Former Hawthorn figures to attend mediation over racism allegations

Hawthorn will be urged to apologise and adopt the fabric of Collingwood’s ‘Do Better’ report as former Hawks figures – including current Roos coach Alastair Clarkson – are set to face mediation this week.

Alastair Clarkson will be absent from North Melbourne training this week. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

Hawthorn will be urged to apologise and acknowledge that racism took place at the club as part of official mediation starting on Tuesday.

But the prospect of successful conciliation is considered dim, according to one source, because accused former Hawthorn officials Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt have strongly rejected claims of racism made by First Nations players and their partners.

All parties are required to attend the mediation – or send a legal representative – meaning coaches Clarkson and Fagan could come face-to-face with some of their accusers for the first time since the saga erupted.

The Indigenous families at the centre of the scandal will push for Hawthorn to adopt the fabric of Collingwood’s “Do Better” report, and offer a formal apology to all of its past players confronted by racism at the club.

The establishment of a formal “truth-telling” framework, put in place by the Magpies, is also being sought.

Compensation to all affected parties, including the three Hawthorn officials and the Indigenous families, will be central to the negotiations in Melbourne on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Hawks set aside $1.5 million in their annual report late last year, money earmarked for legal expenses and potential compensation payments.

Alastair Clarkson will be absent from North Melbourne training this week. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

However, a sticking point over whether a settlement is reached this week could involve the size of the payments and the wording of public statements and proposed apologies.

A Hawthorn spokesman confirmed a club delegation, led by president Andy Gowers and chief executive Ashley Klein, would be present at the talks at an undisclosed location.

“We continue to work in good faith through the Australian Human Rights Commission process and as we have said previously we want to see the matter resolved fairly for everyone involved,” the club said.

But Hawks great Don Scott believes “heads should roll” from the Gowers board if compensation payments are made.

“They’ve set aside $1.5 million and I reckon it’s already cost them that again in legal representation – so somebody has got to fall on their sword,” Scott said.

“Why have they got to pay this money out when the AFL said they have got no case to answer? It’s not their money – it is club and members’ money, but it’s easy to give away when it’s not yours. The Hawthorn members have been hoodwinked.”

Should the talks fail, the racism dispute could be headed to a Federal Court hearing.

North Melbourne’s head of football Todd Viney confirmed on Saturday that Clarkson would be absent from the club this week to attend the talks.

“For a footy preparation point of view, it’s not ideal, but we’ve got a really good staff of people to make sure we can get prepared as best we can,’’ Viney told the ABC.

“The bigger picture is that hopefully it can be put to bed and they can sit down altogether and get a resolution to the long-running saga.’’

Phil Egan, the author of Hawthorn’s Binmada report that triggered the crisis, will not attend the mediation sessions.

The scandal has caused great division at Hawthorn and shattered numerous relationships within the AFL industry.

Gowers was the club’s football director at the time of some of the alleged racial incidents.

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said last year the fact the Hawthorn board was considering making compensation payments was “absolutely absurd”.

Originally published as Former Hawthorn figures to attend mediation over racism allegations