Hawthorn Football Club President, Andrew Gowers, has voiced his concerns over potential sanctions from the Australian Football League (AFL), following the club’s involvement in the commissioning of a report investigating historical allegations of racism. This reaction comes despite no adverse findings having been made against any individual as a result of the independent investigation, which was formally concluded on Tuesday.
In a statement released by AFL regarding the investigation at Hawthorn, it was made clear that the completion of the independent investigation doesn’t foreclose the possibility of the AFL instigating any future charges against Hawthorn under AFL rules, relating to the club’s conduct in the commissioning of the initial report.
Speaking to AFL.com.au addressing the prospect of AFL sanctions against Hawthorn, including possible financial penalties, Gowers voiced his apprehension during a Wednesday morning discussion, stating, “Of course we’d be extremely disappointed if this matter led to sanctions… we went into this process with the best of intentions.” He firmly believed that no one was questioning the club’s sincerity in this matter.
Gowers defended the club’s handling of the situation, stating that the Hawks had gone “by the book” by forwarding the report to the AFL Integrity Unit without first consulting Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan, and Jason Burt. All three figures have categorically denied all allegations and will not be facing any charges under the AFL rules.
According to Gowers, the expectation was that this process would enable all parties to provide their accounts of the events. However, he expressed dissatisfaction over the leaking of the report, stating, “The leaking of that work had a significant impact. It did not allow for a fair and just process.”
With discussions with the AFL ongoing, the future implications for Hawthorn Football Club remain to be seen.
