AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has backed mediation as a possible solution to Hawks racism scandal

Gillon McLachlan has responded to reports suggesting mediation could help bring about an end to the Hawks racism scandal, saying it would be a ‘sensible’ step forward.

Picture: Getty Images

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has backed mediation as a successful path that could bring about a resolution to the long-running Hawthorn First Nations saga.

The Herald Sun revealed this week that all parties had been invited to mediation that could help bring about an end to a controversy that broke last Grand Final week and shows no signs of ending.

There is an industry fear that the lodging of the independent report will only bring about years of legal actions from all parties given the reputational damage on both sides.

But McLachlan made clear on Friday the terms of reference of that independent inquiry specifically made mediation a possible outcome.

Gillon McLachlan has said mediation would be a ‘sensible way forward’ in the Hawks racism scandal. Picture: Getty Images

“All I would say is that I have read some speculation around mediation,” he said.

“The terms of reference provide for mediation and if that were to happen it would seem to be a sensible way forward. I can’t comment other than that.”

McLachlan told 3AW North Melbourne coach Clarkson’s decision to dodge a shared plane flight back from Saturday’s clash against former side Hawthorn was a prudent decision.

Clarkson’s relationship with his former club is in tatters given his exit and Hawthorn’s decision to commission a review into its First Nations players that did not involve him.

That review was then leaked almost immediately, with Clarkson not ruling out widespread legal action as he emphatically states his innocence.

“I think it’s a pretty mature approach, I think that seems a very mature decision,” McLachlan said of the separate plane trips.

Hawthorn has currently stripped its list of elite established talent as it attempts to maximise opportunities for youth, which will clearly help the club’s draft position.

But coach Sam Mitchell said the club, which won eight games last year, would not be applying for a priority pick at season’s end.

“I shouldn’t say this, but I don’t think we’re going to be asking the AFL for a priority pick,” he told SEN.

“In 2021 it got to the end of the year and there were a few of us on the list management committee and were discussing how we were going to get this team back to a premiership and the path we’ve taken is the path we’re on.

“That’s the one we’ve decided to go on and we knew there would be some bumps in the road and we’ve hit a couple, but we knew there would be some good days as well.

“We’re in the middle of that now and we’ll continue to check that the plan is executed well and continue on the journey that we planned for.”

PEACE OFFER HOPES TO UNLOCK HAWKS RACISM SCANDAL

- Mark Robinson and Lauren Wood

Peace talks have been called in the Hawthorn racism scandal in a bid to unlock the stalled investigation.

The Herald Sun has been told Hawthorn, its former staffers Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt, the four independent panel members appointed by the AFL to investigate the racism allegations, and former Hawthorn Indigenous players and their partners have been issued invitations to be part of a mediation session.

The proposal is for the talks to take place without lawyers from all parties.

As yet, the panel has not interviewed the past players and their partners, but has received written documentation from them which details their alleged racist experiences at the Hawks.

It is hoped that Clarkson, Fagan and Burt, who are also yet to be interviewed by the panel, will be prepared to be part of the mediation.

No date has been set, although lawyers for the Indigenous players and the partners, who proposed the meeting, want it as soon as possible.

Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan while at Hawthorn. Picture: AFL Media

Topics for discussion include acknowledgment, truth telling, setting up of compensation funds, future claims and whether apologies will be made and accepted.

The banning of lawyers from all sides comes after player advisor Peter Jess had warned the investigation had been hijacked by legal representation.

“The process is being strangled by lawyers,’’ Jess said. “This started out as a truth-telling exercise and now it’s mired by legal obscuration.’’

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Wednesday he hoped the investigation was “getting towards the end for the claimants and the defendants’’.

“We had a process that we hoped everyone would participate in,” McLachlan said.

“We understand that people - for their own reasons - have chosen not to.

“It’s been going for a long time and we want, for everyone, to try and get to the bottom of it to everyone’s satisfaction.”

He also said that finding balance in the investigation had been difficult.

“I think it was always going to have been a challenge - to have natural justice and cultural safety and people feel comfortable with it,” McLachlan said.

“I think there are competing forces there. I feel comfortable. Yes, it has been a long period of time, and it needs to come to a head, but I know the panel have had the mind of making a culturally safe environment and doing the work they need to do and there will be independent people making that decision.’’