Documents lodged with the Federal Court have implicated four-time Hawthorn premiership player Grant Birchall as part of the Hawks’ racism scandal.
Nearly two years since the claims were first made against senior Hawks figures, including current AFL coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan, via ABC journalist Russell Jackson, the 89-page statement of claim from five former players, led by Cyril Rioli and partner Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, alleges Birchall made a racist comment referencing the partner of Indigenous former Hawk Bradley Hill.
The other applicants in the court action are former players Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, the latter’s partner Montanah-Rae Lewis, and former Hawthorn Indigenous liaison officer Leon Egan.
