AFL player survey exposes despicable issue

2 years ago 143

An AFL Players' Association study has revealed the league's startling occupation with racism amid calls for a league-wide reappraisal from indigenous icon Eddie Betts.

A 3rd of the players who took portion successful the survey and identified arsenic Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander oregon radical of colour reported experiencing racism portion being AFL-listed.

Of the 92 players that identified arsenic Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander oregon radical of colour, conscionable 17 per cent said issues with racism had been dealt with satisfactorily.

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Fifteen of the cohort of 92 players spoken to besides said they'd experienced racism successful the league wrong the past 12 months.

According to the report, players said the astir communal instances of racism occurred connected societal media. However, determination were besides "concerning" reports of players dealing with racism from those wrong the AFL industry.

The insights into the AFL's racism problems travel connected the backmost of a study commissioned by Hawthorn, which contained immoderate disturbing humanities allegations of mistreatment of First Nations players astatine the nine betwixt 2010 and 2016.

The AFL is acceptable to behaviour an probe into the matter, but is yet to find the four-person sheet that volition pb the probe.

Former Hawthorn manager Alastair Clarkson and his erstwhile right-hand man, existent Brisbane Lions manager Chris Fagan, person some stood down from their existent roles to assistance with the investigation. Both men person categorically denied immoderate allegations of wrongdoing.

AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh called for the probe into the allegations astatine Hawthorn to beryllium conducted independently of the AFL, suggesting the league has a struggle of interest.

"I don't cognize if determination tin beryllium an AFL process," Marsh said connected Thursday.

"I don't cognize however the AFL sits successful judgement connected this."

The players and their families who person made the allegations against Clarkson and Fagan from their clip astatine Hawthorn person expressed reservations astir re-telling their stories to the AFL, having already done truthful to those conducting the Hawthorn reappraisal and to ABC writer Russell Jackson.

There are reservations regarding the probe from the coaches' perspectives arsenic well, with the AFL Coaches' Association acrophobic astir Clarkson and Fagan not being afforded "natural justice" fixed the media sum of the probe.

Clarkson, Fagan careers hanging successful the balance

Both coaches contradict wrongdoing and are preparing to combat to wide their names.

"Coaches named successful the Hawthorn Football Club study were not interviewed oregon provided with an accidental to respond to the allegations made earlier it was handed to the nine and AFL. They inactive person not had an accidental to respond successful afloat to the claims made successful the report, which has present been provided to 2 large media outlets," AFLCA CEO Alistair Nicholson said successful a connection connected Wednesday.

"The allegations are confronting and warrant due examination. Our thoughts are with the players and their families who person shared their stories, arsenic good arsenic different First Nations radical who person been straight oregon indirectly affected by the publicity astir the report.

"But the seriousness of the allegations does not obviate the request for a just proceeding for the coaches, who person strenuously denied the claims made successful the report.

"The AFLCA is continuing to connection some coaches our enactment with a absorption connected their idiosyncratic wellbeing."

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