Hawthorn deny that a meeting – at which Peterson alleged in the statement of claim that Clarkson said words to the effect of “unless you break up with her and tell her to terminate the pregnancy, your football career will be in jeopardy” – ever happened.

The document “denies that any meeting with the coaches occurred after Peterson informed Burt that Rotumah was pregnant”. It says that Fagan, Burt and Clarkson first became aware the pair were expecting a baby when Peterson announced the news to teammates in late July or early August and any of their actions before that point occurred without any awareness his partner was pregnant.

The Hawks also deny the following allegations from the statement of claim:

• That Peterson told Clarkson and Burt that he had told Rotumah it was not a good idea to have the baby or for them to see each other
• That Clarkson and Burt told Peterson words to the effect that he would stay at Burt’s house for a few days
• That Burt drove Peterson to his house, and on the way purchases a SIM card and told Peterson words to the effect that it would be best that Peterson was not able to communicate with his family any more so he could be 100 per cent focused on his training

Burt, Clarkson and Fagan have denied all the allegations against them, which were initially aired in the cultural safety review and made public by the ABC in grand final week of 2022.

Peterson eventually moved back with Rotumah in early 2010 and their baby was born in February 2010.

In 2018, then-Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett made comments to Rioli’s partner Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli at Launceston Airport during Indigenous round in June.

The Hawks claim that Kennett apologised for comments made to Ah Sam-Rioli during a series of discussions that ensued following the incident, which ultimately led to Rioli’s retirement from the game. Kennett maintained that his comments to Ah Sam-Rioli were not racially motivated.

Rioli then received consideration and signed a deed of release, which the Hawks say precludes him from seeking damages.

The defence document lodged by Hawthorn also claims that at a meeting on June 10, 2018 – before Rioli’s retirement – Ah Sam-Rioli and her brother, Peter, told then-football boss Graham Wright that Hawthorn and Kennett were racist, that they wanted Kennett to apologise and resign and for Hawthorn to pay Rioli more money than agreed in his football contract.

Parties have made various attempts to resolve the issues that arose from the cultural safety report commissioned by the club.

The league set up a four-member panel to investigate the allegations and the AFL investigation found no adverse findings against Clarkson, Fagan or former Hawks welfare manager Burt.

In May, the Australian Human Rights Commission terminated a claim against Hawthorn by the First Nations ex-players and their partners after the parties failed to come to a deal.

The AFL was not involved in the Human Rights Commission hearing. Hawthorn have not received any official sanction, either.

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