Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan are set to mediate with Cyril Rioli and other Indigenous past players
Former Hawthorn coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan are set to meet with ex-Hawks players for conciliation talks next month in a significant step for the club’s racism saga.
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Former Hawthorn coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan are set to meet with ex-Hawks players for conciliation talks next month in a significant step for the club’s racism saga.
Clarkson and Fagan were expected to come face-to-face with Cyril Rioli and other Indigenous past players for the first time since the duo was accused of historic racist behaviour 18 months ago.
The two coaches – now in charge at North Melbourne and Brisbane – have strongly denied the claims.
Conversations between the parties, as well as Hawthorn representatives, will take place on March 26 and 27, almost certainly in Melbourne.
If all parties were satisfied with the outcome of the talks, it could stop the matter from going to the Federal Court.
The racism claims — made by Rioli, ex-Hawks Carl Peterson, Jermaine Miller-Lewis and Indigenous club liaison Leon Egan, and partners Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli and Montanah Miller-Lewisian — stemmed from 2008-2016.
The AFL ended its probe into the Hawthorn allegations in May last year with no adverse findings made against Clarkson, Fagan and ex-Hawks welfare manager Jason Burt.
Earlier this month, this masthead reported that lawyers for Hawthorn and for Clarkson and Burt petitioned to have the racism claim dismissed by the Human Rights Commission, but that was rejected.
Next month’s planned conciliation dates take place in the lead-up to round 3.
Brisbane’s hosts Collingwood in a grand final rematch at the Gabba on March 28, a day after the talks.
North Melbourne takes on Carlton on Good Friday on March 29.
Previous attempts at mediation between the parties have fallen over.
Clarkson coached Hawthorn from 2004-2021, winning four premierships.
Fagan at the Hawks from 2008-2016, serving as an assistant as well as football manager.
Originally published as Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan are set to mediate with Cyril Rioli and other Indigenous past players
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