Heartbreaking allegations have been made against the Hawthorn Football Club and several of its former employees after at least three First Nations families were left devastated following their involvement with the club.
As reported by Russell Jackson of ABC Sports, three anonymous former members of Hawthorn's roster allege that staff members - including Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan - played active roles in displacing them from their families, fraying their relationships, cruelling their mental health and/or hindering pregnancies, including requests for termination.
Players were also said to have been coerced into replacing the SIM cards on their phones once removed from their partners in an effort to stifle contact.
Each of these players was said to have been listed by the Hawks during their golden premiership era of 2013-2015.
Jackson's report comes as the Bungil Bagora club continues to conduct an internal review into their, at times, checkered past with First Nations people.
In response to Jackson's report, the Hawthorn Football Club claimed these allegations would "require further investigation".
"Earlier this year the Hawthorn Football Club engaged external First Nations consultants to liaise with current and former First Nations players and staff to learn more about their experience at the club," the statement began.
"This important work has raised disturbing historical allegations that require further investigation. Upon learning of these allegations, the club immediately engaged AFL Integrity as is appropriate.
"The club will continue to provide support to those who have participated in this process, and their wellbeing remains our priority.
"While the process indicated the current environment at the club is culturally safe, it also recommended that some of the club's current First Nations training and development programs should continue to be strengthened.
"The club places the best interests and welfare of our players and staff as our number one priority.
"Given the matters raised are confidential, the club will not provide any further comment at this time."
In its own statement, the AFL stressed that it was "committed to providing a safe, welcoming and culturally appropriate environment for all players and staff throughout the industry, ensuring that physical, mental and emotional welfare is a key priority for all in our sport."
This statement also expressed that the league was "finalising a process to investigate the allegations and has sought further details of those who shared their experiences in order to progress its investigation.
As of Wednesday morning, Clarkson or Fagan are yet to publicly comment on the allegations.
Both are currently set to steer AFL lists again in 2023, with Clarkson as the head coach of North Melbourne and Fagan in the same post with the Brisbane Lions.
Clarkson held the head coaching reigns at Hawthorn between 2005 and 2021, with Fagan acting as the club's assistant coach and then general manager between 2008 and 2016.
