News Clarkson to step away from football indefinitely

‘Heavy toll’: Roos blindsided by Clarkson decision to step away

North Melbourne are unsure how long Alastair Clarkson will need away from the game, but the club’s football boss Todd Viney, a friend of the master coach, is confident he will not be lost to the sport.

www.theage.com.au

 

[freddy mercury]

So you believe Clarkson? Why?

I can't believe somebody would target a player purely because of color and say the horrible things that apparently happened. If the exact same thing was said to a white man from a white man, it wouldn't be racist, but a white man to a black it is racist.

I can't fathom a football club putting up with it if it did happen, I can't see two men at a professional level gathering around and conjuring up these horrible allegations.

Isn't everyone entitled to be innocent until proven guilty?

 

[Stars align]

Of course the contents haven’t been released but to the public that’s irrelevant, the fact is they’ve requested them clearly to assist their defence. There is no reason to withhold that information if the want true mediation.

Spot on.

Who are the the 2 main players I was unaware anybody had been named

 

[ZionMig22]

What's he done? Tell me what's been proven and what hasn't? Tell me his version of events, you hear the stories etc and then you hear other indigenous players who were at the club come out and say the direct opposite.

Burgoyne doesn't speak for all Indigenous players that walked into the FC

He isn't even on speaking terms with the 2 main players involved LOL

 

[windyhill]

Going to spend millions on a white elephant in Tullamar......

Actually that won't work, we'll probably stay in our heartland and keep developing that.

Oh yeah, that’s working.

 

[ZionMig22]

Who are the the 2 main players I was unaware anybody had been named

I am from the same part of the world as the 2 players

I am sure you can nail the players by that quote

 

[DesertRoo]

I wonder if any North supporters have the self awareness to rethink the uncontrolled glee with which they greeted every turn of the Essendon drug saga.

There but for the grace of god, and all that

Bahahaha this is gold,
Seriously point on the doll where north supporters hurt you so bad.

 

[s_wd6]

The absolute sad reality when a man's name is thrown through the ringer without anyone hearing his own versions of events that may or may not have happened, trial by media, I feel for him, I really do. Nobody has ever heard his versions of events, just instantly assumed he was guilty and a racist.

Well why hasn't he told anybody his version of events then?

 

[Le Grille]

That's not really how these investigations work.

37,000 documents sounds like large number but it's likely the result of a request into Hawthorn to provide all emails and documents produced between X date and Y date. It may be run through a keyword filter pre or post this activity. The extreme majority of these files will be completely irrelevant. In any case, I wouldn't expect Clarkson to have access to any of this content.

Then he doesn’t enter mediation, simple. with the gravity of the allegations he is absolutely entitled to request pertinent info. Really it’s hawthorn who aren’t co-operating with the mediation by withholding the requested information

 

[The Dougster]

Yep absolute bullshit especially if he didn't do anything wrong

Caroline Wilson has been trying to get him for years now, she will be jumping with joy

She’s been a mouthpiece for the AFL in trying to get rid of us for nearly two decades. Clarko is the icing on the cake!

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

I can't believe somebody would target a player purely because of color and say the horrible things that apparently happened. If the exact same thing was said to a white man from a white man, it wouldn't be racist, but a white man to a black it is racist.

I can't fathom a football club putting up with it if it did happen, I can't see two men at a professional level gathering around and conjuring up these horrible allegations.

Isn't everyone entitled to be innocent until proven guilty?

Why would anyone lie about the things that happened?

 

[freddy mercury]

Burgoyne doesn't speak for all Indigenous players that walked into the FC

He isn't even on speaking terms with the 2 main players involved LOL

Assuming I was talking about Shaun, if it was a race thing it wouldn't matter if he is or isn't on talking terms with the players involved. You stand up for your culture and your people.

 

[Rob R]

At some point the likelihood becomes better than even, given the detailed stories told by different people over time with similar experiences.

That is a very good point that flags something happened but doesn't support (on its own) the worst of the claims.

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[Underdog]

We absolutely have the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, but I don't think it's outlandish to have suspicions that this action may be a result of something being identified in the investigation. Regardless, this action will have no bearing on the formal assessment of his actions.

It's also worth noting that people can perform unsavoury or disrespectful actions without breaking the law. In such cases, our assessment is going to be one of values. That's going to cause its own tangle amongst fans on here because it's much less governed (and will probably trigger people to call the AFL woke or snowflakes). There's no clean path forward.

 

[Rob R]

I get that, but I can only assume he wanted to do it the proper way. I know he didn't want to do mediation because of the conditions involved and it almost admits to the allegations by doing mediation.

Didn't that story in the media about conditions get debunked by Fagan.

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[freddy mercury]

Why would anyone lie about the things that happened?

People lie about having cancer to gain financial benefits. I am not for one second making that assumption I'm just giving an example that people lie about a lot of things

 

[EagleMan87]

I can't believe somebody would target a player purely because of color and say the horrible things that apparently happened. If the exact same thing was said to a white man from a white man, it wouldn't be racist, but a white man to a black it is racist.

I can't fathom a football club putting up with it if it did happen, I can't see two men at a professional level gathering around and conjuring up these horrible allegations.

Isn't everyone entitled to be innocent until proven guilty?

Everyone is 100% entitled to be considered innocent until proven guilty, but you have to allow for the possibility that they are guilty.

And people do horrible things all the time, for various reasons, racist or not.

 

[QuietB]

Which they can then pay to the players over THEIR treatment.

What treatment specifically? Backed by evidence.

"Sources said he was unlikely to participate in the planned mediation session with the former Hawthorn players and the Hawks, along with Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan and former welfare officer Jason Burt scheduled for next Tuesday in Adelaide."

Why wouldn't he go to talk, get his story heard, find out more details?

Maybe the terms of reference for the arbitration - which have been largely defined by the accusers - specifically prevent Clarkson from getting "his story heard"?

This whole thing is a mess.

1. If the Hawthorn Football Club need to do better moving forward, then the HFC needs to implement what is required to achieve this.
2. If past players have grievances with the HFC then these need to be tested in court. That is what the law is for.

The AFL trying to resolve this internally is not going to work.

 

[Roos9699]

I am taking the side of those Indigenous players who were mistreated.

No reason they make false accusations.

Look at the main 2 players involved and tell me that they are not trustworthy in their statements.

Guilty until porven innocent? You do realise innocent people have been sentenced to prison for crimes they didn't commit.

Why not ? Your president did

Well I'm not the president of North Melbourne am I? I hold my own views and I think in any investigation innocent until proven guilty is essential. I will wait until the investgation is concluded before deciding. Clarkson could be proven innocent or not but i'm not going to make assumptions until then.

 

[Handsome.B.Wonderful]

I am taking the side of those Indigenous players who were mistreated.

No reason they make false accusations.

Look at the main 2 players involved and tell me that they are not trustworthy in their statements.

In the case of Amy's husband he came out after his retirement and made statements twice in the Age about Clarkson, Burt and Fagan being "friends for life."

Also said that they had directly reached out to help to get him back on his feet at an Amateur club and set him up with a carpentry apprenticeship post-football.

Which statements are trustworthy?

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

She’s been a mouthpiece for the AFL in trying to get rid of us for nearly two decades. Clarko is the icing on the cake!

Don't start blaming Caroline Wilson, she has been correct all along.
North should never have hired Clarkson. They didn't due their due diligence .

 

[Stars align]

I don't know what they've requested or why. Lawyers can try tricks like this.

Perhaps to access all records inclusive of club sanctioned medical records which may or may not cast a light over past players state of mind and or neurological status
I’m sure these records would be sealed but they would be seeking them no doubt

 

[Gavin Excell]

Mediation next week has been dismissed by Fagan as untrue.
Given the severity of the allegations they need to be properly tested in civilian court to determine if it is true and Hawthorn owes the accusers compensation or if the complainants need to pay the Hawks and coaches compensation for defamation.

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The very last thing the AFL want is this going to court.
Wouldn't be a surprise if Fagan and Clarkson wanted to go that path but the AFL are applying significant pressure on them both

 

[Rob R]

Then he doesn’t enter mediation, simple. with the gravity of the allegations he is absolutely entitled to request pertinent info. Really it’s hawthorn who aren’t co-operating with the mediation by withholding the requested information

They are HR files that Hawthorn can't release without the players agreement and that isn't forthcoming. Neither side seems to keen to work with the AFL inquiry.

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[JyeDye]

I still don't know how Kennett weaseled his way out of any investigations

 

[freddy mercury]

Burgoyne is the only clown to come out and act dumb about it and say he never seen or heard a thing

Good thing he got a Channel 7 gig from it LOL

Why is he a clown? Because he has an belief that doesn't fit your narrative?