Hawthorn racism saga would be over without lawyers: Alastair Clarkson

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson claims the “legal eagles” have prevented the long-running Hawthorn racism saga from already being resolved. Documents revealed the statement of claim from the Federal Court case, headlined by former Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli, on Monday. Serious allegations of unlawful discrimination were levelled against Clarkson, as well as former Hawks welfare manager Jason Burt and ex-Hawthorn football manager Chris Fagan, via a bombshell ABC report in 2022. Those claims, which had only previously come to light through the media, were formalised through the court documents after mediation talks between all parties earlier this year failed to stop further court action. “We’ve had small opportunities to participate in the Human Rights Commission,” said Clarkson, who spoke on Thursday for the first time since the statement of claim emerged. “It was a really, really productive couple of days (in March) and, unfortunately, if it was probably left to the ones that are directly involved, it would have been resolved, but then the legal eagles get involved. “We are hoping there will be a resolution at some point in time and some context put to it all. “I think there was terrific goodwill from all parties in Human Rights Commission, and then it goes beyond that and then becomes more of a legal stoush. “It’s been a tough road. It’s nearly two years. “We haven’t got a resolution as yet, and if the Federal Court provides that platform to be able to do that, then we welcome it.” Hawthorn commissioned and released the findings from a cultural safety review in 2022 to investigate allegations of systemic mistreatment of First Nations players at the club. An AFL investigation later produced no adverse findings against Clarkson, Fagan and Burt. All three men have vehemently denied any wrongdoing since the allegations first emerged just days before the 2022 AFL grand final. “The people that know us well, and certainly Jason and Chris, I know those guys really well and trust with my life,” Clarkson said. “We’re just searching for the platform.”