Hawthorn has settled with a host of former Indigenous players and their partners, including four-time premiership player Cyril Rioli, regarding the ongoing racism scandal that began in 2022.
At the time, the group of players and their partners alleged that the club had engaged in racist conduct that "had a significant impact on them".
During a court hearing in August, Rioli claimed that due to โunlawful discriminationโ by the club, he, the players and their partners suffered โdistressโ, โpsychological harmโ, and โpersonal harmโ.
The court documents also allege that key heads at Hawthorn pressured former player Carl 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 Lionsย coachย Chris Faganย and Hawthorn welfare officer Jason Burt in a small office at the club's Waverley headquarters.
Clarkson, Fagan and Burt have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
However, following the settlement that was reached by both parties, the club "accepts that the allegations were made in good faith, and has heard, respects, and accepts that they represent their truths".
"Hawthorn is sorry and apologises that the former players, partners, and their families, in either pursuing a football career or in supporting such a person, experienced ongoing hurt and distress in their time at the Club," the statement said.
As a result, Hawthorn has established a First Nations Advisory Committee comprising the Chair and the CEO, Professor Barry Judd, Aunty Joy Murphy, Alan Thorpe and Chad Wingard, with the latter having recently retired from AFL football.
The club has also developed and implemented a First Nations strategic plan with the expertise and advice from several First Nations people with high levels of experience across many areas.
Hawthorn has also "expanded the role of its Indigenous Player Development Manager, which now incorporates Head of Indigenous Affairs," the statement continued.
"In constructing a future home at the Kennedy Community Centre, is seeking to ensure a culturally safe environment by:
- "The re-location of the established Tyetdji Yulk cultural room currently at Bunjil Bagora, Waverley Park, to a prominent position overlooking the entrance of the Harris Elite Training Facility;
- "the inclusion of a yarning circle that overlooks the main training oval and near the main entrance; and
- "The potential inclusion of an outdoor community and ceremony space embedded to the south of the main facility footprint."
Hawthorn and the former players, partners, and their families have chosen to settle the Federal Court proceeding without determination of any parties' allegations in the best interests of everyone.
