Shannon Motlop and Harley Bennell address Hawthorn allegations

Three NT football identities have spoken out about systemic issues within the AFL following revelations that Hawthorn’s Indigenous players were pressured to abandon their families.

Former North Melbourne footballer Shannon Motlop says all AFL clubs needed to review how they treat their Indigenous players and staff as some felt less safe interstate.

Motlop, the new coach of PINT Football Club, has spoken out following allegations former Hawthorn coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan reportedly pressured Indigenous players to abandon their partners, and one couple to terminate a pregnancy.

The allegations came after a club-commissioned review into the treatment of First Nations players at the club during Clarkson’s reign, which is now in the hands of the league’s integrity unit.

Both Clarkson and Fagan have denied the claims.

The allegations have stunned several First Nations footballing identities across the Territory, including Motlop, who played 64 AFL games between 1999 and 2006, and won a premiership medal in his debut year.

Shannon Motlop says he is shocked by allegations Indigenous players were coerced into not seeing their loved ones. Picture: Supplied.

“I reckon there needs to be a review of all clubs,“ Motlop told the NT News.

“I heard Eddie Betts said there needs to be a review of all clubs and I think that will be good.

“It’s for players going forward, because we’ve got young kids looking at playing AFL, so a complete review would be good.”

Motlop said some indigenous Territorians had struggled after moving interstate to play in the AFL.

“Not all of us had great experiences in the AFL,” Motlop said.

“It’s just moving away from home, a different lifestyle, and you feel safe up here in Darwin in comparison.

“We’re very much multicultural up here and you always worry about that stuff when you leave home.”

Jed Anderson was reluctant to talk about the Hawthorn saga. Picture: Felicity Elliott/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Hawthorn player Jed Anderson played during Clarkson’s reign between 2013 and 2015 and is due to be coached by the four-time flag winner next season at North Melbourne.

He was reluctant to make any comment while the investigation was going on.

“It’s still pretty raw, it’s sort of affecting a lot of people at the minute,” Anderson said.

“Once that investigation is done … we’ll just let that process take care of itself.

“At the moment I’ve got no comment for what’s happened.”

Tiwi Bombers recruit and former AFL player Harley Bennell, who was with Gold Coast, Fremantle and Melbourne between 2011 and 2020, said the reports were hard to grasp.

“It’s bizarre isn’t it, it’s bizarre,” Bennell said.

Bennell, who said his recruitment to Tiwi had been facilitated by Dean and Cyril Rioli, said the latter was happy with life back in the Territory after his AFL career had finished.

“He’s good,” Bennell. “He sounds happy.”

It comes after Richmond premiership player Daniel Rioli referred to the claims as “sad” and a “difficult set of circumstances”.