THE AFL has selected a panel to examine the historical allegations of racism levelled at Hawthorn and high-profile coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan.
Leading Victorian lawyer Bernard Quinn KC will head up a four-person panel that is due to report back to the AFL in December with public findings and recommendations.
The investigation will delve into a period between 2008 and 2016, and will run independently of the AFL.
INDEPENDENT PANEL NAMED Read the full AFL statement here
Joining Quinn on the panel will be barristers Jacqualyn Turfrey, Tim Goodwin and Julie Buxton. Ms Turfrey and Mr Goodwin are First Nations persons.
"These are very serious allegations, and it is important that we have an independent panel that is able to hear the perspectives of all involved and to provide natural justice to those making the claims and those who have had claims made against them," AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said.
"It is also vitally important that the panel is able to complete its work independently of the AFL.
"Beyond this immediate investigation, we are open to listening to all the ideas that are being suggested however importantly for the short-term we need to run a proper independent process on these allegations, and we believe this investigation will help inform whatever we do next as an industry."
Clarkson has delayed his start as North Melbourne coach, and Fagan has taken leave from Brisbane after harrowing allegations surfaced via a report by the ABC in September.
Like Clarkson and Fagan, former Hawthorn football manager and player welfare manager Jason Burt has retained legal representation ahead of the investigation. He has reportedly taken leave from his current role at Melbourne private school Caulfield Grammar.
Burt worked with Clarkson and Fagan at the Hawks during the period to be investigated by the independent panel and was also mentioned in the ABC's report.
All three men have denied the allegations and have committed to co-operating with the independent investigation.
'I DO NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE A CRISIS' Kennett addresses external review
The AFL said on Wednesday it does not know the players and families who disclosed the information to the ABC and through a Hawthorn club review.
Repeated requests to find out the names from their lawyers to assist with the investigation have been knocked back, the AFL claims.
In a statement on Wednesday, the AFL said it hoped the investigation would be undertaken in a culturally safe way that provided natural justice to those who have made claims and those against whom allegations have been made.