AFL investigates claims Hawthorn separated First Nations players from families and called for pregnancy termination

The AFL is investigating “extremely serious” allegations about Hawthorn’s mistreatment of First Nations former players, including that the Hawks separated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players from their families and pressured one couple to terminate a pregnancy for the sake of the player’s career.

A Hawthorn-commissioned review has revealed what the club has called “disturbing historical allegations”. Its confronting contents, as reported by the ABC on Wednesday, are the result of interviews with First Nations players and the document has been passed on to the AFL’s integrity unit.

The minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, on Wednesday described the allegations as “harrowing”, while former Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge said the news was “a shock to the system”.

The Hawks released a statement on Wednesday confirming the review was in the hands of the AFL, but declined to comment further. A spokesperson said it would not be made public because the club had interviewed players with a guarantee of anonymity.

“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 read.

“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.”

The AFL confirmed it had received the report and pledged to take the necessary steps to ensure the welfare of the players involved and gain a complete understanding of what occurred.

“We recently received a document from the Hawthorn Football Club outlining very serious allegations gathered during the recently completed review by an external consultant who interviewed current and former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players,” it said in a statement.

“The experiences outlined in the document are extremely serious and require further and full examination. The AFL is finalising a process to investigate the allegations and has sought further details of those who shared their experiences in order to progress its investigation.

“The AFL is committed to ensuring all who shared their experiences are fully supported through this process. The AFL will liaise with the parties to ensure appropriate support and cultural safety are in place in accordance with the wishes of those involved.”

The explosive report comes some 18 months after the release of Collingwood’s Do Better report, which revealed a systemic culture of racism at the Magpies, and the Hawthorn report is expected to have a similarly large impact.

“Reports of racism, harm and discrimination experienced by Indigenous players and their families at Hawthorn FC are harrowing,” Burney said on Twitter. “My thoughts today are with the players and their families who were allegedly subjected to horrific treatment.”

Hodge, who played for Hawthorn between 2002 and 2017, said reading about the allegations felt “very uncomfortable”.

“It’s a shock to the system reading some of the things that were alleged in that,” Hodge told SEN.

“You can’t put yourself in the position of the players and their families and what they’ve been told by people who they’re supposed to look up to. It’s an uncomfortable position for them to have had to go through and you feel for them.”