Alastair Clarkson responds to bombshell court claims

[Pelican Press 0]

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Alastair Clarkson responds to bombshell court claims

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has claimed “legal eagles” derailed a potential resolution with former Hawthorn players as he awaits the chance to respond to allegations of racism in Federal Court.

Clarkson said Federal Court proceedings would be a welcome opportunity to provide “context” to serious allegations against him and fellow former Hawthorn officials Chris Fagan and Jason Burt.

He said the dispute involving former Hawthorn Indigenous players including Cyril Rioli had become a “legal stoush” after what he called a “really productive” set of meetings at the Human Rights Commission earlier this year.

An 89-page statement of claim lodged in the Federal Court detailed allegations against Clarkson, including that he told former player Carl Peterson to break up with his partner and “tell her to terminate the pregnancy” or else his football career would be “in jeopardy”.

Clarkson, who was coach of Hawthorn at the time, has strenuously denied all allegations against him.

He said there had been “terrific goodwill” when he met the former players and their partners at the Human Rights Commission.

“We’ve had small opportunities to participate – the Human Rights Commission was a really, really productive couple of days,” Clarkson said on Thursday.

Camera IconAlastair Clarkson and Cyril Rioli in happier times in 2016. Colleen Petch. Credit: News Corp Australia

“Unfortunately, if it was just probably left to the ones that are directly involved, it probably would have been resolved, but then the legal eagles get involved.

“I think there was terrific goodwill from all parties in the Human Rights Commission, and then it goes beyond that and becomes more of a legal stoush, so hopefully we’ll find a resolution elsewhere.”

Clarkson said his willingness to work towards a resolution had not been affected by the resurfacing of allegations in the statement of claim against Hawthorn.

“No, not really, because the people that know us well, and certainly Jason (Burt) and Chris (Fagan), I know those two guys really well and trust with my life,” he said.

“We’re just searching for the platform, and we’ve had different pieces of the investigation … the opportunity might come in the Federal Court.

“We’re hoping there will be a resolution at some point in time and some context.”

An AFL investigation in the allegations after they were initially made public made no adverse findings against Clarkson, Fagan and former Hawks ******** manager Jason Burt, who have all consistently denied wrongdoing and rejected accusations of racism.

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