Hawthorn president Andy Gowers talks racism investigation compensation, 2013 premiership reunion, Jeff Kennett and the CEO search
Hawthorn president Andy Gowers has addressed the Hawthorn racism investigation, the club’s vacant CEO role, Alastair Clarkson’s attendance at the 2013 reunion and more.
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Hawthorn president Andy Gowers has not given up hope former coach Alastair Clarkson might attend the club’s 10-year premiership reunion.
Clarkson, who retains white-hot fury at the way in which Hawthorn’s cultural safety review was leaked without him having a chance to reply, stepped away from the game last week to focus on his physical and emotional wellbeing.
The toll of the racism investigation also forced the resignation of Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves on Wednesday.
Gowers said he was hopeful the resolution of the First Nations investigation could help Clarkson consider attending the 10-year premiership reunion of the 2013 flag over the last weekend of the home-and-away season.
“We’ll see. But it sounds like a logical time to formally step back into the club. If we can make that happen that would be fantastic. But let’s see what we can achieve there. And the first thing that has to happen is Alastair needs to be well, and that’s really number one,” Gowers said.
The Herald Sun believes the AFL is attempting to broker a peace deal within the next two weeks as its legal boss Steven Meade and incoming chief executive Andrew Dillon work furiously behind the scenes.
But it is understood the part-finished report – which took eight months of work – is not expected to see the light of day despite AFL assurances because Clarkson and Chris Fagan never put their side of the story to the four-person panel.
Hawthorn might end up paying significant compensation to the First Nations families as part of the AFL-approved deal while Clarkson and Fagan make no admissions over any wrongdoing.
Gowers said the club was open to all options including paying reparations to injured parties.
“Whatever comes out of the investigation, we’re open to sitting down and discussing it. I’ll be as specific and as broad as that. So we’re open to discussions with all parties,” he said when asked about paying compensation.”
Both Clarkson and Fagan deny any wrongdoing, with Clarkson’s great friend Ben Dixon telling Fox Footy on Monday the four-time premiership coach would not accept he had been culturally insensitive as part of a deal.
Gowers said on Thursday he had not given up hope of repairing the relationship with Clarkson.
“100% that’s my hope. My description is that there’s a small part of his heart that beats brown and gold. And I hope that section of his heart gets a bit bigger. And the building that bridge for him and others is something that we’re really keen to see happen,” he said.
Gowers refused to pull Jeff Kennett into line for his distracting public comments.
Kennett’s latest intervention into the Hawks was a tweet about Damien Hardwick’s smooth farewell that club legend Luke Hodge interpreted as a clip at Clarkson about his bungled Hawthorn departure.
“Look, everyone’s got an opinion in footy. We welcome them. Sometimes we don’t agree with them. Sometimes we do,” Gowers said.
“And Jeff is no different to any other invested Hawthorn person who happens to be a previous president. But I’m not going to tell anyone not to have an opinion about our club. And so Jeff is one of those.”
Gowers on Thursday said the club’s vacant chief executive position was highly attractive given the club’s upside in challenging circumstances and would attract an elite field.
Gowers cited the club’s blank canvas of its Dingley headquarters build, its status as a strong Melbourne club and the path out of the Hawks investigation as reasons why the club’s CEO role was actually a job to be relished instead of feared.
“Look, I actually think the opposite. I think for the right candidate, this represents a great challenge for them and a great opportunity. So they’ll have to bear in mind what is going on. “But you do that with any job, anything you take on. So anyone who’s prepared to put their hand up and consider this for them. If they’re the right person for our organisation, they’ll relish this challenge, and they’ll take it on. And I’m sure they’ll be successful.”
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Originally published as Hawthorn president Andy Gowers talks racism investigation compensation, 2013 premiership reunion, Jeff Kennett and the CEO search
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