Former Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has said he refutes "any allegation of wrongdoing or misconduct" regarding claims about the club's treatment of First Nations players.
Clarkson — along with Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan — was named in an external review commissioned by Hawthorn into the treatment of First Nations players at the club and which is understood to detail allegations by several former players that they were pressured by the club to separate themselves from partners and families.
The review document was handed to Hawthorn's senior management two weeks ago and is now with the AFL integrity unit.
According to the families of three players interviewed by ABC Sport, the alleged incidents at the centre of the review took place during Clarkson's time as Hawthorn head coach.
Clarkson — who was last month appointed as North Melbourne coach — led Hawthorn from 2005 to 2021.
"The health, care and welfare of our players, staff and their families were always my highest priorities during my time at Hawthorn Football Club," Clarkson said in a media statement.
"I was therefore shocked by the extremely serious allegations reported in the media earlier today.
"I was not interviewed by the authors of the report commissioned by the club, and nor have I been provided with a copy of the report.
"I was not afforded any due process and I refute any allegation of wrongdoing or misconduct and look forward to the opportunity to be heard as part of the AFL external investigation.
"I have today contacted the president of North Melbourne Football Club and we have mutually agreed that I will step back from my responsibilities at the club so I can fully cooperate in the investigation.
"As the matters are now subject to an investigation, I will not make any further comment at this stage."
North Melbourne had earlier released a statement saying Clarkson would delay the start of his tenure at the club while the AFL investigated the allegations.
"Given the matters raised are confidential and the investigation is ongoing, the club will not provide any further comment at this time," the statement concluded.
Fagan — who is now taking a leave of absence from the Lions while the AFL investigates the allegations — was an assistant coach at Hawthorn at the time.
The Brisbane Lions released a statement on Wednesday afternoon confirming Fagan would cooperate with the AFL's investigation.
"Chris supports and welcomes the investigation", the statement read.
"He was not consulted during the Hawthorn sponsored review and looks forward to the opportunity to be heard as part of the AFL investigation."
'Serious allegations'
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the allegations made in the external review would be "fully investigated".
"These are serious allegations. It is important that we treat them appropriately while also ensuring a formal process provides support to those impacted, and also natural justice to those people who are accused.
McLachlan said the AFL would appoint an external four-person panel "independent of a normal AFL integrity department response" to lead the investigation.
"The independent panel … will be appropriately skilled, have the right mix of diversity and an approach that prioritises cultural safety for all those who have shared their experiences," he said.
"We need to run a proper investigation to get to the bottom of it and this is important, out of respect for those making the allegations and out of respect for those being accused."
The AFL announced commissioner Andrew Newbold will take a leave of absence while the investigation is carried out.
Newbold was Hawthorn president from 2012 through to 2016.
Hawks respond to allegations
Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves described the allegations in the report as "extremely disturbing".
"When you do open an investigation into some of your (Hawthorn) past, you never know what may emerge," he said.
"You are always concerned but you are always interested and, if you go about it with the … we are doing it for the right reason and that it to make sure that our people, if required, get the support that they require.
"Then that is validated for me every day of the week.
"This process was initiated by the club and it was to speak purely to our First Nations past players and staff.
"We had no idea of what was to come out of those conversations. We didn't speak to anyone outside of that group while the consultants didn't speak to anyone outside of that group."
