Chris Fagan has hired top legal help in his bid to clear his name after Hawthorn racism bombshell

Chris Fagan has hired top legal help in a bid to clear his name in the Hawthorn racism bombshell. Get the latest details on what’s next here.

Alastair Clarkson with Chris Fagan

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has hired a top legal team in a bid to clear his name in the Hawthorn racism bombshell.

Fagan and Clarkson were allegedly named in Hawthorn’s review of its treatment of First Nations players.

Reports of their alleged interactions have been damning and the AFL is working to establish a panel to investigate the claims.

Fagan and Clarkson have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Fagan has enlisted Clayton Utz lawyers and barristers Liam Kelly KC and David Turner to act on his behalf in the proposed investigation.

“I have retained Clayton Utz lawyers together with barristers Liam Kelly KC and David Turner to act on my behalf in relation to the proposed forthcoming investigation by the AFL,” Fagan said in a statement.

“I confirm, as I said in my earlier statement, that I deny, categorically, the allegations of wrongdoing by me in relation to First Nations players at the Hawthorn Football Club, and that I intend to defend myself.

“I also confirm my intention to participate fully in any investigative process, provided that it is independent, fair and impartial, and respects my right to be heard.

“I await further information from the AFL.”

Chris Fagan has hired top legal help to clear his name. Picture: Getty Images

The First Nations families who have made allegations against ex-Hawthorn coaches have serious reservations about being interviewed as part of an independent investigation into the claims.

Five days on from the allegations that rocked the AFL the league is still navigating the sensitivities of assembling a four-person panel to investigate the claims that if proved could see ex-Hawks figures banned from the game.

The families involved want to drive change and force accountability for what they see as serious issues at Hawthorn, but believe they have already told Hawthorn review author Phil Egan and ABC journalist Russell Jackson their stories in graphic detail.

The report handed to the AFL has been corroborated in part by a Hawthorn assistant coach.

On Monday the AFL Coaches Association also demanded the league put a former senior coach or football official on the four-person panel to provide context for any conversations between coaches and players.

The AFL, which has retained its own lawyer in Peter Gordon, is working with all parties including the families’ lawyer Leon Zwier on the makeup of that panel.

Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan have been named in explosive allegations about Hawthorn’s treatment of Indigenous players.

The league would be aware if it does not find a compromise position which can thoroughly investigate the accusations it is likely to have a lengthy and costly postscript in court.

Indigenous figures in the game have in the past felt let down by the lack of AFL support for incidents like Eddie Betts’ complaint to the AFL about the Adelaide camp.

North Melbourne is rapidly putting in place contingency plans for Alastair Clarkson’s prolonged absence from Arden Street.

Football boss Todd Viney will run the trade period and interim coach Leigh Adams is a leading contender to operate training in Clarkson’s absence.

The Roos and Lions are bracing for their senior coaches to be absent for at least two months, with Brisbane confident Chris Fagan will return and so not even considering any contingencies for who might replace him.

The North Melbourne players will return to training in the last week of November, with Clarkson having hoped to have his fingerprints over every area of the club including game style, coaching philosophies and list management.

Alastair Clarkson has denied the allegations.

North Melbourne chair Sonja Hood made clear on the weekend she believed Clarkson was innocent, saying on Saturday: “I’m really confident in his side of the story and I’m sure we’ll all get the chance to hear that through the AFL’s process. I’ve been speaking with Alastair right through this,” she said.

It is understood that statement caused some discomfort for some of the club’s Indigenous staffers and players given how emphatic it was in backing Clarkson.

The Roos will still secure Fremantle’s Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker despite them being lured to the club by Clarkson’s aura and strong personal pitches.

AFL Coaches Association boss Alastair Nicholson’s call for senior football experience on the panel is only one more complication that means it will likely take until later in the week for the panel to be formed and approved by all parties.

“Football clubs are unique environments,” Nicholson said.

“They become a second home for players, and coaches are often required to be much more than just football mentors.

“Coaches are regularly called on to provide advice and support on non-football related issues, particularly with younger players who have left home to join an AFL club.

“It would significantly enhance the investigation if someone who intimately understands that environment and has deep experience in managing the wellbeing of players was included on the panel.”

Revealed: Coaches criteria for Hawks probe panel

– Lauren Wood

The AFL Coaches’ Association has called for a football figure to be included on the panel that will investigate the explosive claims surrounding Hawthorn’s alleged treatment of First Nations players.

The league continues to consult with representatives for those who have levelled the startling claims, the AFL Players’ Association and the AFLCA as to the four people – which will include two men and two women who will oversee the external investigation.

The AFLCA – which represents all coaches in the game, including those at the centre of the reported claims Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan – wants people with understanding of football environments to be considered on the panel.

“Football clubs are unique environments. They become a second home for players and coaches are often required to be much more than just football mentors,” AFLCA chief executive Alistair Nicholson said on Monday.

“Coaches are regularly called on to provide advice and support on non-football related issues, particularly with younger players who have left home to join an AFL club.

“It would significantly enhance the investigation if someone who intimately understands that environment and has deep experience in managing the wellbeing of players was included on the panel.”

Both North Melbourne and Brisbane have firmly backed their respective senior coaches over the last 48 hours.

The AFLCA said it supported the league’s call, announced last Wednesday, to initiate an external investigation into “the confronting allegations raised”.

The AFLPA said last week that the investigation should be “well-resourced and wide-ranging in scope”.

Nicholson said both coaches – who have strongly denied the allegations that have been made – had the backing of the association.

“Our thoughts are with the players and their families who have shared their stories, as well as other First Nations people who have been directly or indirectly affected by the publicity around this situation,” he said.

“We also note that both Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan have strongly denied the allegations made. The investigation will allow both coaches to share their version of events and until that investigation is complete and due process has been followed they should be afforded natural justice.

“The AFLCA is continuing to offer both coaches our support with a focus on their personal wellbeing.”

The AFL had hoped to announce the panel last Friday but the process has been delayed because of the consultation negotiations.