Hawthorn review: Daniel Rioli on shock claims as Jason Burt steps away from his prominent role at Caulfield Grammar

Richmond’s Daniel Rioli has responded to the ‘sad’ allegations at Hawthorn, the club his cousin Cyril won four flags at. Here’s what he had to say.

Triple-premiership Tiger and proud Tiwi Islands man Daniel Rioli has described the recent allegations surrounding Hawthorn as “sad” and said football’s Indigenous players have “a good network” to support one another.

Rioli, 25, said he had not yet spoken to cousin and former Hawk Cyril in relation to the situation, and said that his four-time flag-winning relative was “a private man”.

The Tigers star said the claims surrounding Hawthorn that were revealed on Wednesday are “a difficult set of circumstances”.

Daniel Rioli and Maurice Rioli on Thursday. Picture: Jason Edwards

“It’s just sad what’s been said and what’s been happening,” he said on Thursday.

“We can’t really comment too much because we’re not too sure at this point.

“We’ve got a good network and a good support base. At Richmond, we have a good network and our brother boys stick together. It’s a difficult time.

“Hopefully it’s a good Grand Final and everyone will look after each other.”

Rioli joined his uncle and fellow Richmond player Maurice Rioli Jr at Yarra Park on Thursday as Chemist Warehouse announced its support of their home club, St Mary’s in the Northern Territory league.

The premiership Tiger said he was eyeing an extra piece of silverware to add to his collection once his AFL career is done, with he and Maurice pledging to return to the NT club once their days at Punt Road are over.

“I haven’t played in a grand final for St Mary’s in the premier league yet, so that’s my goal,” Rioli said.

“When I finish up my AFL career, I want to at some point play in a premiership team back home. That’s one of my goals that I want to tick off and hopefully we can accomplish that together.”

Ex-Hawk footy boss steps down from role at elite private school

A key figure allegedly at the centre of explosive claims relating to Indigenous Hawthorn players has stepped away from his prominent role at a Melbourne private school.

Jason Burt, former Hawks football boss, has taken indefinite leave from his role as Head of Coaching and Performance Sport at Caulfield Grammar School in the wake of blistering allegations surrounding his time at the AFL club.

The principal of the APS school in Melbourne’s south-east wrote to parents on Wednesday evening to inform them of Burt’s decision to step away from his duties as a full investigation prepares to get fully underway in coming days.

“Today, Jason Burt advised me of his decision to take an indefinite leave of absence from his role ... a role he has been in for three and a half years,” Caulfield Grammar principal Ashleigh Martin wrote in the letter.

“Jason’s decision follows an announcement by the AFL (on Wednesday morning) that it will conduct an independent investigation into historical allegations relating to the treatment of First Nations players at the Hawthorn Football Club.

Jason Burt has stepped away from his prominent role at Caulfield Grammar. Picture: AFL Media

“Jason is a former employee of Hawthorn, and his desire to engage fully in the investigation, therefore requiring leave from our school.

“As you would appreciate, the matters pertaining to the AFL’s independent investigation are highly sensitive for all parties involved.

“We are providing Jason with appropriate support while the investigation takes place.”

The school said that “further communication” in regards to the role “will be communicated in due course”.

Alastair Clarkson’s son played in a premiership with Caulfield Grammar last month.

The AFL is set to confirm the four-person panel that will lead the external investigation into the allegations as soon as today.

How external review panel will decided

Two men and two women – at least half of which will be experts from First Nations backgrounds — will spearhead an independent review of exactly what went on at Hawthorn.

The AFL was on Wednesday night still formulating the external panel that it intends to have led by “an eminent King’s Counsel”, with the AFL Players’ Association and AFL Coaches’ Association also consulted for their input on its formation.

The AFL integrity department was last week handed an explosive report — that had been commissioned by the Hawks and completed by a First Nations consultancy group — that is reported to include harrowing details surrounding the treatment of Indigenous players at the club over recent years, including separating families, proposed termination of a pregnancy and self-harm.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and Executive General Manager Inclusion and Social Policy Tanya Hosch. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos

They are allegations that were on Wednesday night firmly refuted by Alastair Clarkson, who it was reported had been central to some of the alleged incidents.

League boss Gillon McLachlan said the confronting allegations would be “fully investigated … that’s the job of the panel”.

“These will be people who are appropriately qualified in a functional sense, with an appropriate diverse background and the appropriate skills to do that,” he said.

“I think when you see the credibility of the individuals and their qualifications, I feel comfortable that people will regard it as the right people to look into this.”

McLachlan said the gravity of the allegations at hand deemed it appropriate to take beyond the usual AFL integrity department scope.

“It is also critical that the panel approaches this work prioritising cultural safety for all those who have shared their experiences so half the panel will absolutely include experts who are from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples,” he said.

“We need to run a proper investigation to get to the bottom of it – this is important – Out of respect for those making the allegations and out of respect for those being accused.”

Emotional Hawks coach on two things club must do now

Shocked Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has vowed to ensure his club is “the absolute best” and most inclusive organisation after disturbing historical allegations left him feeling as if his heart was “torn into pieces” for First Nations footballers and their families.

Mitchell was sickened by the allegations when he first read them on Wednesday morning.

The allegations are believed to date back to between 2010 and 2016.

He stressed he knew nothing at the time about the claims, which have been levelled at former Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson, then football manager Chris Fagan and ex-welfare manager Jason Burt.

Clarkson and Fagan have stepped aside from their coaching roles until the completion of an independent investigation.

Mitchell would not be drawn on his views on Clarkson, whom he replaced as Hawks coach late last year, saying the allegations were the subject of an investigation.

“I am enormously upset and disturbed by (the allegations),” Mitchell exclusively told the Herald Sun.

“If there is a review in 10 years of Hawthorn 2022, 2023 and 2024 and onwards, (I want it to be) the absolute best organisation for all players and all First Nations people … the inclusiveness for our First Nations people.

Sam Mitchell has vowed to make Hawthorn a safe place for Indigenous players such as Jarman Impey. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“The big picture for me is that I am glad Hawthorn got on the front foot (in commissioning an external review into its recent history involving First Nations people) and I am glad the AFL is looking into it.

“I need to do two things now. One is to let the AFL Integrity department do what they are doing because they are the experts and, two, be a great leader in this area for the future.”

Mitchell was a player at Hawks at the time of the allegations, but knew nothing of them.

“I was there at the time, but now I am the coach of the organisation and it (the report) says (Hawthorn) is now a culturally safe place.

“But we need to continue to work in that space. I am so passionate about that area.”

Sam Mitchell (right) working with former coach Alastair Clarkson. Picture: Michael Klein

Mitchell had been speaking at a Rule Prostate Cancer event at the Melbourne Convention Centre on Wednesday alongside his former Hawks teammate Shaun Burgoyne.

“The fact that we were a part of an organisation at the time is enormously troubling now … right now as the coach of the club (it is about) how to lead our people forward when they are not together is really difficult,” he said.

“I don’t have players and staff and coaches all together to be able to speak to them.

“My focus needs to be very much on letting the AFL handle what they are doing, and I am glad that is happening, but to very much make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure the future is much brighter than the past.”

Players could take legal action

Former players could launch legal action against Hawthorn Football Club in the wake of the racism review, a leading employment lawyer says.

Shine Lawyers senior solicitor Justin Penafiel said any players who felt they had been racially discriminated against could pursue compensation in “the tens of thousands”.

“The Hawthorn Football Club could well be liable for race discrimination, or taking unlawful adverse action against its workers,” Mr Penafiel said.

“The court can award damages for hurt, suffering and distress.”

He said the Hawks, as a Victorian-based employer, had “a positive duty to eliminate discrimination or victimisation in the workplace as far as possible”.

“The Hawthorn club also has duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to protect the health, safety and welfare of these players,” Mr Penafiel said.

“If the players can prove that their race was a reason for being treated differently to other players, or they faced conditions that were difficult to meet because of race, then a racial discrimination case is at least arguable,” he said.

He said the workplace regulator, Worksafe, could also “take an interest” in the racism report and press charges against the club for breaches of the OHS Act, which would result in hefty fines.