sport news Jeff Kennett reveals he was 'horrified' to learn of contents of Hawthorn report trends now
When Hawthorn Football Club selects young men and women to join our playing lists, we do so because they have demonstrated that they have skills that will increase the club’s chances of being successful, or because we recognise potential talent and character that we think we can help them to develop to become premiership players for us.
We don’t select players based on race, colour or religion.
Once on our list they are all equally important to us, and we spend considerable time developing their football skills, encouraging them to undertake studies and gain skills for life after football. Over the journey we have had a number of First Nations players wear the brown and gold.
Chance Bateman was our first First Nations player to play 100 games for our club. Shaun Burgoyne recently finished his career with us having played over 400 AFL games.
Lance Franklin has now kicked 1,000 goals with us and Sydney.
Cyril Rioli could turn on a sixpence and electrify us all.
As well as Mark Williams, Brad Hill and others who have all made an important impact over the years.
Today Jarman Impey, Chad Wingard, Tyler Brockman, Kaitlyn Ashmore and Janet Baird wear our colours.
Recently, we decided to conduct some work among our past and present First Nations players and staff to learn more about their experience at the club, and find out if they required any further support in their life after football.
We commissioned Phil Egan and his firm, Binmada, to talk to our past and present First Nations players and staff understanding that First Nations people would feel more comfortable telling their story to fellow First Nations people. We were also asked, and committed to, keeping the review, and any comments made by those interviewed, confidential. Importantly, many participated on that basis.
When the club received the final report, it would be an understatement to say we were horrified at the stories that three of our past players and their partners had recorded. If the allegations were true, these individuals, and their families, have been subjected to some horrific and unacceptable behaviours.
The review was never meant to be forensic. We wanted to hear from our past and present First Nations players about their experiences at
