Rita Panahi: Those complicit in inflicting this self-created calamity will have their legacy tarnished

Everyone involved in commissioning the activist report that has potentially exposed Hawthorn Football Club to untold damage should leave the joint in disgrace.

Alastair Clarkson and Justin Reeves. Picture: AAP

Every single individual at Hawthorn Football Club who played a role in commissioning the activist report that sees the club plunged into crisis should leave the joint in disgrace.

And, it goes without saying that those complicit in inflicting this self-created calamity, who have already left the club, will have their legacy tarnished, including former president Jeff Kennett.

Those involved in the shambolic process that has potentially exposed Hawthorn FC to untold damage – possibly for years to come depending on whether those impacted exercise their legal options – cannot wash their hands of the mess created.

The man who was integral in securing Israel Folau a multimillion dollar payout from Rugby Australia, leading industrial relations lawyer George Haros, believes Alastair Clarkson may have multiple avenues open to him including defamation proceedings against those who slandered him after the flawed report was purportedly leaked to the ABC, if the matters published were untrue.

Alastair Clarkson could have grounds to sue for defamation. Picture: Getty

In addition Clarkson may have grounds to bring a negligence claim against Hawthorn should he be able to establish a departure from any duty of care and the potential damages could potentially be in the millions if the four time premiership coach is unable to fulfil his contract at North Melbourne due to the mental toll that the situation has had on him.

The damage to Clarkson, along with Chris Fagan and Jason Burt, has been substantial.

The men’s reputations have been irreparably damaged and all have suffered significantly but it’s Clarkson who bore the heaviest impact and the most severe allegations that were described as “human rights abuses”.

And, it’s worth remembering that this entire saga began because of claims from former champion Cyril Rioli, whose grievances included Kennett making a dad joke about his wife’s ripped jeans that the couple saw as racist and “the final straw”.

In the days following Rioli’s claims his own uncle, Essendon legend Michael Long, urged his nephew to seek help.

“There were a lot of Indigenous players at the club at the time — Shaun Burgoyne was there, Lance (Franklin) was there and before that Chance (Bateman) … there’s good leadership there,” Long said in April, 2022.

“I don’t think any of those players spoke out about racial issues and I’ve never heard anything, and his mum has never said anything to me about this. I don’t know where it’s coming from.”

Justin Reeves has stepped down as Hawthorn CEO. Picture: Jason Edwards

At the time, Indigenous leader Warren Mundine also weighed in and decried the “ridiculous” hyperbole around an innocuous comment about ripped jeans.

He was aghast at the eagerness to paint every incident as racially motivated.

But Hawthorn were spooked and commissioned a report, penned by an activist who did not speak to a single non-indigenous individual.

This week Justin Reeves stepped down as Hawthorn CEO. That’s a start. A few more need to join him.

Rita Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist

Originally published as Rita Panahi: Those complicit in inflicting this self-created calamity will have their legacy tarnished