Hawthorn racism allegations: Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan named in shocking allegations of baby loss, self-harm and trauma

A young Indigenous Hawthorn player and his partner were pressured to terminate a pregnancy by key officials including Alastair Clarkson, reveals a bombshell review.

Damning allegations have been made in a racism review involving Hawthorn Football Club

Young Indigenous Hawthorn players were separated from their partners and were pressured to terminate a pregnancy by key Hawks officials including then-senior coach Alastair Clarkson, according to allegations reported by the ABC on Wednesday morning.

WARNING: This story contains intergenerational trauma for Indigenous people and pregnancy loss

The ABC report claims that an external review that was commissioned by the Hawks into its recent history involving First Nations players has revealed shocking allegations involving multiple players, one of whom it is claimed had made several attempts on their own life in the aftermath.

Hawthorn released a statement early on Wednesday morning to say it was investigating the “disturbing historical allegations”.

The ABC alleges that the document – which included interviews with current and former players and staff members – was handed to Hawthorn’s senior management a fortnight ago and that the AFL integrity unit is investigating.

It also claims that the document reportedly includes allegations against former club figures including then Hawthorn senior coach Alastair Clarkson – who was recently appointed to the top job at North Melbourne – then football manager and now Brisbane senior coach Chris Fagan and Hawthorn player development manager Jason Burt.

Faran on Wednesday stood down from his role as Brisbane head coach pending an AFL investigation.

HOW THE AFL HAS RESPONDED

Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan in their time as Hawthorn staff members. Picture: Colleen Petch.

In the report, the ABC said the incidents took place during Hawthorn’s reigning era which included three premierships between 2013 and 2015, and that “in some cases, coaches allegedly coerced at least two players to remove SIM cards from their phones and insert new ones in attempts to cut them off from their partners and focus them entirely on the club’s pursuit of football success”.

It also claims that one player – who had been “delighted” with the news that his partner was pregnant with their first child in his early days at Hawthorn – had delivered the news to his teammates and staff members but was urged to “get rid of his partner” by a group of coaches it alleges included Clarkson and Fagan.

“Clarkson just leaned over me and demanded that I needed to get rid of my unborn child and my partner,” the ABC report quotes the unnamed player as saying.

“I was then manipulated and convinced to remove my SIM card from my phone, so there was no further contact between my family and me. They told me I’d be living with one of the other coaches from that night onwards.

“He told me to kill my unborn kid.”

It was later claimed that the player’s “mental health had noticeably frayed” in the months that followed as his partner continued with the pregnancy, and that he was eventually allowed to return but on the condition that they moved “from a suburb the club didn’t approve of to one more in keeping with Hawthorn’s image”.

It is also alleged that the same couple terminated a subsequent pregnancy after what is described as fear and trauma given their previous encounters with the club, while another was informed of his partner’s miscarriage in passing after the pair had been urged to separate by club figures.

Hawthorn said “the club immediately engaged AFL Integrity as is appropriate” in the wake of its findings.

“The club will continue to provide support to those who have participated in this process, and their wellbeing remains our priority,” the club said.

“While the process indicated the current environment at the club is culturally safe, it also recommended that some of the club’s current First Nations training and development programs should continue to be strengthened.

“The club places the best interests and welfare of our players and staff as our number one priority.

“Given the matters raised are confidential, the club will not provide any further comment at this time.”

AFL RESPONDS TO DAMNING HAWTHORN RACISM REVIEW

The AFL Players’ Association said it was “extremely concerned” about the details in the report and called for an independent investigation into what is alleged to have occurred.

“We have spoken to the AFL and communicated our expectations that an independent investigation must be conducted. It should also be well-resourced and wide-ranging in scope,” it said in a statement.

“In the meantime, the affected players and partners will continue to have the full support of the AFLPA through our various programs and services. These services will also be reinforced to all members of the AFLPA.”

AFL Women’s boss Nicole Livingstone says the league – led by the league’s general manager of inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch – would reach out to indigenous AFLW players in the wake of the “harrowing” allegations.

“We will ensure that everybody in our league is feeling OK today, are safe … I think the important thing is that I have read what you have all read,” Livingstone said on Wednesday morning.

“I’ll allow Gill and the press conference coming up to make further comment around it, but clearly the AFL now is in receipt of that report.

“I’ve only read what’s on news services – it’s a harrowing read. It’s a challenging read. And we want to ensure that our people are safe.

“We now have indigenous player development managers at each and every club, so we will continue to work with them as well as our own player development managers in AFLW to make sure that our players are safe and are feeling able to be the best that they can be in an environment that allows them to not only be great football players, but great people as well.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Hawthorn released a statement to say it was investigating the “disturbing historical allegations”.

An external review — that was commissioned by the Hawks into its recent history involving First Nations players — has revealed shocking allegations involving multiple players, one of whom it is claimed had made several attempts on their own life in the aftermath.

The ABC alleges that the document — which included interviews with current and former players and staff members — was handed to Hawthorn’s senior management a fortnight ago and that the AFL integrity unit is investigating.

Hawthorn said “the club immediately engaged AFL Integrity as is appropriate” in the wake of its findings.

“The club will continue to provide support to those who have participated in this process, and their wellbeing remains our priority,” the club said.

“While the process indicated the current environment at the club is culturally safe, it also recommended that some of the club’s current First Nations training and development programs should continue to be strengthened.

“The club places the best interests and welfare of our players and staff as our number one priority.“Given the matters raised are confidential, the club will not provide any further comment at this time.”

Following the release of the review’s findings, the AFL released a statement reiterating that the “physical, mental and emotional welfare” of everyone involved in the sport was its top priority.

League chief executive Gillon McLachlan is set to front the media this morning where it is expected he will address the matter.

“The AFL takes extremely seriously all matters where people report experiencing harm, discrimination or mistreatment in our industry. We recently received a document from the Hawthorn Football Club outlining very serious allegations gathered during the recently completed review by an external consultant who interviewed current and former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players,” the statement said.

“The experiences outlined in the document are extremely serious and require further and full examination.

“The AFL is finalising a process to investigate the allegations and has sought further details of those who shared their experiences in order to progress its investigation.

“The AFL is committed to ensuring all who shared their experiences are fully supported through this process. The AFL will liaise with the parties to ensure appropriate support and cultural safety are in place in accordance with the wishes of those involved.

“We are committed to the welfare of all involved. Once we have spoken to those who have shared their experiences, we will be able to provide an update on the next steps in the investigation.”

Originally published as Hawthorn racism allegations: Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan named in shocking allegations of baby loss, self-harm and trauma