The Hawks may have to settle for more than $1 million to compensate Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan, and Jason Burt for reputational harm caused by the way the team handled the Binmada Report.
In May, the AFL ended its investigation into allegations of historic racism at Hawthorn, with ‘no adverse findings’ made against former coach Clarkson, ex-football boss Fagan and former welfare manager Burt.
The AFL conducted an investigation into the Binmada Report – Hawthorn’s cultural safety review – and is expected to ‘make good’ with the ex-club staffers, as well as former Indigenous players and staff, The Age reported on Tuesday.
The Age also suggested that Hawthorn could be forced to pay over $1million combined to the three former clubmen.
Clarkson and Fagan are also seeking public apologies from the club over the professional and private damage they both suffered as a result of the club’s handling of the report.
Ex-Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett slammed suggestions the Hawks should pay compensation or be ‘shamed into apologising’ for the Binmada Review
‘I’m not going to be shamed into apologising and I have to say this is not a great start for the AFL administration,’ he told The Age.
‘It would be totally wrong for the AFL to penalise Hawthorn and it would be totally wrong for the club to use members’ funds to pay for something it did not do.
‘This is not Hawthorn’s error. This is not Hawthorn’s fault.’
The Hawks saga started last year after former Indigenous star Cyril Rioli and his wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli publicly claimed they were treated poorly during their time at the club.
That prompted an internal review of current and former Indigenous players, which led to the bombshell racism claims being leaked to the media last September.
Clarkson, Fagan and Burt vehemently denied any wrongdoing throughout the affair.
Clarkson, who was then made coach of North Melbourne in 2023, took personal leave from the Kangaroos during the saga and says the strain of it all took a huge toll on him both mentally and physically.
Fagan, now head coach of Brisbane Lions, has also spoken out about the impact of the investigation, saying he refused to leave his house during daylight hours when things were at their worst.
The families at the center of the club’s racism inquiry intend to appear at a hearing on December 16 and take their case before the Human Rights Commission.
