Hawthorn premiership player and Norm Smith medallist Cyril Rioli's racism allegations have been aired in court, which detail the experiences of his time at the club.
The statement made by Rioli - who was joined by wife Shannyn Ah-Sam Rioli, former Hawthorn players Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, and Indigenous ex-official Leon Egan and the partner of another former player - claimed to the court that due to โunlawful discriminationโ by the club, that he, the players and their partners suffered โdistressโ, โpsychological harmโ, and โpersonal harmโ, according to a report fromย The Age.
As a result of the alleged racism, the three players also made claim to a "loss of earnings and loss of earning capacity".
According toย The Age, no financial amount for damages has been revealed in the statement of claim that was filed in the Federal Court following a breakdown in mediation talks between the parties.
Hawthorn president Andy Gowers responded to the claims, saying he, the club and the involved parties are working towards "a resolution in a fair and timely manner".
โAs we have done throughout this process, we will continue to work towards a resolution in a fair and timely manner for all parties," Gowers said.
โThe Federal Court process will importantly give Hawthorn Football Club the opportunity to respond to these allegations.
โGiven the matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to make any kind of comment that could impact on that process.โ
As reported in theย Herald Sun, the claim also identified four-time premiership Hawk Grant Birchall as a player who allegedly made racist remarks toward teammate Brad Hill, who now plays for St Kilda.
โAt the end of the 2013 season โฆ at an end-of-season player's trip, an Indigenous player (Mr Bradley Hill) was asked by a non-Indigenous player (Mr Grant Birchall) whether Mr Hill's partner was also a โboong',โ the document alleges.
โMr Hill told Mr Rioli of this comment at the first pre-season training session around late November 2013 โฆ Hawthorn did not take any action in response to this incident.โ
The documents also allege that key heads at Hawthorn pressured Peterson and his partner Nikita Rotumah to terminate a pregnancy during the 2009 season, with the conversation reportedly involving then Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, then Hawks official and now Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan and Hawthorn welfare officer Jason Burt in a small office at the club's Waverley headquarters.
โMr Clarkson, Mr Fagan and Mr Burt were present in the room before Mr Peterson arrived,โ the document says, writes theย Herald Sun.
โThere was initially some friendly and positive discussion about how impressed the coaches were with Mr Peterson's development and skills as a player.
โMr Burt then informed Mr Peterson that he had shared Mr Peterson's news with Mr Clarkson and Mr Fagan.
โMr Burt said words to the effect: โCarl, being a father is a huge responsibility and we don't think you're ready to be a father.'
โMr Clarkson said words to the effect: โCarl, you need to break up with Nikita and focus only on your football.'
โMr Clarkson said words to the effect: โUnless you break up with her and tell her to terminate the pregnancy, your football career will be in jeopardy.'
โMr Fagan nodded his head during the meetingโ.
The document of claim also made reference to an incident in 2015, whereby Clarkson allegedly interrupted a meeting held by several Hawthorn Indigenous players over a proposed boycott amid fallout from the Adam Goodes booing saga.
โMr Clarkson โฆ invited himself to the meeting โฆ imposed himself on, and derailed, the meeting, by bringing his guitar and singing a song about Mr Rioli โฆ (and) discouraged the players from going through with the boycott.โ
Clarkson, Fagan and Burt have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Hawthorn has one month to file a defence against the statement of claim.
