sport news AFL insider reveals the appalling racist questions Indigenous players are asked ... trends now
As the AFL continues to investigate shocking racial allegations at Hawthorn, a former industry mentor has revealed the rampant racism that he claims exists across all clubs in the competition.
Newly appointed North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson and Brisbane Lions mentor Chris Fagan have both been stood down by their respective clubs while the probe into their time at Hawthorn is carried out.
Allegations have reportedly been made that a Hawks player was urged to convince their partner to have an abortion, Indigenous players were ordered to separate from their white partners and First Nations footballers were stripped of their phones so they could not communicate with friends and family.
Hawthorn is being investigated for alleged acts of racism toward Indigenous players
Now a mentor to state league Indigenous players hoping to get drafted has revealed the shocking questions AFL clubs would ask him when he shopped promising young indigenous players to them.
The mentor - who did not wish to be named - worked for a Western Australia sports management company between 2013 and 2016 and said clubs would routinely ask him about footballers' crime and imprisonment records, their relationships with white women and their extended families and relationships.
He told the Herald Sun that the issue ran deeper than just Hawthorn, extending to other AFL clubs and down into state league competitions as well.
The insider felt compelled to speak up following the recent allegations laid against Hawthorn.
The Indigenous flag is seen on the 50m line during the round three AFLW match between the Richmond Tigers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Punt Road Oval
'This stuff has weighed heavily on me for the past eight to 10 years or so, and hearing what allegedly happened at Hawthorn, I believe there's stuff still happening at state level and with player managers as well,' the mentor said.
'Many come from broken families and had suffered intergenerational trauma, and what I discovered as a young Indigenous man myself was continuous casual racism,' he said.
'One of the young Indigenous players I mentored got drafted to a club and he was
