Hawthorn racism review

[Daughter of the West]

story is blocked by Herald Sun but one of the partners has apparently released a statement saying they wont participate in the "official" review.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...02-p5butn.html

The Age has it.

I only read the part about “Amy” not participating, but every point made checks off on the AFL’s “process this quickly and sweep it under the rug list.”

[GVGjr]

story is blocked by Herald Sun but one of the partners has apparently released a statement saying they wont participate in the "official" review.

Hawthorn racism investigation: Player’s partner slams AFL process

The partner of a Hawthorn player whose claims form a key component of the AFL’s investigation into historical racism at the club has issued an explosive statement about the process.

The partner who claims she was pushed to terminate a pregnancy by key Hawthorn officials has refused to be part of the AFL’s independent investigation into historical claims of racism at the club, releasing an explosive statement slamming the entire process.

The woman, named “Amy” – who has had her name changed to protect her identity – is identified in the statement that was released by Marque Lawyers early on Wednesday morning as A Gunditjmara and Bunitj woman who alleges she is the victim of “appalling mistreatment by Hawthorn Football Club”.

It is understood that Amy is the second alleged victim to walk away from the AFL process.

In the statement, Marque Lawyers – headed by Michael Bradley – declared “it is not an independent investigation”.

“While we cast no aspersions on the nominated investigation panel members, the entire process will be conducted under the control of the AFL and for the AFL’s purposes,” the statement reads.

“If the AFL is genuinely concerned to unearth and expose the full depth of racist mistreatment of First Nations players and their families by one or more of its clubs, then it should engage an external body with appropriate expertise, operating completely independently of the AFL, to conduct a wide-ranging inquiry into the systemic racist abuses that the revelations regarding Hawthorn have exposed.

“Instead, the AFL’s own lawyers are assisting the investigation panel and corresponding with parties on its behalf.

“A lawyer was also appointed to represent the players and families, without their first being asked what they wanted or any consideration of the diversity of their interests. The investigation report will be the property of the AFL, which will decide when and how it is released.

“It continues the pattern of abuse it is supposedly addressing.

“The investigation won’t respond to the findings of the Hawthorn Cultural Safety Review but rather interrogate whether the incidents of abuse even took place, which is a huge insult to the many First Nations players and family members who were brave enough to come forward to share and relive the trauma they experienced.”

It also refutes league boss Gillon McLachlan’s statement that “this matter was brought to the

AFL by Hawthorn at the request of the families”

“This investigation has been imposed on the players and their families, placing pressure on them at a time of deep distress,” it said.

Amy declared “why would I ask the protectors of the perpetrators

who caused me all this trauma to then investigate the abuse?”.

The statement also said “the scene is set to discredit the findings of the

Hawthorn Cultural Safety Review and dismiss or downplay the testimonies of First Nations players and their families”.

“There is no safety in this; no regard to or respect for privacy, no cultural sensitivity, only brutal intrusion upon the most intimate and traumatic experiences in the lives of the victims of Hawthorn’s mistreatment,” the statement reads.

“The players and their families were promised anonymity by Hawthorn; now the club is asking them to consent to the disclosure of their personal information and doing nothing to protect them. It is clear that this investigation does not have as its focus a desire to remedy, or even be responsive to, the trauma that First Nations players and their families say they experienced.

“It is the bodies, minds and believability of First Nations players and their families that will be scrutinised and the same racialising logics that enabled Hawthorn to engage in inappropriate conduct will be enlisted in the very process designed to investigate it. First Nations people remain cast as the problem to be solved in this whole affair.

“We express our deep concern for the First Nations players and their families who are involved in this process – one that might as well have been consciously designed to reproduce the abuse that it is meant to be addressing.”

She says that while senior coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan have returned to their posts, for her, “it is not business as usual”.

She has labelled the AFL investigation as “unsafe” and says she is “refusing to consent to the silencing tactics of the AFL”, while also working through the “guilt” she feels having not spoken up at the time.
“It’s a little hard to speak up when it feels like your voice box has been pulled out of your throat,” Amy said.

“I could either stay numb and silent, or I could find my voice and play my part in the struggle to try and create safety and protection for our young ones who would inevitably face these systems.”

The statement lashes the AFL as “disingenuous” and claims that its declarations that the process will be independent are “a lie”.

It also accuses the league of launching a “brutal intrusion” on the families at the centre of the claims.

Clarkson, Fagan and former Hawthorn official Jason Burt – all of whom are named in the harrowing claims made in the Hawthorn cultural safety report that was laid bare in September – have denied all allegations levelled at them.

In walking away from the investigation, which was launched by the AFL in Grand Final week, Amy said she had raised significant concerns throughout and “asked for major changes” to the terms of reference that were released a fortnight ago, and that “several fundamental concerns were ignored”.

[GVGjr]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...02-p5butn.html

The Age has it.

I only read the part about “Amy” not participating, but every point made checks off on the AFL’s “process this quickly and sweep it under the rug list.”

It would be such a shame if the full details don't come out but you have to feel Amy and others that this is not an independent investigation in the way that it should be.

[bornadog]

It would be such a shame if the full details don't come out but you have to feel Amy and others that this is not an independent investigation in the way that it should be.

They are also scared to reveal their identities. Lots of racial vitriol on Social Media

[Grantysghost]

They are also scared to reveal their identities. Lots of racial vitriol on Social Media

Exactly, why would you.

I don't know if the allegations are true, however there is no way I would be revealing my identity in this sports mad town with the seriousness of these allegations.
It's really exposed the lack of safe space for people to raise these type of concerns.

[soupman]

Do not blame any of the victims at all for refusing to take part in this sham.

I think the above statement really highlights many of the inherent issues with the "investigation" really well.

Must be horrible to find yourself in this situation where now that this is out there it feels like any hope of a real resolution or actual consequences is quickly slipping away.

[GVGjr]

Do not blame any of the victims at all for refusing to take part in this sham.

I think the above statement really highlights many of the inherent issues with the "investigation" really well.

Must be horrible to find yourself in this situation where now that this is out there it feels like any hope of a real resolution or actual consequences is quickly slipping away.

It's a terrible situation and the AFL should be ashamed of the fact that some people aren't trusting the process.

[bulldogtragic]

AFEL: Nothing to see here folks. Look everybody, delisted free agency tomorrow and look at who your club might get on the cheap. Everybody look over there... and the draft soon too. Look over there.

[EasternWest]

When I am king, any "news" paper using the term "slams" will be first against the wall.

Sorry I know this doesn't contribute anything.

[Murphy'sLore]

No surprises here. The AFEL can't lose, they put together the panel so it's not independent, when victims decline to participate they can shrug their shoulders and say, well, we tried. End of story.

So frustrating, and NOTHING CHANGES. AFEL must be rapt, it's all unfolding just as they want it to.

[jeemak]

So that's a massive shot between the eyes the AFEL probably wasn't expecting.

[Daughter of the West]

No surprises here. The AFEL can't lose, they put together the panel so it's not independent, when victims decline to participate they can shrug their shoulders and say, well, we tried. End of story.

So frustrating, and NOTHING CHANGES. AFEL must be rapt, it's all unfolding just as they want it to.

The situation in a nutshell unfortunately.

[Dogs 24/7]

No surprises here. The AFEL can't lose, they put together the panel so it's not independent, when victims decline to participate they can shrug their shoulders and say, well, we tried. End of story.

So frustrating, and NOTHING CHANGES. AFEL must be rapt, it's all unfolding just as they want it to.

Perfectly summed up.

[bornadog]

No surprises here. The AFEL can't lose, they put together the panel so it's not independent, when victims decline to participate they can shrug their shoulders and say, well, we tried. End of story.

So frustrating, and NOTHING CHANGES. AFEL must be rapt, it's all unfolding just as they want it to.

Listening to the lawyer this morning for Amy (not real name), AFEL is trying to rush the process so it is resolved for 2023 season. No care for victims or giving time for a proper process - all about the AFL and protecting the old boys club

[Grantysghost]

When I am king, any "news" paper using the term "slams" will be first against the wall.

Sorry I know this doesn't contribute anything.

EW slams newspapers: dreams about being media kingpin.

Like that?