The lawyer representing a First Nations family who allege mistreatment by Hawthorn, says their "traumatised" clients may not participate in the AFL's independent investigation.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says the investigation into Hawthorn's treatment of Indigenous players and their families must give "due process and natural justice to those who have made claims and those against whom allegations have been made".

Friday: Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are among the runners to replace Liz Truss, who will become her country’s shortest-lasting leader. Plus: why we love cheating scandals

Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan has suggested AFL coaches Alistair Clarkson and Chris Fagan and former Essendon CEO Andrew Thorburn have been treated unfairly.

Ross Lyon is "very close" to formally rejoining St Kilda as senior coach, 11 years after his shock departure from the AFL club.

“It is like watching a racist comedy show in the mid-1970s such as the ‘Black and White Minstrel Show’,” a complaint to Labour, seen by The Independent, reads.