I don’t hold much hope that the AFL will do the right thing and step in | Douglas Smith

We’ve seen it in the past. Take Collingwood’s ‘Do Better’ report for one, or the Adelaide Crows camp, writes Douglas Smith.

Another day, another racism scandal in the AFL – except this time, it’s not just racism.

The allegations made against former Hawthorn head coach Alastair Clarkson, assistant coach Chris Fagan, and player development manager Jason Burt, are a whole other conversation.

It doesn’t matter if you’re Indigenous or non-Indigenous, the allegations are disturbing to the core.

Overnight, Clarkson “refuted” all allegations and said he was “shocked”, and Fagan has taken a leave of absence until the AFL conducts its investigation.

It was confirmed Thursday morning that Burt has taken indefinite leave from his coaching role at an elite Melbourne private school.

However, if any part of the allegations turn out to be true, then the AFL clubs need to clean house.

Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan in their time at Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media

Furthermore, the AFL needs to take stronger action to protect Indigenous players and their families from sick, dehumanising, and tyrannical behaviour. But I don’t hold much hope, given this type of stuff keeps happening to Indigenous players.

Even if 50 per cent of the allegations are true, I’d still say the same thing.

No coach, staff member, or senior club figure in any football club in Australia should have the right to tell a player what to do with an “unborn child”, or coerce players from separating from their partner for the sake of their careers.

Being unfairly targeted by those who think they hold power over us is something Indigenous people deal with daily.

As an Indigenous person, I don’t hold much hope that the AFL will do the right thing and step in to make sure people who might be found to have engaged in this kind of conduct might not be allowed to hold such positions.

We’ve seen it in the past. Take Collingwood’s ‘Do Better’ report for one, or the Adelaide Crows camp.

What came out of all of that? No one was punished and football fans and senior figures at both clubs told Indigenous players to “toughen up” or hoped that they were “getting over that.”

Eddie McGuire and Jodie Sizer at the Collingwood Football Club’s release of the ‘Do Better’ Report in 2021. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

None of those senior coaching staff or staff members have had to walk in the shoes of Indigenous players trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.

None of them would understand the importance of connection to culture, family, and the notion that ‘if one of us makes it, then we all make it’.

Racism has always been rife in AFL clubs and the league itself, going back to the playing days of Nicky Winmar and Gilbert McAdam, or Robby Muir just to name a few.

However, back then, racism was more blatant and in your face, as it was in Australian society in general.

These days, racism is covert, subtle, and sometimes unconscious.

I could sit here all day and write about how many times racism has been directed toward Indigenous players after they took a stand, not just for themselves, but for the future generations of Indigenous players coming into the game.

I will say that it was good to hear that the Hawthorn Football Club took the initiative and engaged externally with Indigenous consultants earlier this year to learn more about the experience of Indigenous players both past and present.

No doubt they didn’t see this coming, but it’s what they do now as a club to rectify the situation – and that responsibility also falls on the AFL.

One thing I hope these allegations don’t do is stop other clubs from conducting external reviews with past and present Indigenous players and their families to learn about their experiences.

But the fact that the Hawthorn Football Club knew about the allegations two weeks ago and didn’t step in to address them until it came out in the media on Wednesday, could make one think that they were never going to reveal the allegations at all, and instead, sweep them under the rug, which is common practice by those in power in Australia.