Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett wants to serve another three-year term to ride out COVID-19 storm
While all eyes are on getting through this AFL season, there are no guarantees the footy world we knew will return in 2021. In a letter to members, one club has highlighted the serious concerns around crowds.
Hawthorn
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Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has put up his hand to serve another three-year term.
The former Victorian premier was intending to walk away from football at the end of the season but will make himself available for re-election at December’s annual meeting.
Kennett, 72, has been a central figure in the game’s response to the COVID-19 crisis as a member of Gillon McLachlan’s hand-picked “war cabinet”.
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He returned for a second stint as Hawks president in October 2017 after serving from 2005-11, including the 2008 premiership.
Hawthorn’s priorities in the coming months will be to extend the club’s lucrative deal with the Tasmanian Government to play four “home” matches a season in Launceston and to progress plans for the club’s new headquarters at Dingley, in Melbourne’s southeast.
The Hawks are among a handful of clubs pushing on this season without significant AFL financial assistance.
Kennett, one of the AFL’s fiercest critics, confirmed the move in a letter to members today.
“I wish to inform you, that after a lot of thought, soul searching and discussion I have decided to offer myself for re-election as your president at the AGM in December,” Kennett wrote.
“This was not an easy decision for a lot of reasons. Had this year progressed as per normal, I would have stood down and handed the baton to any one of many people qualified to lead the club.
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“I was invited back to the Presidency three years ago to rebalance the ship after an issue with an earlier appointment.
“I am happy to say that with the assistance of the board and leadership within the administration, we have done that.”
Kennett said the COVID-19 pandemic had changed the landscape in ways no person could have imagined.
“The AFL must shrink in size to get through the next 18 months,” he wrote.
“I can’t even say confidently that we will be able to conduct the game with crowds in Victoria in 2021.
“Sadly, we have already had to shrink our workforce and farewell some very talented people.
“I am certain the AFL is going to make further demands on itself and the clubs. At this stage we do not have all the necessary information from the AFL to even plan for next year.
“It was this uncertainty, and the experience I have from joining the Board at Hawthorn when we were struggling in 2005, that convinced me to stand again to make sure we get through this period of uncertainty and challenge.”
Kennett said the decision of whether he would continue in the president’s role was in the hands of the Hawthorn members.
Originally published as Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett wants to serve another three-year term to ride out COVID-19 storm