 71-point belting from eventual premier Geelong ended the Lions’ season on a sour note but they traded for established stars Josh Dunkley and Jack Gunston a month later.
They are also going to welcome father-son guns Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher, who could both be snapped up in the first 15 picks of this year’s draft.
McCluggage is willing to sacrifice midfield time for the greater team good despite a fourth-straight top-three best and fairest finish and consecutive selections in the 40-man All-Australian squad.
“It’s super exciting. I’ve caught up with the two boys coming in and they seem pumped to be a part of the club and can’t wait to get started,” McCluggage said.
“Dunkley and Gunston, then the young boys coming in as well, will create a really fresh vibe around the club and teach us a few lessons as well, as more experienced and older players from different clubs.
“We’ve felt like we were close (to a flag) for two or three years but haven’t quite got it done, and the competition is so tight … you can be off your game for a few weeks then, all of a sudden, you’ve lost a few games and you’re on the back foot.
“We’re really happy with who we’ve got in … but I think we also understand it’s not just going to happen and we’ve got to find ways to get better, because close enough isn’t good enough in our eyes.”
