Hawthorn racism scandal ‘cuts a little deeper’ for Cyril Rioli, ex-teammate Jordan Lewis reveals

Ex-Hawthorn star Jordan Lewis admits that reading the explosive open letter from his former teammates was difficult, as the families at the center of the club’s AFL racism investigation bring their case to the Human Rights Commission.

Cyril Rioli, Shannyn Ahsam-Rioli, Carl Peterson, Jermaine Miller-Lewis, Montanah Miller-Lewis, and former Indigenous manager Leon Egan co-authored an open letter detailing the alleged racist conduct within the club. 

This development follows AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan’s announcement that the independent investigation involving Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan, and Jason Burt has concluded, with all three men denying the allegations against them. 

In the open letter, the players wrote: ‘We are some of the Indigenous families who endured racism at the Hawthorn Football Club.

‘We were separated from our families. We were told an unborn child would ruin our futures. We were treated as special projects and control of our lives was taken from us.

‘We told our truths in confidence, because we believed that it would bring change. And because we needed to heal and move on. That confidence was betrayed.’

Rioli (far left) and Lewis (second from left) were AFL premiership winning teammates together at the Hawthorn Hawks

Lewis said the letter from Rioli and other family members was difficult to read and he hopes a resolution can be found

Rioli retired from the game at a young age and is now one of the members bringing forward the racism investigation to the Human Rights Commission

Lewis, who played alongside Rioli and Peterson, told Fox Footy the open letter was difficult reading but he hoped a resolution could be found.

‘It was tough to read for anyone,’ Lewis said.

‘Knowing the person, it probably cuts a little bit deeper.

‘His experience [Rioli] is not as good as I would have imagined it to be.

‘Those guys have been named now so they’ll go through due process.

‘Hopefully sometime in the near future get a resolution for everybody.

‘They want people to speak openly and hear two sides to the story, give some context on everything that’s gone on.

‘I think it’s not only great for the other party but certainly Cyril and those people to now not have to hide behind aliases.’

Champion Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews said the escalation may force mediation between the parties

Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan were at Hawthorn during the time period being investigated by the AFL but the governing body said they had no case to answer

AFL icon Leigh Matthews, while discussing the Hawthorn racism investigation scandal on 3AW Football, suggested that due to the way it has unfolded in the media, ‘forced mediation’ might be the most favorable resolution. 

‘If they actually sent this letter or had this point of view back last September before it all just got out of control, a mediation or a consultant to talk it through may have been possible,’ he said.

‘But as soon as that ABC article popped up, it all went out the door. Mediation might still happen now because it’s almost forced mediation.

‘But now that you know, or the people have been prepared to be public the ones who’ve got the complaints, I suspect you’d be more likely to think, ‘OK you’ve named yourself, we can talk now.’

‘But while they remained anonymous, why would you bother consulting or talking to people who won’t even name themselves?’