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Re: Hawthorn racism review
Guys, let's not push the discussion too far in a direction not required. I've had to clean up two posts.Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: Hawthorn racism review
Details of the lodgment (none of it is funny, but there's a bit about Clarkson derailing a serious meeting about sensitive issues by rocking up to it with a guitar and and singing a song about Rioli.....which is absurd if it happened):
Terminate the pregnancy’: The harrowing allegations at the heart of the Hawks’ racism case
ByJake Niall and Peter Ryan
Updated August 5, 2024 — 6.17pmfirst published at 1.01pm
Three former Hawthorn players, headed by club great Cyril Rioli, have provided detailed claims of their experiences as part of their racism court action against their former club.
The document contains allegations of wrongdoing by club officials and alleges that a former Hawthorn premiership player made a racist remark about a then-teammate’s partner.
Their statement of claim – which also includes Rioli’s wife, Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, his ex-teammates Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, and Indigenous ex-official Leon Egan and the partner of another former player – lodged in the Federal Court alleges that, due to “unlawful discrimination” by Hawthorn, the players suffered “distress”, “psychological harm” and “personal harm”.
In the case of the three players, it is also claimed that they suffered a “loss of earnings and loss of earning capacity”.
The players, their partners, and Egan have not specified an amount for damages in their claim, as is customary for Federal Court actions, but are seeking damages, aggravated damages and an apology from the club.
The club will file its defence and respond to each of these claims in due course.
The claim, filed in the Federal Court of Australia, is the result of a breakdown in mediation talks with the Hawks at the Human Rights Commission.
The document recounts many of the allegations that were the subject of the AFL inquiry, such as the allegation that Alastair Clarkson – in the presence of former staffers Chris Fagan and Jason Burt – encouraged Peterson to separate from his pregnant partner and for her to terminate her pregnancy. Clarkson, Fagan and Burt strenuously deny that allegation.
But the document also reveals fresh claims, such as Clarkson’s alleged dealings with Rioli in the Northern Territory in 2017, including when he visited Rioli’s father unannounced in an Alice Springs hospital.
The document identifies four-time Hawthorn premiership star Grant Birchall as the player who allegedly used a racial slur when asking about the partner of former Hawk and now Saint Bradley Hill on an end-of-season players’ trip in Bali.
“At an end-of-season players’ trip, an Indigenous player (Mr Bradley Hill) was asked by a non-Indigenous player (Mr Grant Birchall) whether Mr Hill’s partner was also a ‘boong’,” the document alleges.
The Age contacted Birchall for comment in relation to the allegation.
It is alleged that Hill told Rioli of the comment on the first day of the following pre-season and that Hawthorn took no action as a result of the remark.
The statement of claim alleges Clarkson used to call Rioli “Humphrey B Bear” during his time at Hawthorn.
The document alleges Ah Sam-Rioli took Cyril Rioli’s teenage nephew to the players’ change rooms to see him and a Hawthorn employee asked to see their wristbands, pointed at the young boy and said: “Now you behave yourself when you go in there”.
The statement alleges that Rioli and his wife felt “culturally unsafe” at Hawthorn from about July 2015 and Rioli eventually decided to retire in 2018 after comments were allegedly made to his wife by the club’s then-president, Jeff Kennett, at Launceston Airport after a match in relation to her wearing “ripped jeans”.
Kennett is alleged to have asked Ah Sam-Rioli: “Can’t you afford to buy thread?”
In the period after Kennett’s alleged comments, Hawthorn officials attempted to broker a meeting between Kennett and the Riolis, in which the document alleges Kennett told them: “I can’t help how you feel.”
Kennett told this masthead in 2022 that the comment to Ah Sam-Rioli regarding her jeans was similar to jokes he had made many times previously with many other people. He said he had not meant to cause offence.
Ex-Hawk, Kangaroo and Sun Jed Anderson is mentioned in the context of an encounter with Clarkson and the Riolis, in which Clarkson is alleged to have suggested Anderson’s partner return to Darwin.
The 89-page statement of claim details the allegation that Clarkson told Peterson to “break up” with his partner and “tell her to terminate the pregnancy” or his football career would be “in jeopardy”.
An AFL investigation last year found no adverse findings against Clarkson, Fagan or Burt, Hawthorn’s former welfare manager. Fagan now coaches the Brisbane Lions. The three men have all strenuously denied any wrongdoing and rejected accusations of racism.
In May, the Australian Human Rights Commission terminated a claim against Hawthorn by the First Nations ex-players and their partners after the parties failed to come to a deal.
The AFL was not involved in the Human Rights Commission hearing, the league having set up a four-member panel to investigate the allegations. The AFL cleared the former Hawthorn officials of any wrongdoing under league rules last year. Hawthorn have not received any official sanction, either.
Hawks great Rioli is the lead applicant in the court action in which five former Hawthorn figures and their partners are seeking damages, aggravated damages and apologies from the club.
It details allegations that football department official Cam Matthews, now with Clarkson at North Melbourne, rejected requests for Miller-Lewis to spend time with his partner and their newborn baby in Perth.
The document also alleges club officials rejected Indigenous welfare official Leon Egan’s request for more input on decisions involving Indigenous players and that he hosted a meeting with Indigenous players who wanted the club to take stronger action in response to the booing of Sydney’s Adam Goodes. The players were allegedly threatening to withdraw from playing the next match.
It is alleged that Clarkson invited himself to the subsequent meeting and then “derailed” it by turning up with a guitar and singing a song about Rioli.
Clarkson has not been contacted for comment in relation to this specific allegation but has denied all other allegations of racism.
North Melbourne were contacted for comment in relation to both Clarkson and Matthews.
In response to the claim, Hawthorn president Andy Gowers said: “As we have done throughout this process, we will continue to work towards a resolution in a fair and timely manner for all parties.
“The Federal Court process will importantly give Hawthorn Football Club the opportunity to respond to these allegations.
“Given the matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to make any kind of comment that could impact on that process.”
Hawthorn have offered a settlement of close to $300,000 – about $50,000 per complainant – to have the matter concluded, an offer which was rejected.TF is this?.........Obviously you're not a golfer.Comment
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Re: Hawthorn racism review
Thank god they didn't do anything cynical like bury the outcome on a big football news day.
Note from the statement nothing material of Clarkson, Fagan and Burt is mentioned. These three might be ripe for civil action given Hawthorn has settled. Wonder if anyone has the apricots to bring that forward (notwithstanding the settlement may exclude future civil action against individual parties).TF is this?.........Obviously you're not a golfer.Comment
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Re: Hawthorn racism review
If any of the syndicated ****wit media outlets had any shred of integrity left, this and its burying would be bigger news tomorrow than the round one draft outcomes themselves.
This is a massive story affecting the AFL and its next year's big marketed prime time club, alongside a disturbing lack of indigenous talent likely to be drafted this year, and the diminishing presence of indigenous footballers on AFL lists!
That Hawthorn had to settle at the earliest juncture also speaks volumes. A bluff was called, there's no way they and the AFL wouldn't have driven a weak prosecuting/ claimant case into the ground if there was a chance to do so.TF is this?.........Obviously you're not a golfer.Comment
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Re: Hawthorn racism review
Part of statement says “"Hawthorn accepts that the allegations were made in good faith, and has heard, respects, and accepts that they represent their truths,”.
Logic tells me there should only be 3 possible findings; truth, lies/untrue & unknown/inconclusive.
I presume Hawks used term “their truth” as some legal smokescreen to reduce risk of saying they’re outright guilty to possibly reduce risk of further litigation against individuals. But sheesh it comes across like a snake oil salesman’s promise of a potion’s efficacy.Josie :)
Our day will come
And we'll have everything.
We'll share the joy
Just like '54 again.Comment
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Re: Hawthorn racism review
They did josie, and money talks.
Will be interesting to see what comes out in the media around settlement value.TF is this?.........Obviously you're not a golfer.Comment
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Re: Hawthorn racism review
I hate the competition body and the industry that supports its constant bullshit.Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023Comment
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Re: Hawthorn racism review
The timing of it being released on draft night is just unbelievable but totally in line with the way they do things.Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: Hawthorn racism review
Spot on complete legalese.
Their truth. Wow.
So their truth is that you told them to have an abortion. That being now legally "their" truth means that "they" still believe Fagan and Clarkson did those things.
I'm objective as I can be however this is clearly a win for the lawyers and the guys with the cash v the plaintiff's.
I also feel it's a nice way for the Hawks to smugly satisfy themselves knowing "their truths" is a euphemism to them for "full of shit".BT COME BACK!
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Re: Hawthorn racism review
So are Clarkson and Fagan still under investigation? Or is that the end of it allComment
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