AFL pledges investigation into ‘harrowing and disturbing’ allegations from Hawthorn First Nations players

AFL boss says panel will examine allegations Hawks separated Indigenous players from their families and pressured one couple to terminate a pregnancy

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The AFL will create an external independent panel to investigate the challenging, harrowing and disturbing" allegations about Hawthorn's mistreatment of First Nations former players, including that the Hawks separated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players from their families and pressured one couple to terminate a pregnancy.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan fronted the media on Wednesday after the ABC reported the distressing contents of a Hawthorn-commissioned review based on interviews with First Nations players, pledging the governing body would get to the bottom of it".