Hawthorn racism review: Brisbane Lions stand by Chris Fagan, says club chairman Andrew Wellington

As Chris Fagan takes time out until the investigation into the alleged Hawthorn racism saga has run its course, the Brisbane Lions coach has found staunch support.

Brisbane chairman Andrew Wellington has emphatically backed Chris Fagan as the Lions prepare to navigate the upcoming trade period without their senior coach.

Fagan “categorically” rejected any accusations of wrongdoing from his time at Hawthorn after an ABC report said First Nations players alleged the club attempted to separate them from their partners.

Fagan has taken a leave of absence in a period where the Lions would have been negotiating a new contract extension past 2023 if he had not been embroiled in the accusations.

Wellington on Sunday labelled Fagan a “role model, a mentor and a father figure” as he said the club stood by the 61-year-old.

The AFL is still not able to assemble a four-person independent panel amid haggling over who should be leading the investigation into those claims.

It’s understood Brisbane’s Indigenous players have always had full faith in Fagan as a leader who has their back but they have been rocked by the accusations given they do not marry up with their experience of him across six seasons.

The Lions could work through Fagan’s absence until the end of the season but new North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was to have his fingerprints over every list and trade decision at the Roos.

Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan will be interviewed for the first time about the allegations.

Clarkson’s November 1 start date at the Roos has been deferred until the results of the investigation are released.

Wellington said Fagan had “played a key role in steering our club into the strong position it’s in today”.

“In all of my dealings with Chris over the past six years, he has always made the welfare of our players and staff an utmost priority,” Wellington said in a Sunday statement.

“Chris has been a great supporter of all of our players and their families and has worked hard to ensure our Club provides a culturally safe environment for everyone.

“We stand by Chris as he commits himself to be part of the AFL investigation, which gives him procedural fairness, into allegations concerning historical events at the Hawthorn Football Club, where he was a former employee.

“Chris has categorically denied any wrongdoing. It has been a distressing and difficult week for Chris, his wife Ursula, and his family, as it has for many, and we strongly support his right to a fair, impartial, and independent investigative process.”

The Lions are confident of securing Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley in the upcoming trade perio and are still hopeful Hawks free agent Jack Gunston might join the club.

Gunston has strong links to former Hawks football boss Fagan and runner Grant Birchall, both at the Lions.

What is the truth? Hawks great on ‘sad reality’ of privacy

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Premiership coach Leigh Matthews said coaches will have to consider taping conversations with players in the wake of the startling allegations surrounding Hawthorn and senior coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan.

As questions turned to North Melbourne’s next move, Kangaroos president Sonja Hood firmly backed a “fragile” Clarkson.

Matthews said “it’s sort of sad, in a way” to consider such measures and while “it’s not practical”, he said it might be the future.

Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan during their time together at Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media

“On this basis of what’s transpired this week, you’re going to have to tape every conversation,” the former Collingwood and Brisbane coach said on 3AW on Saturday.

“Theoretically, every coach, every football manager, should have … audio so that there is no dispute.

“Someone said to me once, ‘truth is strange – there’s your truth, my truth, and the real truth’. The truth is in the eye of the beholder a little bit.

“If you want to actually get to the bottom of conversations, you’ve got to have a recording of those conversations. As sad as it is, that’s probably where the future lies.

“There’s a lot of people in management that have got the same issues, probably.

“It’s a sad reality in the era of litigation and everything.”

Clarkson – who has had his start date at North Melbourne pushed back – and Fagan, the Brisbane coach, were named in an explosive report on Wednesday that centered around blistering allegations of their treatment of First Nations players while in senior roles at Hawthorn.

President Hood, while “horrified and disturbed” by the allegations at hand, said she had been speaking with Clarkson and said that he would have the club’s full support.

“He’s pretty fragile, as you could imagine,” Hood told Channel 7.

“We’ve been really horrified and disturbed by the allegations. I think everybody has. And we’ll be looking to provide assistance to all of our people through this, and Alastair is one of our people.

“I’m really confident in his side of the story, and I’m sure we’ll all get a chance to hear that through the AFL process.”

Leigh Matthews and Sam Mitchell after the 2015 grand final. Picture: Colleen Petch

Matthews is a close friend of now Lions senior coach Fagan, and said Clarkson had withdrawn from a key Grand Final day event in Melbourne on Saturday morning.

“They’re the butt of the allegations, obviously, and it’s like at the moment they’re feeling like they can’t go out into public,” Matthews said.

I’ve gotten to know Chris Fagan really well over the last six or seven years, and he is one of the most caring people I’ve come across … I would trust Chris Fagan with my life and my kids.”

As North Melbourne continues to remodel its football department and list based on Clarkson having secured the role last month, premiership player Kane Cornes said it is time for the Kangaroos to be considering “a plan B”.

“The attraction for Clarkson was he was all things,” he said on SEN.

“Now, it’s a completely different scenario.

“Absolutely you would need three or four names ready to go, knowing that there is the possibility that Alastair Clarkson may never coach you again, and you can’t find that out in the middle of January.”

Former senior coach Brenton Sanderson said “it’s big” for North Melbourne as they hoped to embark on a new era.

“Everything that the club is building for the 2023 season begins on (November 1) … if that’s delayed by a week, that’s significant,” he said on SEN.

Clarkson and North Melbourne president Sonja Hood face the media. Picture: Michael Klein

Sanderson, who coached Adelaide and has served as a senior assistant coach, said coaches often had to find the balance between “counselling” and coaching.

“Players trust you as a coach,” he said.

“You have to form this incredible relationship where players often come to you non-football relayed, because there’s a trust. Quite often players are away from their homes … as a coach, if a player opens up to you about anything, you have to have the ability to point that player in the right direction, around mental health, personal matters. A coach should never, ever step in when it comes to matter of personal issues.

“I can recall moments when I’ve had to encourage a player or walk a player to someone that’s more qualified than myself to give them advice. Coaching and counselling are really closely related, but I was amazed at what I read. I was really shocked.”

Albo weighs in on shock Hawks racism revelations

- Fiona Byrne

AFL Chairman Richard Goyder has addressed the alleged racism scandal that has rocked the AFL at the annual North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast on Saturday.

In front of a room of fans, celebrities, business leaders and footy club presidents, Goyder said the AFL Commission acknowledged the hurt the former Hawthorn players and partners had experienced.

“Firstly, there is immense courage in telling your story and sharing your experience and enormous hurt, anger and sadness that you are feeling,” Goyder said.

“The AFL Commission acknowledges your hurt and our commitment is to provide whatever care we can while ensuring the work of the panel appointed to investigate provides the most just outcome for all parties concerned.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pictured with Eddie McGuire at the North Melbourne grand final breakfast. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“One of the strongest elements of football is that the footy family comes together so strongly and effectively when any of us face major challenges and or are confronted by tragedy.

“It is critical that the best of the footy family come together at this time together to address the moment and improve every part of our game.

“We must ensure that everyone is truly welcome and truly safe in our game. That is non-negotiable. “That is our commitment to those in our game and those who love our game.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also addressed the racism issue.

“I do want to acknowledge this has been a difficult week for the AFL and that we know that discrimination has no part in our game, just as discrimination has no part in our country,” he said.

“And I know that the AFL and everyone who loves footy will be doing their best to deal with these issues openly and transparently as must occur.”

After a two-year hiatus due to pandemic restrictions the celebrated North Melbourne breakfast was back bigger than ever and its legendary head table was shoulder to shoulder with sporting and political figures.

This year marked the 56th edition of the breakfast which will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Guests included Opposition leader Peter Dutton, Eddie McGuire, Danielle Laidley, Kate Roffey, Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nick Reese, AFL boss Gill McLachlan, North Melbourne president Sonja Hood, Bob Ansett, Melbourne Storm player Ryan Papenhuyzen, KIC entrepreneur Laura Henshaw and Majak Daw.

Originally published as Hawthorn racism review: Brisbane Lions stand by Chris Fagan, says club chairman Andrew Wellington