Hawthorn refuted claims made by Indigenous former players in court documents. (AAP: Joel Carrett)
In short:
The Hawthorn Football Club has filed its defence against a lawsuit brought by former players Cyril Rioli, Carl Peterson and Jermain Miller-Lewis and others alleging Indigenous stars were subjected to a “racist culture”.
Hawthorn has described the suit as “an abuse of process” and labelled many of the allegations “vague and embarrassing”.
What’s next?
The parties are poised for a lengthy court battle, which is listed for weeks of hearings in the middle of next year
Hawthorn has denied claims that Indigenous stars were subjected to a “racist culture” and that senior club figures wanted players’ partners to terminate pregnancies.
Warning: This story contains racist and offensive language.
The club filed its legal defence in the Federal Court on Thursday, as it fights a lawsuit brought by former superstar Cyril Rioli, and fellow players Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis and others.
In court documents, Hawthorn labelled the suit against it “an abuse of process” and described many of the allegations made against it as “vague and embarrassing”.
It is contesting claims by players and those involved in the lawsuit that they suffered injury, damage and a loss of earnings due to alleged discrimination and negligence at the club.
Court documents refute allegations made by former players
Hawthorn’s court documents said it “does not know and cannot admit” allegations that former coach Alastair Clarkson told Rioli having a child could potentially end his career.
The club also refuted claims made by Rioli and others that the club was a culturally unsafe environment for Indigenous players.
However, in its defence documents, the club said Clarkson did speak to Rioli during a trip to Alice Springs in 2017 and asked him: “Why do these Aboriginals have darker skin than you?”
The club said Clarkson nicknamed Rioli and some other players “Humphrey B Bear” because they were quiet and needed to communicate with their teammates on and off the field.
Former Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli is one of several Indigenous players who brought a lawsuit against his former club. (AAP Image: Julian Smith)
Rioli said comments made by former president Jeff Kennett to his wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli about her ripped jeans had caused offence.
In its court documents, Hawthorn conceded Mr Kennett had said the words “Can’t you afford to buy thread?” to her, but that the comments were “an attempt at humour” and not motivated by race.
In the aftermath, Mr Kennett wrote an apology and said he never intended to disrespect or upset the pair.
The Hawks court documents further denied claims made by Peterson that former general manager Jason Burt and Clarkson encouraged him to break up with his partner and not go through with a pregnancy.
The documents also said Peterson was delisted in 2010 after club leaders were told he had taken marijuana in the lead-up to an elimination final.
A year earlier, the club said Peterson was picked up from the airport by a development coach and “appeared affected by alcohol or illicit substances”.
The legal stoush between the parties has reached the Federal Court, after the allegations were first revealed by the ABC and subsequent reviews commissioned by the club and AFL.
Attempts at mediation have failed, setting the parties on a course for a lengthy court battle which is listed for weeks of hearings in the middle of next year.
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