AFL 2024: Alastair Clarkson hopes to respond to racism allegations in Federal Court

Alastair Clarkson is hopeful of appearing in court after the racism case against Hawthorn took a step forward last week.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson says he hopes he can defend himself in court against allegations of racism made by former Hawthorn players and their partners. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

Alastair Clarkson is hopeful he will be called to give evidence in Federal Court as Cyril Rioli and other former Hawthorn players continue to pursue legal action.

The former Hawthorn premiership coach said he still wanted the opportunity to give his version of events after allegations of racism were levelled at him, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan and former Hawks official Jason Burt.

Rioli was the lead applicant in a statement of claim lodged in the Federal Court last Friday against the Hawthorn Football Club.

The four-time premiership player’s wife Shannyn Ah-Sam Rioli, fellow ex-Hawks Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, the latter’s partner Montanah-Rae Lewis and former Hawthorn Indigenous liaison officer Leon Egan were also named in the documents.

Retired Hawthorn superstar Cyril Rioli is named as the lead applicant in the claim against his former club filed in the Federal Court last week. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

The club is the only defendant listed, but Clarkson and Fagan could be called to give evidence during court proceedings.

Clarkson said he was realistic about how slowly the proceedings could move but remained keen to defend himself in court.

“I hope so, but we’ll just need to see how it all plays out,” he said.

“Federal Court process is a really, really long process, so I don’t even know when it’s going to be.

“It could be as far away as two years away, so we’ll just let that all play out and in the meantime just concentrate on the things that we can control, and that’s just going about our day-to-day work.”

Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson says he will still welcome the chance to give his version of events in court if the time comes. Picture: Mark Stewart

The North Melbourne coach said he remained hopeful the parties could reach a resolution after the failed Human Rights Commission mediation earlier this year.

“It’s played out for a long, long period of time,” he said.

“We’re just hopeful for all parties involved that some sort of resolution can occur. We worked really hard to seek some kind of resolution through the Human Rights Commission – it didn’t occur, which was unfortunate, but this is the next platform we get the opportunity to find some sort of resolution.”

The AFL launched an inquiry into the claims made by Rioli and the other players but ended it last year with no findings against Clarkson, Fagan or Burt.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Alastair Clarkson hopes to respond to racism allegations in Federal Court