Frustrated Fagan speaks out over racism probe

1 year ago 73

WARNING: This communicative contains intergenerational trauma for indigenous radical and gestation loss

Chris Fagan has fronted media for the archetypal clip since being embroiled successful a racism ungraded that has engulfed his erstwhile club, Hawthorn.

The AFL has launched an probe into disturbing claims that were archetypal aired successful an ABC study successful September, pursuing the Hawks ordering an enquiry which was aboriginal handed to the governing body.

It is alleged elder Hawthorn staffers forced a fig of indigenous players to abstracted from their families and partners, and successful 1 lawsuit pressured a young First Nations mates to abort a gestation for the involvement of the player's AFL career.

Fagan - who was the Hawks' caput of shot astatine the clip of the alleged incidents - was 1 of 3 men named successful the report, alongside former manager Alastair Clarkson and erstwhile database manager Jason Burt.

In the aftermath of the reports some Clarkson and Fagan stood down from their duties arsenic manager of North Melbourne and of Brisbane respectively.

But connected Monday Fagan took complaint of the Lions' archetypal 2023 pre-season grooming run, and afterwards spoke to the congregated media.

In September helium had issued a written connection "categorically denying" immoderate wrongdoing astatine Hawthorn, but Monday was the archetypal clip helium had fielded questions connected the matter.

"We each thought it was going to beryllium implicit by Christmas clip but it'll spell longer than that," Fagan said of the AFL's investigation.

Fagan hits backmost astatine Hawks allegations

"I'm conscionable patiently waiting for my accidental to talk astatine the investigation.

"You'd similar it to hap sooner alternatively than later. But I've got to beryllium patient.

"We'll conscionable hold and spot what the probe reveals.

"Probably the archetypal mates of weeks (I struggled), not truly knowing whether it was OK to locomotion down the thoroughfare oregon not. But aft a portion I realised we can't unrecorded similar that. So I've conscionable been surviving usually since that point.

"I've got a precise wide conscience. They accidental a wide conscience is the champion sedative and I'm sleeping well."

Fagan was pressed connected the probe by 1 writer successful particular, but the manager became testy and said helium would locomotion retired connected the property league if the questioning continued.

He said helium legally couldn't remark connected the details of the allegations fixed helium signed a confidentiality statement past week.

"I can't accidental thing astatine each mate," Fagan said.

"Can I accidental to you... that I'm not going to proceed to speech astir this. If you privation maine to enactment present and support talking to you, I suggest you halt asking maine questions astir that."

The AFL has not stood down either Fagan oregon Clarkson - Burt nary longer works successful the manufacture - and truthful some coaches are escaped to resume duties successful clubland portion the probe takes place.

Fagan says his Lions players person nary contented with him continuing successful the relation arsenic it stands.

"I've worked with them for six years and they spot me, they spot me. So there's been nary request for a conversation," helium said.

"I cognize everyone's truly funny successful my thoughts connected it, and I respect that, but you besides person to respect the information that it's going to stay backstage until the probe is over."

Clarkson has issued 2 statements connected the matter, the latest connected September 28 wherever helium lashed the "corrupted" probe process.

He has besides denied immoderate wrongdoing.

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