Thorpe leads protest in Melbourne – as it happened

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Q: Is an external review now the precedent for anyone at other clubs who may come forward with similar allegations?

McLachlan:

Our integrity team is investigating many things concurrently. I think it depends on the nature of the allegation and the particular circumstance. But that's certainly what we felt was warranted here. And I hope that history says that all allegations will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and confidentially.

And that's the challenging part about this, that these courageous people have come forward and now there's a huge spotlight on them. And I hope it doesn't deter them to lean in on this and have that conviction to tell their stories to this independent panel so that we can get to the bottom of this.

I spoke to our senior Indigenous players last night. Eddie was on the call. Shaun Burgoyne was there, and Shane Edwards and Steven May and Neville Jetta and others.

And what was confronting for them - and I think they'd be happy for me to talk about this - Burgoyne was there right through this period, and was confronted and challenged he didn't see any sign of this. I know that was weighing heavily on him.