By Peter Ryan
Hawthorn great Don Scott’s push to join the club’s board has fallen short as members re-elected existing directors Ian Silk and Tim Shearer in results announced at the club’s AGM on Thursday night.
Shearer received 8427 votes and Silk 8040 votes . Scott received 3987 votes.
Hawthorn legend Don Scott has not been elected to Hawthorn’s board.Credit: Scott Barbour
Silk has been on the board since 2021, joining the club after retiring as chief executive of AustralianSuper. Shearer, a former AFL umpire, has been on the club’s board since 2018. He has worked at Scotch College for 23 years.
Scott, who played in three premierships with the Hawks, was on the club’s board from 1996-2003 after successfully leading the campaign to stop the Hawks from merging with Melbourne.
He decided to run despite not receiving a recommendation from the Hawks’ nominations committee – he elected not to go through the process – and in the face of opposition from several former Hawthorn champions, including Chris Langford and John Platten.
His candidacy was based on a platform of wanting more transparency from the board in relation to key decisions, writing in a pre-election statement that he would ensure “accountable, open and transparent governance across the whole football club to all members”.
Hawthorn had argued for stability to build on the momentum the club had built in 2024 under coach Sam Mitchell when their run ended in a semi-final loss to Port Adelaide. Club president Andy Gowers described Scott as a club legend in thanking the candidates.
“I’d like to thank all candidates for offering themselves during this process, they are all quality Hawthorn people who strive to make our football club a better place,” Gowers said.
The Hawks plan to vacate Waverley Park and move into the Kennedy Community Centre in 2025.
Gowers also announced that former club president Jeff Kennett, who was due to receive his life membership, was unable to attend for personal reasons.
Kennett had rung Gowers to apologise and the club was aiming to find a time next year to make the presentation.
Kennett had criticised the club last year for delaying the awarding of his life membership, but there was no issue this year.
Club captain James Sicily and defender Blake Hardwick were among those made life members.
Football manager Rob McCartney said the loss to the Power in the semi-final had “stiffened our resolve” for 2025. He said the club has players who aren’t just chasing the goal of playing in finals but are chasing premierships.
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