Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has responded to reports he and North Melbourne boss Alastair Clarkson have rejected mediation to resolve the Hawthorn racism investigation.
The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph first reported the ex-Hawks officials had denied the opportunity to attend a hearing, potentially without lawyers, to try and find a solution.
With lawyers involved the investigation has already ran for seven months and it’s feared it will take months, if not years to solve it – and certainly past outgoing CEO Gill McLachlan’s exit date, which is just after the 2023 Grand Final.
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While Fagan did not categorically deny rejecting mediation, due to a confidentiality agreement he has signed, said he has “not said those words to anybody, that I’m not going to participate in whatever process comes up in the future”.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, the Lions coach said: “I’m aware of that article (in the Herald Sun) but I haven’t read it.
“As you know, I’ve signed a confidentiality deed and so it’s really difficult for me to talk to you about anything to do with the investigation. And if there’s a mediation process which is part of that investigation again, I can’t really talk about it.
“But (it’d) be fair to say I’ve not said those words to anybody, that I’m not going to participate in whatever process comes up in the future.
“I’m really keen for this, for us to progress the process, but I do want to make sure that whatever we’re involved in is fair and just to all parties.
“But I’ve had no discussion with my lawyers in the last week or so about mediation processes and whether or not we’ll be in them. I just have to leave it at that, that’s about all I can say.”
The AFL announced a four-person independent panel would investigate the allegations by First Nations players last October.
Ex-Hawthorn figures including Clarkson and Fagan were accused of bullying, misconduct and inappropriate conduct. All allegations have been denied.
“It’s well documented we have got an independent process in place and that’s playing out at the moment,” new AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said on Monday.
“It’s a complex issue and I feel for everyone who’s involved in it. What we’re going to do is work to get the best and right outcome but it’s an independent process. And we have to respect that. Often in these things it’s about all getting the process right.
“And what we are not going to do is cut corners or fast-track the process. We are going to get the right outcome and we will get it in the right time.”
