Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says his clear conscience is helping him compartmentalise being involved in the AFL’s Hawthorn racism saga.
Fagan, fellow coach Alastair Clarkson and former player welfare manager Jason Burt have all been named amid allegations of racism during their time with the Hawks.
While Clarkson has stepped away as North Melbourne coach, Fagan says he’s been able to keep his focus on coaching the Lions.
“I can compartmentalise it,” he said after Brisbane’s 17-point away loss to Adelaide on Sunday.
“I have got a really great club that I work at, the people around me are very supportive, my family is great.
“I have got a really clear conscience and that helps too.
“If you’re worried about things, I think that would make it harder.
“But I have always said that I have got a clear conscience and I stand by that.”
The AFL last September formed an independent panel to investigate the claims, hoping for a resolution by Christmas.
But the probe has stalled with Fagan, Clarkson and Burt yet to speak to investigators.
Burt this weekend made some public comments but Fagan deliberately distanced himself from reading them.
“I have been pretty much concentrating on this game,” he said.
“I have been made aware that there’s been lots of articles but I choose not to really read them and take too much notice of them.”
Fagan was uncertain of the next steps in the matter.
“I haven’t spoken to my lawyers for a couple of days so we will just see where that unfolds,” he said.
“I will no doubt find out a bit more in the days ahead.
“It would be good if, at some point in time soon, it could reach some sort of conclusion though, that would be good.
“(But) I really don’t know.
“I mean, we all thought it might finish by Christmas time but it’s nearly the middle of the year.
“The process has got to go ahead and you have just got to be patient and when there’s an opportunity there to get in and talk about it, that would be good.
“But I don’t know when that will be.”
Australian Associated Press