Where Hawthorn, Clarkson and co. go next after ‘productive’ mediation sessions in racism claim

Alastair Clarkson and other current and former Hawthorn figures came face-to-face with accusers in mediation sessions in Melbourne this week, but the process is a long way from over.

Former Hawthorn and current North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson speaking to the media on Thursday, following two days of mediation. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

Alastair Clarkson has expressed his gratitude towards the Human Rights Commission’s mediation process after successful talks that have all parties more positive a favourable outcome can be reached.

Clarkson spent two days in meditation and face-to-face with his Hawthorn accusers including Cyril Rioli, as a battery of lawyers witnessed the progress of discussions after 18 months of legal threats.

With the official conciliation process is over, the work will now start on how the parties can broker some kind of official agreement that would prevent the claims being heard in open court under oath.

That is likely to involve delicate negotiations about the phrasing used in any statements that express regret or even reference any potential apology.

The Hawthorn accusers were seen to want an apology heading into the mediation, while Clarkson and Fagan have made clear in the strongest possible terms they are not guilty of racism.

Former Hawthorn and current North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson speaking to the media on Thursday, following two days of mediation. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

There were some fears that the process could quickly fall over if the mediation went downhill quickly at the offices of Arnold Bloch Leibler in Melbourne’s central business district.

But instead Clarkson lauded the Human Rights Commission for giving the parties the platform to sit down for the first time in 18 months.

Hawthorn remains a critical part of the process given the club alone has the capacity to reimburse Clarkson for his legal fees and potentially pay the Hawthorn accusers some type of compensation.

The club has already spent $1 million on legal fees but has decided it is “financially prudent” to put aside another $1.5 million in future costs.

And while some of that would have been chewed up by the two-day hearing, where chief executive Ash Klein and president Andy Gowers attended, the Hawks hold the key to preventing the case moving towards the Federal Court.

Hawthorn champion Cyril Rioli came face-to-face with his old coach this week. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images.

While some high-profile Hawks believe the club should not pay any compensation, a long drawn-out Federal Court process might be just as expensive as working towards a common resolution in the weeks ahead.

It is estimated the Federal Court process would take another year if the mediation fell over, although there are opportunities for conciliation before the case reaches open court.

Clarkson was effusive in his praise of this week’s progress but said he could not detail the events of the meditation.

“Could I start this by expressing my gratitude to the Human Rights Commission for providing the platform for us to all get together and try to resolve a dispute that’s been ongoing for the past 18 months,” Clarkson said on Thursday.

“The last two days have represented the first chance that we’ve had to sit down together and do what you should always do in trying to resolve difficult situations, and that’s talk about it.

“That was really productive and a worthwhile two days, but the process is actually incomplete and until such time that it is over, then we’re bound by confidentiality to not discuss anything about the proceedings at all.”

Clarkson and Fagan were both unable to take training sessions while attending the talks, but the Kangaroos coach said he had quickly readjusted to the task at hand when his side faces Carlton in the Good Friday Superclash.

“It’s amazing how you compartmentalise and get things done – it was a really important step to take, and as I said we’re really grateful that the Human Rights Commission provided that platform for us,” Clarkson said.

“I appreciate all the questioning about it, but I also respect that we’re not at liberty to discuss anything about it.”

Originally published as Where Hawthorn, Clarkson and co. go next after ‘productive’ mediation sessions in racism claim