Lawyers representing the Hawthorn Football Club have reportedly extended mediation offers to the families affected by recent racism allegations levelled at the club.
The alternative avenue toward reconciliation could lead to both public apologies and financial settlements relating to incidents involving alleged displacement and pressured abortions during the Hawks' golden era between 2008 and 2016.
As reported byย News Corp,ย the offer was placed before the anonymous parties who shared their truths via an explosive ABC Sport report by representatives from legal firm Piper Alderman.
While it remains to be seen whether the Hawks' olive branch will be taken up, the extension from the Bungil Bagora club comes just nine days after the four-person, AFL elected panel charged with leading an official investigation was announced.
Though the league inquest is set to continue into these alleged matters, secondary reports from The Herald Sunย contend that should Hawthorn's offer be accepted, it could lead to a resolution without the need for an independent panel.
At present, the unidentified players and their families are under no obligation to involve themselves in the independent investigation, however, the alleged enforcers, including Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan, remain duty-bound.
It is not yet known what form of financial figure could change hands if a route of mediation is employed.
Mediation was reportedly the preferred method of reconciliation put forward by Phil Egan in his outcomes report into the matter.
As reported earlier in October, WorkSafe Victoria has commenced their own investigation into the matter, seizing documents from Hawthorn's headquarters in the days after the grand final.
