Hawthorn fans call for Jeff Kennett to resign after Cyril Rioli claims

Jeff Kennett is facing calls to step down as president of Hawthorn AFL club after revelations about his alleged treatment of Cyril Rioli and the premiership star's family.

In a report in The Age on Saturday, Rioli levelled some stunning allegations at Kennett and said he will not return to the club while the president remains in his post.

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The four-time flag hero's stance is the result of a series of issues that Rioli said fractured the relationship between Hawthorn and its Indigenous players during his time at the club between 2008 and 2018.

They include alleged comments by Kennett towards Rioli's wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli in 2018 that the club legend said contributed to his decision to end his career at the Hawks at the age of just 28.

“I felt belittled and humiliated,” Shannyn told The Age about comments Kennett allegedly made about her ripped jeans in Tasmania.

“The club kept saying I was overreacting, but they were portraying me as the angry black woman.

"They said later I had wanted to go home to Darwin for a while. That’s not right.”

Kennett reportedly sent text messages and wrote an apology letter to Cyril and his wife, insisting he was joking.

However Cyril told The Age the incident was the final straw.

“I’ve never really spoken about what happened in Tassie, but I think there was a lot of gaslighting at the end of my career by the club,” he said.

“It was the final straw. It opened my eyes ... seeing how they were to us.”

Hawks for Change calls on Jeff Kennett to resign

In response to the revelations, prominent Hawthorn supporters group Hawks for Change has called on Kennett to immediately step down.

Former Victorian premier Kennett's second term as Hawks president is due to end in December next year.

But Hawks for Change, which successfully supported former AustralianSuper boss Ian Silk in his bid to win a spot on the club's board last December, has been pressuring Kennett to set an earlier date for his departure.

"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," they said on Saturday.

“Cyril Rioli has confirmed he will not re-engage with the Hawthorn Football Club while Jeff Kennett remains associated with the club. This is no way to treat a four-time Hawthorn premiership player.

“Hawks for Change now calls on Jeff Kennett to resign immediately and directors of the Hawthorn Football Club must take a stand and seek Jeff’s resignation today.

“When Eddie McGuire realised he had done the wrong thing he resigned. For the good of the mighty Hawthorn Football Club Jeff Kennett must go.”

Silk is one of several possible candidates to take over.

Hawthorn on Saturday released a formal apology to the Rioli family for racism they experienced at the club.

"Racism in all shapes and forms is unacceptable," the statement said.

"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.

"Combating racism and educating everyone both within our own walls and in the community is something we are constantly working on and believe we are getting better at."

Rioli played 189 games for Hawthorn in a glittering career that included him winning the 2015 Norm Smith Medal and three All-Australian selections.

with AAP

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