'Only wanted the best for me': Hodge comes to Clarkson's defence as new allegations claim mistreatment of Sam Mitchell

The nexus of this issue is the allegedly racist approach taken by Clarkson and co towards indigenous players. Such behaviour anywhere by anybody is of course reprehensible. Last time I checked Hodge is white. He wouldn’t have been subject to racist behaviour by Clarkson and co. That is the point being missed in all this.

I thought the whole point was that these were young men from a very different background and culture dumped into a totally different environment with bugger-all support. And they could be intimidated and pushed around - they copped it because (1) they wanted to play AFL and (2) their treatment seems to have been the norm. And the old “if they didn’t complain at the time it didn’t happen” rubbish. Why would they make it up and expose themselves, again, to attitudes like yours? That you’d rather not believe it does not of itself make it untrue.

I also read/heard that post the Adelaide enquiry, the AFL learnt a lesson and are carefully selecting the panel. I think with the Adelaide one the panel were all withe ex-cops so some of the respondents didn't feel comfortable talking.

There is a third reality, exxageration, Chinese whispers, etc

I'm a long time Hawthorn supporter but am most disturbed at the allegation of telling a player's partner to have an abortion. To me that's just as bad as denying an abortion to a woman who has a good reason to want one. Shocking on that level and sad to think that on the whole issue of all the allegations made by the players and denied by Clarkson and Fagan , either the players or the coaches are lying. That alone is a big worry. There will be no winners if and when the truth comes out.

These really are the exceptions and you wouldn’t want more than one at your club. In Carey’s case he was one too many.

I get your point but Carey, Ablett snr, Dusty just to name a few champions of the game had pretty unstructured private lives. The clubs were smart enough to work around them and provide for them. In Ablett's case Hawthorn were smart enough to let him go and to grow up a bit, and his individualistic nature did not fit in with their successful team first ethos

That is a bloody good idea

Shhh, stop making sense

Clubs are a business in the AFL, and they are quite ruthless in the way they go about it. I think it is clear that unsavoury practices have been applied to indigenous as well as non-indigenous players in the past. This will not be allowed to the same extent in the future and clubs will have to try and ensure that anybody recruited will be capable of the self discipline required in their private lives for successful careers. Drafting a player onto their list is a major commitment for any football club and it is only fair that draftees make a major commitment to their clubs in return. Draftees need to have well structured private lives in order to make that commitment.

Goodes did not have an issue within his club. Nor with the Swans fans who loved him. The Goodes issue was him being targeted by opposition fans at matches with selective booing every time he went near the ball. God knows what started it but it became a sick game. To this day, I'm not sure what the AFL could have done/can do about this kind of situation. Individual fans behaving badly can be removed but when it's large sections booing - which happens at all games - what is the answer? Ban booing? This current situation is about personal contact between coaches and players with, supposedly, a racist tinge. There's nothing similar with this and the Adam Goodes saga.

I'm expecting it to be the opposite. Clubs are going to become very culturally informed and competent and provide culturally safe work environments. Clubs who don't do this will be left behind on every level, including recruiting/keeping elite Indigenous talent from all over Australia. The clubs who lead in moving forward in these areas will be clubs with strong cultures that players from all walks of life, and sponsors, will be attracted to.

Gutless club Kennett Mitchell disgrace

Will clubs be investigating players backgrounds more in future than they are now? Ideally they will want to put recruits in stable environments to ensure they have the best chance of being successful, and no doubt this is happening to a significant extent already. Will there be an increased focus on indigenous players backgrounds and a reluctance to take risks, especially where there is uncertainty about their ability to adapt to what is considered to be a more stable environment? Will it be harder for indigenous players to break into the AFL in the future?

Ron Barassi and just about every other living human being of his era..... And the narrative might also be Clarkson and co were ruthless aholes to anyone who didn't toe the line, just like every other coaching culture in the AFL and most likely elsewhere......at that time in recent history .

That's a good question actually. One theory doing the rounds is that it's a campaign from the current HFC footy department leadership to kneecap Clarkson and his legacy. Let's not forget that Nick Holland fired a shot across Clarkson's bows reminding him of his continuing contractual obligations.

Thanks PD. I'd prefer to be talking about Hawthorn's trade week prospects but here we are....

Ron Barassi and a few others are probably relieved investigations aren't turned back to yesteryear. In my mind, the Hawthorn past player allegations are only relevant if indigenous players were treated badly, differently to non-indigenous within Hawthorn. If not, then the narrative might become "Clarko and so and so were ruthless a$$holes and pr#cks, but not racist, therefore, nothing to see here".

Great to have you sharing your professional knowledge and views on this Birdman. Refreshing intellect on The Roar regarding commercial and legal matters. :happy:

what is really going on at Hawthorn right now? The taem I have supported for more than 40 years.