Questions over timeline on Hawthorn investigation

JIMMY Bartel can’t understand why the AFL has set a soft deadline of completing the investigation into the racism allegations at Hawthorn by December.

The league released a statement on Wednesday confirming the appointment of a four-person panel set to investigate the claims separate to the AFL’s integrity unit.

The statement added the terms of reference are still being finalised, but AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said the league is hoping to confirm a projected end date for the investigation in December 2022.

But with the seriousness of the allegations that have seen Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan stand down from North Melbourne and Brisbane respectively, Bartel can’t fathom why the AFL has decided to squeeze the investigation into just two months.

“I don’t think you need a hard deadline on it though, because the seriousness of this and what’s been alleged, there is going to be no good outcome in this,” the three-time premiership Cat said on Sportsday.

“There’s going to be bad outcomes either side, there can’t be any grey in this.

“It takes as long as it needs, and how much scope and how much ability will this panel have? Will they get to interview everybody?

“Like everyone, I don’t think we should draw any conclusion until we’ve heard from everyone, that’s the right of everyone involved.”

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan called for the investigation after the ABC published testimony from former Hawthorn players and their families that alleged racist and inappropriate behaviour against Clarkson, Fagan and former player development manager Jason Burt.

Both Clarkson and Fagan have indicated they deny the claims and Bartel suggested this inquiry will draw on for years no matter how soon the AFL wants it wrapped up.

“Either way there’s enormous repercussions for whatever side this lands on. Like enormous,” he Bartel said.

“If we think at the end of this report and any other investigation that goes into it that’s it… the lawyers have probably got another year or two years of this.

“We can’t just have those allegations and then just go, ‘You know what, we don’t know, it’s sort of in-between’.”

WorkSafe Victoria has also initiated an investigation into the claims at Hawthorn.

AFL Media’s Damian Barrett recently voiced a similar concern to Bartel, stating he “can’t see” Clarkson and Fagan being able to coach in round one next year.

– BY SEB MOTTRAM/ SEN