Channel 9 presenters Tony Jones and Caroline Wilson respond to Hawthorn Hawks allegations

Channel 9 hosts Tony Jones and Caroline Wilson have responded to the “disgusting” allegations against Hawthorn Football Club.

Tony Jones and Caroline Wilson.

Channel 9 presenters Tony Jones and Caroline Wilson have responded to the “disgusting” historical allegations about mistreatment of Indigenous players at the Hawthorn Football Club, saying the club’s premierships will be “forever tainted” if the allegations are proven to be correct.

On Wednesday, ABC Sport reported an external review of Hawthorn Football Club had uncovered allegations senior staff at Hawthorn demanded the separation of First Nations players from their partners and pressured one player and his partner to terminate a pregnancy for the sake of his career.

Four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson was “shocked” to read the allegations, refuting any wrongdoing or misconduct in a statement.

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North Melbourne later confirmed Clarkson’s coaching tenure would be delayed as the AFL’s Integrity Unit investigates the allegations.

The Brisbane Lions also announced that coach Chris Fagan, who served as Clarkson’s top assistant at the Hawks, was taking a leave of absence.

Speaking on Nine News on Wednesday evening, Jones claimed that Clarkson should “never coach again” if the allegations are proven to be accurate.

“These allegations would be just as shocking, just as sickening and just as disgusting if they pertained to any workplace,” he started.

“But the fact they emanate from a football club makes you wonder at what point did football cease being a sport. And is this really how far some participants will go just to lift a trophy? “Now, if these allegations are proved to be correct, then surely, surely, Alastair Clarkson, for starters, will never coach again.”

Veteran footy reporter Wilson continued: “People at the club were vague in their recollections, but did deny this has happened and we must say again that Alastair Clarkson has vehemently denied a lot of the allegations and Chris Fagan is privately denying them as well.

“But I would go as far as to say you talk about success and what you do in the name of success, these premierships will be forever tainted if these allegations are proven to be correct.”

Clarkson was coach of Hawthorn between 2005 and 2021, while Fagan was a senior assistant coach and general manager of football at the club from 2008 to 2016.

The ABC claims Fagan and Clarkson did not respond when presented with questions about the allegations.

Alastair Clarkson speaks to the media. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed the league would form an external four-person panel to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

On Wednesday evening, the league announced that AFL Commissioner Andrew Newbold, who served as Hawthorn President from 2012 to 2016, had taken a leave of absence to assist in the independent investigation.

“This had to happen,” Wilson said of Newbold’s move.

“How can you sit on the AFL Commission, one of the governors of the game while the game is looking into the worst allegations about a club where you were president at the time. This is right and correct.

“Again, if these allegations are proven to be correct, I don’t see Andrew Newbold returning to the AFL Commission.

“I don’t want to detract from the seriousness of the allegations, but the dominoes and the people affected by this story are involved every where in footy. They’re leaving other clubs at the moment in disarray.

“There is also a group of grieving First Nations people who are talking about their own collective class action against the Hawthorn Football Club. So it’s not over for Hawthorn, even though most people involved have left the club.”

Earlier, sports presenter Tony Armstrong was showered with praise after sharing his thoughts on the allegations.

“I have been thinking very deeply about this this morning,” he said on ABC News Breakfast.

“The allegations themselves are very concerning, there’s going to be a lot more to play out with this over the next, who knows how long.

“I just want to send my love to all First Nations people who are out there reading this, anyone who’s affected by this but especially First Nations people, because it has been a tough little period.

“If we put this into a bigger context, we have had basically 10 days of wall-to-wall coverage of the Queen, and I know the Queen means so much to so many people, (but) to first Nations people she was the ultimate symbol of colonisation and we all know what came with colonisation to First Nations people.

Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media

“Earlier on this week I think we had the banning of spit hoods that were disproportionately used on First Nations people.

“We currently are seeing what’s happening in the Kumanjayi Walker case and some text messages that have been sent to and from different people who serve in the police.

“We’ve had 517 deaths in custody since the Royal Commission to date, and now these allegations, I mean …

“Contextually on top of all that, it is not easy being out here. I am very, very sad to read these allegations, and I guess most importantly my thoughts are with the families who are allegedly affected, so spare a thought for those people today.”

Hawthorn responded to the allegations on Wednesday morning.

“Earlier this year the Hawthorn Football Club engaged external First Nations consultants to liaise with current and former First Nations players and staff to learn more about their experience at the club,” the club said in a statement.

“This important work has raised disturbing historical allegations that require further investigation. Upon learning of these allegations, the club immediately engaged AFL Integrity as is appropriate.

“The club will continue to provide support to those who have participated in this process, and their wellbeing remains our priority.

“While the process indicated the current environment at the club is culturally safe, it also recommended that some of the club’s current First Nations training and development programs should continue to be strengthened.

“The club places the best interests and welfare of our players and staff as our number one priority.

“Given the matters raised are confidential, the club will not provide any further comment at this time.”