Carl Peterson Biography

Hawthorn and some of its former Indigenous players reach a settlement in court after mediation following allegations of racism against the club and its former coach Alastair Clarkson, his former assistant Chris Fagan and former welfare manager Jason Burt that were first aired publicly in September 2022.

Cyril Rioli was the lead applicant in a statement of claim lodged in the Federal Court in July alongside his wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, former players Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, his partner Montanah-Rae Lewis, and Hawthorn's former Indigenous liaison officer Leon Egan.

"Hawthorn accepts that the allegations were made in good faith, and has heard, respects, and accepts that they represent their truths," part of a statement from the Hawks said.

"Hawthorn is sorry and apologises that the former players, partners, and their families, in either pursuing a football career, or in supporting such a person, experienced ongoing hurt and distress in their time at the Club."

Six complainants in the Hawks' racism probe, including four-time premiership player Cyril Rioli, have identified themselves in an open letter.

Rioli, wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, ex-Hawthorn players Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, as well as his partner Montanah Miller-Lewis, and former Hawks Indigenous manager Leon Egan have released a statement to the media via their lawyer Leon Zwier.

"All we ever wanted was to sit with the coaches and officials we looked up to, and who had such control over our lives and our futures. Make them understand what we heard, what impact it had on our lives, and to listen to them tell us their own truths - even why they thought they were helping us," the letter reads.

"And we are gutted that these so-called AFL role models weren't prepared to listen to our truths through mediation. We have always had the courage to listen to their truths too. That is our way."

Former Hawk Carl Peterson is hoping for another shot at an AFL career after stepping back to local footy and rediscovering his love of the game.

Peterson is training with St Kilda ahead of Thursday's NAB AFL Draft and had initially planned to walk away from the game in 2013 and recharge.

"He always said that he still harboured the desire to play at the highest level again," Doncaster East football manager Michael Gordon said.

"That's always been what he's been striving to do and he hasn't given up hope."

Carl Peterson makes his AFL debut for Hawthorn at the MCG with 17 disposals (8 kicks and 9 handballs), 6 marks and a goal in a 56-point win over Melbourne.

Carl Peterson's AFL debut as a Hawk which included 17 possessions and a running goal impresses coach Alastair Clarkson.

"He just took to it as if he'd been playing senior footy for a long period of time, so that's really exciting for us," Clarkson said.

"We've unearthed a guy who could play a lot of footy for us, we believe."