‘Don’t have a lot of control’: Latest on timelines for AFL’s racism report, Tasmania bid
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan will step down in April, but a racism probe and Tasmania’s bid for a team remain pressing issues. DANIEL CHERNY reports on where the league is at with both issues.
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The AFL is hopeful it will receive findings from the panel investigating allegations of racism at Hawthorn by the end of February.
However league chief Gillon McLachlan says the independent nature of the probe means the AFL has little control over a time frame for the process, which threatens to hover over coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan until the eve of the season in mid-March.
The investigation, chaired by Bernard Quinn KC, was established in response to explosive claims levelled by First Nations players and some of their partners at ex-Hawk figures, including Clarkson and Fagan, in a report commissioned by the club and compiled by Phil Egan.
The panel and terms of reference for the investigation were announced by the AFL in October, however initial hopes to have the situation wrapped up by Christmas were dashed by delays in the process.
Speaking on Tuesday, McLachlan noted he had limited oversight on when the process would be complete.
“The timeline was pushed back, pre-Christmas. It’s an independent panel and we don’t therefore have a lot of control over the timing and I don’t want to put pressure on that,” McLachlan said at the MCG after helping launch a book written by former AFL Commissioner Colin Carter into the history of football before the official start of the VFL in 1897.
“I think obviously time is important and hopefully we get something back in February.”
North Melbourne coach Clarkson and Brisbane Lions coach Fagan have both denied any wrongdoing.
Like the investigation, McLachlan’s departure date has also been pushed back, however he reiterated that his tenure would conclude in April, coinciding with the league’s inaugural Gather Round in South Australia.
In the meantime McLachlan has several pressing concerns, including the racism matter and Tasmania’s push for an AFL team. A timeline for a Tassie side is still up in the air, with the Tasmanian government requesting $240m of federal funds to build a 23,000-seat roofed stadium in Hobart. McLachlan was adamant there was progress occurring in the background.
“Big infrastructure projects take time. You’ve got to prosecute them, tell the story well. I believe that the impact of a team in Tasmania will be huge for the Tasmanian economy and it will have implications for much beyond football and beyond sport, whether it’s entertainment, construction jobs, pride, and the federal government are now talking about a broader project as well.
“I think ultimately the story for Tasmania, both in terms of jobs, industry and economy as well as football makes sense.
“The steps are going on every day. We’re in discussions with government, state and federal governments are clearly talking, the Prime Minister has said stuff publicly so we’ll just continue the process.”
As for the matter of his successor, McLachlan would not be drawn on specifics.
“There’s a process playing out that I won’t talk to, it’s not my role.”
In Carter’s book, Football’s Forgotten Years, the former Geelong chairman and veteran sports administrator contends that the official history of the AFL should incorporate the VFA competition from 1870 to 1896. If his quest is successful, AFL records would be altered to include seven extra premierships for Geelong, five for South Melbourne and four for Essendon.
Carter is keen for the AFL to introduce a heritage committee to consider his proposals. McLachlan said the league would look at the matter.
“I’ve spoken to my chairman and he’ll pick up the conversation with the Commission.”
McLachlan added that talks over a new collective bargaining agreement had begun “in earnest”.
Originally published as ‘Don’t have a lot of control’: Latest on timelines for AFL’s racism report, Tasmania bid
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