Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves backs the AFL's independent investigation into allegations at the club.
Look back at how the day unfolded in our blog.
Key events
- 'It's tough reading, it's heartbreaking': Justin Reeves
- Findings of report 'surprise to everyone' at Hawthorn
- 'These allegations are extremely disturbing': Justin Reeves
- Watch: Hawthorn chief executive press conference
- Chris Fagan to take 'leave of absence' from Brisbane Lions
- Watch: Gillon McLachlan and Tanya Hosch's full press conference
- 'What we have seen today is a challenging, harrowing and disturbing read': McLachlan
- Decision on whether coaches stand down to be made today
- AFL Players Association statement
- The AFL's statement in full
- Hawthorn club statement
Live updates
By Simon Smale
That's where we'll wrap things up
We're closing the live blog now.
Make sure you keep across all the latest on this story by checking back on the ABC Sport website and following ABC Sport on social media.
Thanks for reading.
By Simon Smale
'It's tough reading, it's heartbreaking': Justin Reeves
By Simon Smale
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett 'devastated'
Peter Nankivell said he had spoken to president Jeff Kennett, who is currently overseas, "a couple of times".
"Jeff, like all of us is devastated. There is no other word for it," Nankivell said.
By Simon Smale
Hawthorn wont rule out action on staff members
"The club will always act in the most appropriate and responsible manner," Reeves said.
"We have a board, a governance in place.
"Certainly the club won't be discounting anything or forecasting anything into the future.
"We will take everything on its merits and act in the what we think is the best interests of our people."
By Simon Smale
Hawthorn is a safe place for young players
Reeves said the club is a safe place for Indigenous and other young players.
"We would like to provide as much assurance as we can [that the club is a safe place]," he said.
"I met with one of our current players this morning. We had a really open and frank conversation and he feels culturally safe, but we will continue to challenge that and we will continue to move forward and we will continue to strengthen those programs.
"I think we will continue, as we work through the allegations and the processes put in place by the AFL, we will continue to engage all of our family and all of our stakeholders to make sure that anyone who feels they need support gets that opportunity.
"We won't leave any stone unturned in that
pursuit."
By Simon Smale
Peter Nankivell said he had called Jason Burt and left a message
He said he had not spoken to him in person.
By Simon Smale
Report will remain confidential
"The plan for the club was that this was always an exercise in engaging an external consultant to go and have discussions with our former and current players and staff to learn about their experiences from the club," Reeves said.
"That report came back with some ... quite disturbing allegations that we acted on straightaway.
"The report was put together in a confidential manner.
"People signed away confidentiality and we must respect that
confidentiality and to this day it is still deidentified."
By Simon Smale
Hawthorn says it offered support immediately after report was received
Peter Nankivell said the club was handed the report two weeks ago and immediately handed it to the AFL.
"The report that we received wasn't identified, so we are actually unaware of who the people and partners were," Nankivell said.
"What we have done from the minute the report was received was offer any support that we could do, whether that was immediate, and we have actually provided some support and some respite way prior to this ABC report even being surfaced."
By Simon Smale
The club initiated review off its own back, not as a result of complaints
"When you do open an investigation into some of your past, you never know what may emerge," Reeves said.
"You are always concerned but you are always interested and, if you go about it with the ... we are doing it for the right reason and that it to make sure that our people, if required, get the support that they require.
"Then that is validated for me every day of the week.
"This process was initiated by the club and it was to speak purely to our First Nations past players and staff.
"We had no idea of what was to come out of those conversations. We didn't speak to anyone outside of that group while the consultants didn't speak to anyone outside of that group.
"It wasn't an investigation as such. There were no allegations or - it was more of us, as I said, to check in on people's welfare and well-being post their time at the club."
By Simon Smale
Findings of report 'surprise to everyone' at Hawthorn
"We spoke to a really wide range of people who were at the club at that time and it has been a surprise to everyone that I've spoken to, the findings of that report," Reeves said.
"Unfortunately we haven't been able to speak directly to those
affected but certainly the people I've spoken to who were aware of these allegations historically."
He said that includes current head coach Sam Mitchell.
By Simon Smale
'The environment needs to be looked at' Hawthorn
Reeves said it is "Hard to say" whether players safety was compromised in pursuit of premerships.
"I wasn't here at the time and I don't want that to be a cop-out, but I think what happened - we can only act on what was produced in the report," Reeves said.
"All those conversations that have come through the report, and I don't know - there has been no - nothing in that report to say it was purely around that, but I think the environment needs to be looked at."
By Simon Smale
Reeves has no idea there were issues
Reeves said, "Prior to the report being received, I had absolutely zero [idea]. Nothing has ever been relayed to me"
By Simon Smale
'Australia has a culture problem': Reeves
The first question from the press gallery is whether Hawthorn has a culture problem.
"I think Australia has a culture problem, historically, and I think like all of us, we focus on every day being better and building a great environment for our club," he said.
"I feel confident from the report as well that currently our players feel culturally safe, but like so many institutions, I think we have to face our history and our past and we
have to act responsibly and we have to cooperate and move forward from that."
By Simon Smale
'These allegations are extremely disturbing': Justin Reeves
Justin Reeves starts with a statement.
"Earlier this year the Hawthorn Football Club external First Nations consultants to liaise with all current and former First Nations players and staff to learn more about their experiences at our club," he said.
"This was always about finding out if anyone required any further support in their life after football.
"This was really important work.
"I read the report like you guys today, and it is tough reading. It is heartbreaking.
"We said in our statement earlier this morning that these allegations are extremely disturbing.
"We are profoundly disappointed that some of our former players and their families feel like this about their experiences at the club.
"The club will continue to offer support to those who have participated in this process and their well-being remains our priority.
"As per the recommendation from the report, the information was provided immediately to the AFL Integrity Unit.
"The AFL have this afternoon announced an external review of which we fully support and will cooperate fully.
" It is entirely appropriate that there is a thorough investigation from this report."
By Simon Smale
Hawthorn vice president Peter Nankivell and CEO Justin Reeves are speaking now
By Simon Smale
Watch: Hawthorn chief executive press conference
By Simon Smale
Hawthorn press conference at 1:45pm AEST
Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves and vice president Peter Nankivell will address the media at 1:45pm AEST.
We'll bring you those comments as and when they happen.
By Simon Smale
Chris Fagan to take 'leave of absence' from Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions have released a statement.
"The Brisbane Lions are aware Senior Coach Chris Fagan will work with the AFL on an investigation into allegations concerning historical events at the Hawthorn Football Club, where he was a former employee," the statement read.
"Chris supports and welcomes the investigation.
"He was not consulted during the Hawthorn sponsored review and looks forward to the opportunity to be heard as part of the AFL investigation.
"The Brisbane Lions and Chris have mutually agreed that he will take a leave of absence from the Club so he can fully cooperate in the investigation.
"As the matters are now with the AFL Integrity Unit, the Brisbane Lions won't make any further comment at this stage."
By Simon Smale
Watch: Gillon McLachlan and Tanya Hosch's full press conference
Watch the full press conference as AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan announces an external independent panel to examine allegations of racist treatment of First Nations footballers at the Hawthorn Hawks.
