BRERETON WEIGHS INTO RIOLI-KENNETT DRAMA
HAWTHORN great Dermott Brereton has backed president Jeff Kennett saying he doesn’t believe there was “malice” behind his comments which have resulted in Territory premiership hero Cyril Rioli ostracising himself from the club.
There are calls for Kennett to stand down after Rioli revealed Kennett’s comments to his wife about her ripped jeans at a game had caused significant offence and were the last straw after a series of issues.
Brereton described Kennett as one of the “great insulters of life” and that he didn’t believe the comments were racist.
HAWTHORN great Dermott Brereton has backed president Jeff Kennett, saying he does not believe there was “malice” behind his comments that have resulted in Territory premiership hero Cyril Rioli ostracising himself from the club.
There are calls for Kennett to stand down immediately after Rioli told Nine Media the former Victorian premier’s comments to his wife about her ripped jeans at a game had caused significant offence and were the last straw after a series of issues.
Brereton described the former politician as one of the “great insulters of life” and that he did not believe the comments were racist.
“I don’t believe there was malice in it, that’s the way he is,” he said.
“You are talking about a man who is one of the great insulters of life, the way he went through his political career he could have grown men crying within minutes.
“There was a time at Hawthorn, this is hearsay, that they weren’t the most open to the Indigenous people.
“I have never known that, I have never seen that, I have never heard anything like that around the football club.”
Brereton said he was surprised that Rioli felt there were issues under four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, who was seen as a champion of the Indigenous cause.
“We have an edict at Hawthorn that anyone who comes through the doors must leave a better person, but clearly Cyril left a little sadder than when he walked through the doors,” he told SEN.
“When you break up with a lover you don’t want anything to do with them. He would have loved the club for most of the time he was there, to leave, not at the behest, but because of the feeling within his partner which is the driving factor here, that’s sad to know that has taken place.
“It is a sad state of affairs.”
The Hawks for Change group has called on Kennett to resign immediately after Rioli said he would not return to the club while he was the president.
In a statement they said: “Hawks for Change is deeply disappointed and concerned by reports that Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett made highly inappropriate remarks which led to distress for Cyril Rioli, his wife and their family, which resulted in their subsequent departure from the Hawthorn Football Club.
“Jeff Kennett’s disrespect of the Rioli family is the latest shameful example of why he is not fit to serve as president of our beloved football club. Jeff Kennett, through his actions, has again brought the reputation of the Hawthorn Football Club into disrepute.
“Cyril Rioli has confirmed he will not re-engage with the Hawthorn Football Club while Jeff Kennett remains associated with the club.
“Hawks for Change now calls on Jeff Kennett to resign immediately.”
Hawthorn released a short statement on Saturday morning apologising to Rioli and his wife, Shannyn.
“Racism in all shapes and forms is unacceptable. We are sorry that Cyril and Shannyn experienced these incidents during their time at the club. We are saddened these experiences have left them feeling the way they do,” it said.
“We are committed to reconciliation and ensuring our First Nations players are culturally safe and have a voice that is both listened to and acted upon. At Hawthorn, all of our staff and players deserve to be respected. Our doors will always be open to Cyril and Shannyn.”