AFL: Cyril Rioli and First Nations families at the centre of the Hawthorn racism saga go PUBLIC

The four First Nations families in the centre of the Hawthorn racism scandal have gone public after taking their case to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Cyril Rioli and his wife Shannyn have penned an open letter alongside Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, Jermaine’s wife Montanah and the club’s former indigenous manager Leon Egan to outline their experiences at the footy club, which has been accused of racist conduct.

The move comes after Gillon McLachlan confirmed the AFL had closed its independent investigation involving Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt. All three men deny the claims made against them.

In the open letter, the players wrote: ‘We are some of the Indigenous families who endured racism at the Hawthorn Football Club.

‘We were separated from our families. We were told an unborn child would ruin our futures. We were treated as special projects and control of our lives was taken from us. 

They penned an open letter after Gillon McLachlan and the AFL dropped the investigation

‘We told our truths in confidence, because we believed that it would bring change. And because we needed to heal and move on. That confidence was betrayed. We never asked for money.’

One of the AFL’s brightest stars, Rioli left Hawthorn in 2018 after the ‘final straw’ in which former club president Jeff Kennett humiliated and belittled his wife’s fashion sense at Launceston Airport. Kennett says he was joking. 

The families’ lawyer Leon Zwier promised to continue the fight despite the AFL setback, and has launched proceedings with the Human Rights Commission. 

Justin Quill, partner at Thomas Greer, said while the body did not make binding decisions and doesn’t impose sanctions, it would give the chance for conciliation between the parties.

‘The Human Rights Commission doesn’t make enforceable decisions. They can’t order Alastair Clarkson to apologise or pay damages. They can’t order Chris Fagan to not coach or to undertake training. There are no penalties or binding orders made by the Human Rights Commission,’ he told News Corp.

The former players claim they copped racist treatment from Alastair Clarkson (L), Chris Fagan (R) and Jason Burt while at Hawthorn. All three men deny the allegations. 

Rioli previously claimed his wife Shannyn was humiliated by ex-Hawthorn chief Jeff Kennett

‘Really it is an opportunity for the parties to come together and perhaps resolve this issue.

‘If not then the applicant has the opportunity to take action in whatever forum they want.

‘But there are no binding findings that will impact the parties. Having said that it is an opportunity to bring the parties together and given that hasn’t happened to date, that might be beneficial.’