Jeff Kennett has warned AFL he will be outspoken again during second stint as Hawthorn president

HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett has warned the AFL world to get ready to hear a lot from him during his second stint as Hawks president because he will again be outspoken on AFL issues.

Jeff Kennett has started his second stint as Hawthorn president. Picture: Jason Edwards

HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett has warned — prepared to hear plenty from the Hawks this year.

Kennett, who returned to the role at the end of last season having previously served as club president between 2005 and 2011, said that the club is determined not to be a club that asks for handouts from the AFL.

And he believes that gives Hawthorn the luxury of being able to flex its muscle and express its views, and said it won’t be afraid to do so.

HE’S BACK: JEFF KENNETT ASSUMES HAWKS PRESIDENCY FOR SECOND TIME

BAROMETER: CYRIL RIOLI STILL IN THE MIX FOR ROUND 1

NEW DEALS: JARRYD ROUGHEAD AND JAMES FRAWLEY RE-SIGN WITH HAWKS

GAMING: POWERBROKER DECLARES HAWKS WOULD BE DEAD WITHOUT POKIES

“At the moment there are only four or five clubs that are independent of the AFL. All the others have financial guarantees provided by the AFL or get large licks of money,” Kennett said.

“We get with four or five others the lowest amount. We’re not asking for more. We don’t want to be mendicant to the AFL. But it’s because we’ve been so successful that at times things have not always gone our way. And you’ve got to argue your case. And it’s because we have been well administered and because we are strong and because we are independent that with three or four other clubs we can express the views that others can’t.”

Jeff Kennett has started his second stint as Hawthorn president. Picture: Jason Edwards

At Tuesday night’s club season launch, Kennett told members to expect to hear he and his fellow board members “making comments in our defence and in our interest long-term” as it embarks on its vision to claim another seven premierships by 2050.

“We are not here for this year, we are not here for 2050, we are here for the rest of time,” he said.

PRE-SEASON CLASH: DOGS DOWN HAWKS IN FREE-FLOWING AFFAIR

2017: CLARKO ADMITS HAWKS GAVE UP ON FINALS AFTER FOUR ROUNDS LAST YEAR

YOUNG GUN: RISING STAR RYAN BURTON RIGHT AT HOME AT HAWKS

SEASON PREVIEW: CAN JAEGER O’MEARA GET HAWKS BACK TO FINALS?

“And in order to do that, we’ve got to remain strong and we’ve got to remain independent.”

He also welcomed new chief executive Justin Reeves to his first Hawthorn season launch, and joked about one reason why he had been appointed to the role after stints with Geelong and Collingwood.

“Justin can stand eye-to-eye with (AFL chief executive) Gill McLachlan, and knee him in the groin when necessary,” Kennett said in jest.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson and fitness boss Andrew Russell watch over Hawks training during pre-season. Picture: Michael Klein

“Which is important.”

Kennett reiterated the club’s plan to reach a total of 20 premierships in the next 13 seasons at a rate of one every 4.7 seasons.

“We’re fit for purpose as an administration, and now we have to obviously deliver on the field,” he said.

Club fitness boss Andrew Russell said he’d never seen coach Alastair Clarkson as creative as he had been this preseason, but the man himself is keeping things in check.

“Where we finish, how we go, all those sorts of things are immaterial to me at this point in time,” he said.

“There’s so many clubs out there that are optimistic like we are. All I do know is that if we acquit ourselves in the way that they’ve trained over the summer, we will make all (supporters) really, really proud.”