Oops! Hawthorn leaves Tasmania off the map

UPDATED: A RED-FACED Hawthorn has moved quickly to rectify a glaring error in one of its official club promotions that left Tasmania — its $3.8m annual sponsor — off the world map.

Hey Hawthorn? What have you done with Tassie? Tasmania has been left off the map in Hawthorn’s “Explore the World with the Hawks” raffle promotion.

UPDATED: TASMANIA is back on the map.

Hawthorn has moved quickly to rectify a glaring mistake in one of its official club promotions that left Tasmania — its home away from home and $3.8 million annual sponsor — off the world map.

A Hawthorn spokesperson said it was an innocent mistake by the design team.

CHECK OUT THE HAWKS HOMEPAGE

Tasmania has been added to the world map on Hawthorn’s official online home page, with the omision also corrected in all of its other online material.

The faux pas came on the same day Hawks president Jeff Kennett said his club wanted to stay in Tasmania beyond its deal that keeps it playing in the state until 2021, and emphasised the club’s constant promotion of the state.

KENNETT DUMPS ON TASSIE’S AFL AMBITIONS

EARLIER: TASMANIA gives Hawthorn millions of taxpayers’ dollars a year in sponsorship but the state has been left off the map in a recent club promotion.

A rant by Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett against a Tasmanian team in the AFL has been derailed by the foot-in-mouth moment by his club.

It was revealed that in a major promotion to its members — Hawthorn’s “Explore the World with the Hawks” raffle — Tasmania was left off the included world map.

It did have places such as the Seychelles off the coast of Africa and the Norwegian volcanic island of Jan Mayen, population zero.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett. Picture: Michael Klein

However, the club that wears jumpers with “Tasmania” emblazoned across the chest, receives $3.8 million from Tasmanian taxpayers plus game-day earnings on top, and has 10,000 Tasmanian members forgot the most important thing in its promotion – its home away from home.

The club said leaving Tassie off the map was unintended.

“This was a design error on our end and the online collateral will be updated,” a spokesman said.

In a long letter to members warning against Tasmania getting an AFL licence, Mr Kennett said: “One thing I am sure of, given our considerable efforts over many years, and my continued promotion of Tasmania, is if Hawthorn is not wanted in Tasmania, just tell us and we will go back to the mainland.”

Independent research found Hawthorn generated $30 million a year in economic activity for the state.

“That’s before you consider the promotion of Tasmania we deliver that attracts others to the island state,” he said.

“Hawthorn has been in Tasmania for the best part of 18 years. We have been building our relationship with the Tasmanian community for years. That is evidenced by the number of Tasmanian members we have.”