Coach Alastair Clarkson III - new NMFC senior coach until at least end 2027 - NMFC board approved AC to start 1/11 amid ongoing HFC racism investigation

[Flawed Genius]

Most I what I read in the ABC report, sounds like Hawthorn doing its best to help distracted and undisciplined Indigenous boys live up to their potential and become professional athletes.

By advising them to terminate pregnancies? If they wanted to ensure players are professional and disciplined, wouldn't the best way to go about it be to provide them with structure, health development plans, links to programs and services which support First Nations people uprooted from their home state, counselling, dietary assistance etc etc? Not saying "break up with your missus, she's a bad egg"?

 

[Waussie]

I can’t even believe so many people here are taking anonymous allegations that seriously. How are the accused allowed to be named but those alleging aren’t even asked to submit a statutory declaration or put their name behind this?

It’s absolutely likely to be complete made up exaggerated rubbish, yet people are already hanging Clarko, who has been known to be a man of integrity.

What sort of investigation uses some unknown “First Nations” people to interview other “first Nations” people, not bothering to use any professional investigators or interviewing any other club staff or the accused? This is just absolute load of crap and I hope those involved are already preparing a huge defamation case against the ABC and anyone else involved in publishing unproven allegations and naming the people who also have families and whose mental case should be protected.

Any serious allegation where the accuser isn’t prepared to put his name behind it, should be taken with a grain of salt


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What they don't have " non first nation " people investigating " non first nation" people? Shock horror!

 

[SpiderBurton22]

Hear hear... I'm over in WA at the moment, so having myself a cheeky paddle:

View attachment 1514520

 

[SpiderBurton22]

Didn't step down, just took a leave of absence until the investigation is complete.

Yeah, sorry. Wrong choice of words.

 

[Flawed Genius]

Trying to put the blame on Kennett may misplaced, if he was involved at the time he too would be stepping down. Andrew Newbold has stepped down from his role at the AFL That should tell you something.

I don't know that Jeff would stand down if he was the suspect in a murder investigation and the cops had actual footage of him smiling at the camera wearing a sign that says "I am Jeff Kennett and I am about to commit a murder", then footage of him stabbing the victim. This is a bloke who took an actual golliwog that he had nicknamed after a champion indigenous footballer at his club into a media environment and allowed himself to be photographed with it

 

[DuckYeah]

I’m not suggesting it came from him, but the character of the person making the accusations matters.

I’m not suggesting racism doesn’t exist. It certainly does.

My personal story is only a small thing, but I took my daughter to a park in North Fitzroy and she was playing with another girl, the kid got called over by her parents and then would not play with my daughter again, when my daughter asked her to play with her the kid said “My parents said you look like an aboriginal person and I have to be more careful” and walked off.

Holy ****ing shit! Im sorry humanity isn’t better. I have sat here for a ****ing half hour writing a reply, deleting a reply, writing a reply, deleting a reply. I have no words for that experience other than, I am ****ing sorry. I’m learning, I walked through the First Nations experience at the museum, Personal emotions were ****ing disgusted and blown away. I am trying and legitimately attempting to learn and again. Im ****in sorry Bro.

 

[BigRedRoo]

By advising them to terminate pregnancies? If they wanted to ensure players are professional and disciplined, wouldn't the best way to go about it be to provide them with structure, health development plans, links to programs and services which support First Nations people uprooted from their home state, counselling, dietary assistance etc etc? Not saying "break up with your missus, she's a bad egg"?

Untested allegation, one which I sure will find is strongly denied by all.

 

[winalotroos]

I was so happy with everything North over the last month, but this has kicked me in the nuts.

 

[Dodecahedron]

I don't know that Jeff would stand down if he was the suspect in a murder investigation and the cops had actual footage of him smiling at the camera wearing a sign that says "I am Jeff Kennett and I am about to commit a murder", then footage of him stabbing the victim. This is a bloke who took an actual golliwog that he had nicknamed after a champion indigenous footballer at his club into a media environment and allowed himself to be photographed with it

And just to be crystal clear, Jeff did recently make a $450,000 threat to Clarko, reminding him that he is Hawthorn employee till Oct 31st.

 

[DuckYeah]

I can’t even believe so many people here are taking anonymous allegations that seriously. How are the accused allowed to be named but those alleging aren’t even asked to submit a statutory declaration or put their name behind this?

It’s absolutely likely to be complete made up exaggerated rubbish, yet people are already hanging Clarko, who has been known to be a man of integrity.

What sort of investigation uses some unknown “First Nations” people to interview other “first Nations” people, not bothering to use any professional investigators or interviewing any other club staff or the accused? This is just absolute load of crap and I hope those involved are already preparing a huge defamation case against the ABC and anyone else involved in publishing unproven allegations and naming the people who also have families and whose mental health should be protected.

Any serious allegation where the accuser isn’t prepared to put his name behind it, should be taken with a grain of salt


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Nah, I cant say it’s completely fabricated. There is some element of this story that has to be truthful. Just not enough to completely be justifiable to a lynching. Just too much missing to hang someone.

 

[Ligma]

Kennett is as stubborn as they come.

 

[Event Horizon]

You're a clown.

I have absolutely no interest what random dickhead thinks of me. But I will not stand for anonymous allegations being allowed to publicly name the accused with zero investigation taking place. Anyone who thinks differently is entitled to their opinion - no idiot ever has admitted he’s an idiot


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[Lomas]

Kennett is as stubborn as they come.

And not in a good way.

 

[Val Keating]

Holy ******* s*t! Im sorry humanity isn’t better. I have sat here for a ****** half hour writing a reply, deleting a reply, writing a reply, deleting a reply. I have no words for that experience other than, I am ******* sorry. I’m learning, I walked through the First Nations experience at the museum, Personal emotions were ******* disgusted and blown away. I am trying and legitimately attempting to learn and again. Im *in sorry Bro.

Jeez mate. You’re embarrassing me. There’s nothing for you to apologise for. Some people are ignorant. I just hope that little girl realises that her parents were just ignorant.

My daughters have had more people fawning over how beautiful they are then I can remember, definitely not getting hung up on one occasion.

 

[Ligma]

And not in a good way.

How do I like this post 10000 times?

 

[DuckYeah]

I don't know that Jeff would stand down if he was the suspect in a murder investigation and the cops had actual footage of him smiling at the camera wearing a sign that says "I am Jeff Kennett and I am about to commit a murder", then footage of him stabbing the victim. This is a bloke who took an actual golliwog that he had nicknamed after a champion indigenous footballer at his club into a media environment and allowed himself to be photographed with it

Jeff Kennet is arguably Victorias biggest piece of shit. He ranks top 10 of Australias biggest pieces of shit in History

 

[Event Horizon]

Because the ABC report is supposedly based on conversations the journalist had with these parties, and not just the report created by/for Hawthorn, and the journalist in question has had a large number of hard hitting articles on historical AFL scandals that never (or barely) saw the light of day at the time.

The question is why the **** the said journalist was able to do that, while AFL who has had the report for two weeks have done FA and haven’t even assembled a team of investigators?

The other question is why the said journalist didn’t bother to contact Fagan or Clarko Bd actually conduct a proper piece of investigative journalism?


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[Makeshift Park]

So Phil Egan did the Hawthorn report.

 

[Devington]

The question is why the * the said journalist was able to do that, while AFL who has had the report for two weeks have done FA and haven’t even assembled a team of investigators?

The other question is why the said journalist didn’t bother to contact Fagan or Clarko Bd actually conduct a proper piece of investigative journalism?


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AFL claimed the details in the article weren't in the report they received from Hawthorn. Clarko and Fagan were contacted for comment, according to the article, but I assume they were probably given about 3 seconds notice.

 

[DuckYeah]

Jeez mate. You’re embarrassing me. There’s nothing for you to apologise for. Some people are ignorant. I just hope that little girl realises that her parents were just ignorant.

My daughters have had more people fawning over how beautiful they are then I can remember, definitely not getting hung up on one occasion.

My bad man. In all honesty, its tough, and respect is what should be shown at every moment.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Clarkson, Fagan embroiled in racism scandal as report calls for ‘reparation’​

By Jack Latimore, Jake Niall and Peter Ryan​

A report containing “harrowing allegations” about the treatment of Indigenous players at Hawthorn Football Club during their recent premiership era recommends the players be compensated if the allegations are found to be true, but legendary AFL coach Alastair Clarkson, who is at the centre of the crisis, vigorously defended himself against any claims of wrongdoing.

The league on Wednesday was engulfed by a racism scandal that has implications across the competition. AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said that “on face value it is hard to find more serious allegations”.

Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves has called the report into the club's historical racism claims a 'tough read' and 'heartbreaking', saying the wellbeing of its player remains the priority.

Clarkson, who coached the Hawks to four premierships including a historic treble between 2013 and 2015, agreed to push back his start date as the new coach of North Melbourne but said he refuted “any allegation of wrongdoing or misconduct,” while his former Hawthorn football lieutenant Chris Fagan took leave as head coach of the Brisbane Lions.

AFL commissioner Andrew Newbold, who was president of Hawthorn between 2012 and 2016, also took a leave of absence after the league set up an independent panel headed by a King’s Counsel to investigate the claims. Newbold is not alleged to have been directly involved in the allegations and the AFL said he was taking leave to assist in the investigation.

Among the allegations in an external Hawthorn review, and published by the ABC, are that Indigenous former players were told to live separately from their families and that one player and his partner were allegedly pressured to terminate a pregnancy.

Clarkson, Fagan and Newbold were not approached by the authors of the review, which was commissioned after allegations made by former premiership star Cyril Rioli and his partner Shannyn in The Age.

Its author, former Richmond player Phil Egan, commended the bravery of First Nations players who shared their experiences and described the review’s contents as “unprecedented”.

“The report noted a range of recommendations for the club to address in relation to creating a culturally safe environment for all,” Egan told The Age.

“These include further and immediate investigation of the findings; reparation and compensation for the affected families if the allegations are validated; and policy and structural changes to ensure cultural safety is embedded within the club.”

Egan, an Indigenous man who played 125 games for the Tigers during the 1980s and endured his own experiences with racism in the game, said he felt privileged to have been tasked with the review because of its sensitive nature, and that Hawthorn deserved credit for commissioning it.

“It was a very difficult body of work to get through, but I took it as a cultural responsibility – as an Aboriginal man and a past player that knows club land,” he said.

“The players, to have built up the strength to come forward to make sure this never happens to anybody else, they are to be commended.”

Clarkson, who last month signed a lucrative five-year deal to coach the Kangaroos and was due to start the job on November 1, released a strongly worded statement saying he had not been afforded “due process”.

Sources familiar with the situation said Clarkson was first made aware of the allegations on Monday.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and Tanya Hosch, the league's general manager of inclusion and social policy, respond to allegations of racism at Hawthorn Football Club.

“The health, care and welfare of our players, staff and their families were always my highest priorities during my time at Hawthorn Football Club,” he said.

“I was therefore shocked by the extremely serious allegations reported in the media earlier today. I was not interviewed by the authors of the report commissioned by the club, and nor have I been provided with a copy of the report,” Clarkson said.

“I was not afforded any due process and I refute any allegation of wrongdoing or misconduct and look forward to the opportunity to be heard as part of the AFL external investigation.”

The Brisbane Lions said in a statement that Fagan would “work with the AFL on an investigation into allegations concerning historical events at the Hawthorn Football Club, where he was a former employee”.

“Chris supports and welcomes the investigation,” the statement said.

“He was not consulted during the Hawthorn sponsored review and looks forward to the opportunity to be heard as part of the AFL investigation.”

A player known as “Ian” told the ABC he was excited to share with his teammates that his partner was 12 weeks pregnant with their child.

He alleged in the ABC story he was ushered into an office by Clarkson and Fagan, where he was urged to have the pregnancy terminated and to “get rid” of his partner.

“It was so intimidating, confusing and upsetting,” he told the ABC.

Another player told the broadcaster he felt “under a microscope” and was told his partner was holding him back and he needed to end the relationship to go further in his career.

Coaches were also accused of coercing players to remove SIM cards to cut them off from their family members to force them to focus on football, according to the ABC.

The ABC report says that the player felt he had no choice. “He told me to kill my unborn kid,” he is quoted as saying.

The player reportedly phoned his partner in a state of shock. “I just remember that he could barely get the words out and he seemed to be crying, and he quickly said that we needed to terminate the pregnancy and end the relationship,” the player’s partner reportedly said.

“Just like that. I will never forget that phone call or the heartbreak I felt in that moment. I was frozen on the spot, completely numb from what I had just heard [the player] say. I had no idea what was happening.”

The Age can reveal that the timeline of events in the report was from 2010-16, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Hawthorn sources said the club did not speak directly to the former players, who told their stories to Egan, but the club offered to meet those concerned if they wished. However, the players did not feel comfortable speaking to Hawthorn.

The AFL has been given a redacted, de-identified report that does not name the players, nor the officials.

“We’ve spoken to a really wide range of people who were at the club at that time, and it’s been a surprise to everyone that I’ve spoken to,” Reeves said.

“This report came back with some disturbing allegations and we acted on [them] straight away.”

Asked whether Hawthorn had a cultural problem, he said: “I think Australia has a culture problem, historically”.

“Like so many institutions, I think we have to face our history and our past and we have to act responsibly and we have to co-operate and we’ll move forward from that.”

Victorian Labor senator Jana Stewart said she was heartbroken by the allegations.

“I bloody love footy, and this just breaks my heart,” she said.

 

[shinboner magic]

This threads about to go nuclear- Caro and her make believe is about to kick off.

 

[DuckYeah]

So Phil Egan did the Hawthorn report.

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Phil Egan?

 

[blackshadow]

So Phil Egan did the Hawthorn report.

According to The Age that’s right.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Phil Egan?

Played for Richmond in the 80s, indigenous fella.