Three former Hawthorn players have given explosive detailed accounts of their experiences in court documents filed in their racism case against the club, including how the coach allegedly told one of them to “break up” with their partner and “terminate” their pregnancy.
Cyril Rioli, who won four premierships with Hawthorn, is the lead applicant in a Federal Court case alleging he suffered distress, psychological and cultural harm, as well as loss of earnings due to widespread racism at Hawthorn.
Rioli’s wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, former players Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, his partner Montanah-Rae Lewis, and Hawthorn’s former Indigenous liaison officer Leon Egan are co-plaintiffs in the action.
Central to the claims are those made by Kununurra-raised Peterson, who alleges he was told to end the relationship he had with partner Nikita Rotumah and terminate their pregnancy during the 2009 season.
Peterson alleges he was called into a meeting with then-coach Alastair Clarkson, welfare officer Jason Burt and head of football Chris Fagan.
“Mr Burt said words to the effect: ‘Carl, being a father is a huge responsibility and we don’t think you’re ready to be a father’,” the statement of claim says.
“Mr Clarkson said words to the effect: “Carl, you need to break up with Nikita and focus only on your football . . . unless you break up with her and tell her to terminate the pregnancy, your football career will be in jeopardy’. Mr Fagan nodded his head during the meeting.”
Peterson claims he was told he had an hour to respond.
The court documents say Peterson was left feeling “highly distressed and anxious” about what he had just been told, and felt as though he had to comply.
About 30 minutes later, he called Ms Rotumah and ended the relationship, telling her that it was “not a good idea that she have the baby”.
Mr Burt then allegedly told Peterson he would be staying at his house and was bought a new SIM card and told it would be best that he no longer communicate with Ms Rotumah.
“During the time he stayed at Mr Burt’s house, Mr Peterson felt that he was being locked away from the outside world and that the only interaction with others that was permitted by Hawthorn was with his teammates at training,” the statement of claim says.
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