Everyone involved in the Hawthorn racism saga is fighting their own fight – and it’s a s*** show, writes Mark Robinson
Gill McLachlan wants a resolution. Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and the First Nations players and their partners deserve a resolution. But one is seemingly impossible to find in the current climate.
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Alastair Clarkson has much to contemplate as the walls close in around him personally and professionally.
One, he can continue to deny any wrongdoing in his dealings with First Nations players and their partners at Hawthorn and take his defamation claims to court.
Or two, he could agree to a mediation sit down and agree to requests that he apologise and show contrition for his alleged behaviour when he was coach at the Hawks.
The second part was scuppered on Thursday when Clarkson stood down as coach of North Melbourne, citing mental health.
It means he is unlikely to attend proposed mediation talks in Adelaide next week. Nor is Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan, who reaffirmed his innocence on Thursday.
No one doubts that the stress of the claims made against Clarkson and the unwieldy length of the racism investigation has placed a huge toll on the former Hawks coach.
Last week, he picked a fight with his former club, asking why it wasn’t being investigated for its conduct.
Not even AFL boss Gillon McLachlan – the game’s most renowned deal-maker – has been able to convince Clarkson to attend mediation.
It’s believed the sticking point is that Clarkson strenuously denies the heaviest claims against him, such as the allegation that he asked that a player’s partner terminate a pregnancy.
Other claims, described as adding to the trauma of intergenerational racism, can barely be addressed because of the stunning aforementioned allegations.
What is happening is shuttle mediation, and McLachlan is playing a substantial role. It’s a kind of pre-mediation before official mediation, in which McLachlan is trying to find some common ground.
McLachlan is struggling to succeed in that role.
He wants a resolution. The game needs a resolution. Clarkson and Fagan and the First Nations players and their partners deserve a resolution.
But a resolution is seemingly impossible to find in the current climate.
The First Nations group’s ground zero is truth and reconciliation and not crime and punishment.
Against that, Clarkson and Fagan feel that their reputations have been slaughtered through the process.
That Clarkson made the stunning decision to step aside as the Kangaroos coach emphasises the duress he is feeling.
In the meantime, McLachlan won’t abandon his endeavours, but he’s finding this the most complex cultural investigation he has handled in his 10 years as AFL boss.
Everyone is in their corner fighting their own fight. In street talk, it is a s*** show.
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Originally published as Everyone involved in the Hawthorn racism saga is fighting their own fight – and it’s a s*** show, writes Mark Robinson
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