Hawthorn racism saga: The prospect of losing draft picks will haunt Hawks fans

The AFL sent shudders down the backs of every Hawthorn fan when the possibility of losing draft picks was raised. But is it a likely punishment?

The AFL sent shudders through every Hawthorn fans’ heart when the league left the door open on heavy sanctions for the messy racism saga.

There is no doubt the league is angry for the way the club has handled the process and AFL chief executive Gill McLachlan certainly didn’t miss in his evening press conference.

A big fine seems a distinct possibility.

But losing draft picks, at least on the available evidence so far, might be a reach.

It is obvious taking early draft picks off Hawthorn, similar to what happened to Carlton (salary cap breaches) and Essendon (injections program) would be a massive penalty, denying the club of potentially top-end talents such as Harley Reid.

High picks is exactly what the Hawks need as they attempt to rebuild the list.

The Bombers lost three picks in the first two rounds of the 2013-14 drafts and Carlton was stripped of its first two picks in each of the 2002-03 drafts.

Gillon McLachlan spoke to the media at a late-night press conference on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

Hammer blows. And even worse for Essendon a long string of players left after the supplements saga. Paddy Ryder. Stewart Crameri. Jake Melksham. Michael Hibberd.

But there seems a major difference in these very muddy waters when it comes to Waverley.

Hawthorn could have conducted its racism investigation differently, perhaps bringing the AFL into the loop from the outset, using different people, providing more guard rails and security to prevent leaks.

People may like to have their time again.

Like Collingwood, the Hawks tried to do the right thing, the club believes, but perhaps failed in the execution.

The Hawks say they never leaked the report to the ABC.

That was the nuclear bomb.

Carlton intentionally broke the rules on the cap breach.

Essendon intentionally set up an injections program.

Stephen Dank took things too far, before the club wound it up.

So far, the damaging allegations against former Hawthorn bosses Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt have all fallen over.

For now, any draft pick penalties would have to be pinned on failures in the investigation process.

Who ran it, and how it was run. The check-ins, the personnel involved and the protective mechanisms around it.

But to take draft picks off Hawthorn, perhaps the AFL Commission would have to be confident Hawthorn leaked the report, which then denied Clarkson, Fagan and Burt their chance to be heard.

Chris Fagan and Alastair Clarkson while at Hawthorn in 2016. Picture: AFL Media

It would seem hard to prove, unless there is another smoking gun.

Perhaps the Human Rights Commission might uncover more faults, but there is more water to flow under that bridge first.

Melbourne was fined $500,000 for not tanking in 2009, but two officials, Chris Connolly and Dean Bailey, were suspended for acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the competition.

No draft picks were taken off the Dees.

Although the circumstances were completely different, Hawthorn may hope for a similar outcome.

Originally published as Hawthorn racism saga: The prospect of losing draft picks will haunt Hawks fans