Hawks boss Jeff Kennett sends “kisses” to Peter Gutwein before critical AFL talks

Known for his fire and brimstone, Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett took a passive approach when he sent love to Premier Peter Gutwein ahead of their landmark meeting today.

• Premier Peter Gutwein has hour-long ‘productive’ meeting with Gill McLachlan over Tassie AFL team
• Premier Peter Gutwein delivers a verbal shirt-front to ‘conflicted’ AFL Hawks boss Jeff Kennett

KNOWN for his fire and brimstone, Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett took a passive approach when he sent “kisses and hugs” to Premier Peter Gutwein ahead of their landmark meeting about the future of Hawthorn and AFL games in Tasmania later today.

In town for the unveiling of Hawthorn and Tasmanian football legend Peter Hudson’s statue in his home town of New Norfolk this morning, Kennett kept his powder dry ahead of the key discussion.

Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Mr Gutwein recently labelled Kennett the “most conflicted” person in the wrangle over Tasmania’s push to have a stand-alone AFL team or continue paying Hawks and North Melbourne a combined $8 million per season to play four games each in Launceston and Hobart respectively.

Kennett was not in the mood to fire back.

“I’m not going to get involved in all of that today – this is Peter Hudson’s day as far as I’m concerned,” Kennett said.

“Let me just say, send the Premier kisses and hugs.”

Hawthorn and North’s latest deals to play here expire later this year.

The former Victorian Premier did reveal his spending spree while in the state.

“My wife Felicity and I have been here for five days,” Kennett said.

“I’ve bought out half of that [antique] store over the road, as we do every time we come here.

“We are very pleased to be supporting, not only the antique shops of Tasmania, but I’ve also ordered a lot of whisky as well.

“I am perhaps your greatest supporter and advocate for Tasmanian whiskies on the mainland and just to make sure I know what I am selling, promoting, I drink a lot of it.”

Would he be drinking a dram with the Premier?

“I don’t know if he’s that generous a man – does the Premier offer whisky to his guests?” Kennett said.

“We’ll find out later today.”

Tasmanian footy legend Peter Hudson with the statue unveiled in his honour today in the town where it all started – New Norfolk. Picture: James Bresnehan

Despite his unbreakable ties to Hawthorn, Hudson backs a Tasmanian team.

“I’m like all Tasmanians, I’ve got fingers crossed, toes crossed, that something might happen,” he said.

“If it is the end of the road for Hawthorn in Tasmania, so be it.

“I’m just as interested as every other person to find out what’s going to happen.”