Don Scott’s bid to join Hawthorn board fails, Ian Silk and Tim Shearer re-elected

Hawthorn legend Don Scott’s bid to rejoin the club’s board has failed. Meanwhile, Jeff Kennett’s life membership has again been delayed due to a personal matter. GLENN MCFARLANE reports.

Don Scott watches the Hawks train in September. Picture: Mark Stewart

Hawthorn great Don Scott has failed in his bid to join the club’s board.

The man who helped to save the Hawks from a proposed merger with Melbourne in 1996 had been trying to win one of two available positions on the board, but lost out to incumbents Ian Silk and Tim Shearer.

Scott polled 3987 votes (20 per cent), but fell well short of Shearer’s 8427 (41 per cent) and Silk’s 8040 (39 per cent) returns.

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett had been scheduled to be awarded one of four club life memberships at the annual general meeting at Waverley on Thursday night, but was unable to attend for personal reasons.

Kennett criticised the Hawks 12 months ago over a decision to delay his life membership.

But Hawks president Andy Gowers said Kennett had called him on Wednesday to inform him that a private matter meant he could not make it to the AGM on Thursday.

Gowers said the club would find an appropriate time to present Kennett with his life membership.

Don Scott has missed out on a board seat at Hawthorn. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Scott, 76, was in attendance at the AGM, where the vote for the board election was announced.

The club legend asked a procedural question related back to the minutes of last year’s annual general meeting, which he queried.

Gowers offered to meet with Scott later to discuss the matter further.

Gowers acknowledged the three nominees who took part in the election.

“Following the independent voting process undertaken by Vero Voting, our members have re-elected Tim and Ian to the board,” Gowers said.

“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.

“Congratulations to Tim and Ian for being re-elected for another term, I know they will both continue to serve in the best interests of our members as we embark upon this exciting next phase in our football club’s future.”

The independent voting process was undertaken from November 26 to December 10, with all votes submitted as a secret ballot process.

Hawks football boss Rob McCartney said the sting of the club’s semi-final loss to Port Adelaide had driven the Hawthorn group during the off-season.

He said the players had collectively returned in as good a shape as he had seen them.

“I see a group that is not satisfied with what we achieved in 2024,” McCartney said.

Skipper James Sicily and defender Blake Hardwick received life memberships on the night, along with former under 19s player and club volunteer David Hall.