By Stephanie Bastiaan

A review into the culture of AFL Hawthorn Football Club, which surfaced a couple of weeks ago, has raised serious allegations of bullying, abuse and racism from the club's hierarchy. The most harrowing accusation is that the partners of football players were pressured and coerced into terminating their pregnancies.

Despite a considerable effort by the Australian Football League (AFL) to reform its culture in recent years following negative media reports of sexual assault and intimate partner abuse by players, the emergence of a number of damaging leaks and allegations have once again brought into question whether real reform has actually been achieved and the possibility that serious measures are needed.