Former Hawthorn superstar Cyril Rioli and his wife Shannyn have joined the contingent of First Nations players and partners who have made submissions to the AFL inquiry into alleged racism at Hawthorn.
Sources familiar with the AFL’s investigation into allegations of mistreatment of First Nations players confirmed that Rioli and his wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, were participating in the inquiry, in which a number of former players and theirs partners have made written submissions to the AFL-appointed panel, which is running the probe into allegations that First Nations players were mistreated in the period from 2008 until 2016.
Sources also revealed that there had been close to 18 submissions made to the inquiry, all in written form, from past players after Hawthorn wrote to approximately 120 past players and invited them to make comments for the inquiry, which is investigating allegations levelled against four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson and his former lieutenants Chris Fagan and Jason Burt.
Sources said a number of the confidential submissions from former players had been in defence of those officials, who are defending themselves against allegations from former players, including that a First Nations player was encouraged to have his pregnant partner terminate her pregnancy. Clarkson, Fagan and Burt have strenuously denied the allegations and are putting forth their versions of events in the investigation, headed by a four-member panel chaired by KC Bernie Quinn.
It was the grievances aired by Rioli and his wife – including Shannyn’s unhappiness with comments by former president Jeff Kennett – that led Hawthorn to commission a cultural safety review of the club’s handling of First Nations players. This review, completed by Indigenous consultant Phil Egan, brought the allegations by players and their partners that has led the AFL to have an inquiry.
Rioli has remained distant from the Hawks, having been incensed by a racist comment by a senior teammate on an end of season trip in 2013. “Cyril found out about it and was very upset,” Shannyn told The Age’s Caroline Wilson back in April.
Cyril Rioli and his wife, Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli.
Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli had also been upset by comments by Kennett in Launceston about the style of her ripped jeans – comments she said had made her feel “belittled and humiliated” while Cyril Rioli called Kennett’s comments “the final straw” in terms of the club’s handling of Indigenous players and their culture over a number of years.
Rioli retired in 2017, aged only 28, walking away from a significant contract and the prospect of millions of dollars, to return home to Darwin. Like other ex-First Nations players, he would have the option of seeking financial restitution.
Hawthorn subsequently issued an apology to the Riolis, and then commissioned the Egan review, details of which were leaked via an ABC report in late September, prompting the AFL action.
Sources said Rioli was being represented by Arnold Bloch Leibler, the well-known law firm that is acting on behalf of several of the First Nations players and/or their partners. Other players and/or partners who have made allegations, however, have chosen not to participate in the inquiry, despite engaging legal. One couple had briefly engaged in mediation discussions, via lawyer Dr Judy Courtin.
The AFL inquiry is viewed as far from complete, and the parties – both the officials facing allegations and the families involved – having the capacity to seek redress in other forums such as the courts.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
