Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan were part of a group accused of “bullying and intimidation” of Indigenous players, while running the Hawthorn football department like the “Russian Mafia”, according to a News Corp report on a review of the club’s handling of its Indigenous players.
Former coach Clarkson, former football manager Fagan, former football manager Mark Evans and former development coach Jason Burt have all been mentioned in the report, of which News Corp claimed to have obtained a copy.
Former Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson.Credit:Getty Images
A source with knowledge of the report told The Age on Tuesday night that the version was a draft, but only minor changes had been made in the final version of the report.
Specific pages of the report, conducted by author and project manager Phil Egan, were published in full, detailing the claims made by the former Hawthorn Indigenous players and their families in the period between 2010-16.
Clarkson, Fagan and Burt have all denied any wrongdoing and have taken a leave of absence from their current roles.
The report alleges Indigenous players and their families were subjected to “bullying and intimidation tactics … to be used to isolate First Nations players from their families and communities”. It alleged the “aggressive intimidatory actions were undertaken by the most senior of the coaching and management hierarchy”.
According to News Corp, the report claimed Clarkson, Fagan and Burt used “bullying and intimidation” against First Nations players and their partners, with the incidents so serious as to “amount to human rights abuses”.
Two pregnant partners of players lost their unborn children during the “traumatic events”, the report allegedly said.
A former Hawks coach, now seen as a whistleblower, said of the Hawks’ football department: “If you dare question their methods, you were frozen out.
“He went on to say (Mark) Evans, Clarkson, Fagan and Burt operated the football department like The Russian Mafia,” the report is claimed to have said.
Evans, now Gold Coast Suns chief executive, did not wish to comment when contacted by The Age.
According to News Corp, the report states that “partners of players who have tabled the serious allegations were in the early stages of pregnancy, with two mothers losing their unborn child during these traumatic events”.
One partner alleged that: “For three grown men (Clarkson, Fagan and Burt) to have walked into my house with no warning, and intimidate, trap and bully me full well knowing I’m carrying a child is just by no means acceptable.
“I was in complete agony after they left, I felt like my world had just come crashing down.
“If anything was to happen to this baby I would have no choice but to hold the Hawthorn Football Club and those three as individuals responsible and it is the last thing on earth I’d ever want to do.”
News Corp reported that another claim stated: “Alister (sic) Clarkson came over to visit us one night. I remember his comments as soon as he entered the house because I was so shocked. Clarko – ‘Oh (player’s name) this house is nice, you have the kids artwork up and it’s nice and clean. You should invite your teammates over for dinner and things. For all they know you’re living in a shack in the desert somewhere.’
“I was insulted straight away. It was clear that this Hawthorn official had a view on how Aboriginal people live and he wasn’t shy in voicing it.”
One testimony said: “Hawthorn had advised (REDACTED) that I should have an abortion and he should leave his family. They disconnected his mobile and relocated him somewhere where I would not know where he was …
“Throughout my pregnancy I would feel the wrath of the Hawthorn FC bullying tactics.″
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