Jeff Kennett gets a wake-up call after chat with Gillon McLachlan

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says he regrets the comments he made about security staff and apologising was the right thing to do after he spoke with league boss Gillon McLachlan.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett. Picture: Getty Images

A fifteen-minute phone call with AFL boss Gillon McLachlan prompted Hawthorn boss Jeff Kennett to apologise for comments he made about security staff at Marvel Stadium.

A defiant Kennett hit the airwaves early on Monday to declare he wouldn’t be “driven into the ground by some sort of political correctness”.

But by mid-morning, and after a chat with McLachlan, Kennett conceded he had got it wrong by suggesting some security at AFL grounds were “new arrivals” who didn’t “appear to have a great knowledge of our game”.

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McLachlan on Tuesday condemned the comments but said no further action would be taken against the former Victorian premier.

“I’ve spoken to Jeff today and told him I clearly believe that he’s wrong and I know Jeff regrets his comments,” McLachlan said.

“I think people want to be judged on the performance in their roles, not their origin or background.”

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Kennett told the Herald Sun he realised his mistake after a day of reflection.

“I apologise. It’s not what I meant but it’s how it came out,” Kennett said.

“I’ve been a defender of the cause for so long it doesn’t matter, but it was inappropriate and the best thing to do was accept responsibility, and that’s what I’ve done.”

He said McLachlan had not forced him into the backdown.

“We spoke for about 10 or 15 minutes,” Kennett said.

“He didn’t ask me to apologise nor did he insist upon it, but on reflection it was the right thing to do.”

Hawks president Jeff Kennett has apologised for his comments about security staff at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Asked if he accepted that his comments could have been considered “racial stereotyping”, Kennett said: “I can see how people would draw that conclusion.”

Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon said Kennett’s comments were divisive.

“It’s really disappointing … as a general guide for Jeff and for everyone else, if you’re starting a sentence with ‘I’m not being racist but...’, chances are, you’re about to say something racist, so better just not to do it,” Gordon told SEN.

McLachlan said the league had the power to sanction Kennett under Rule 35.

“But that requires a complaint, and that’s not what’s happened here,” McLachlan said.