President - Jeff Kennett [Archive]

Hawk Dork

10th March 2007, 17:52

Jeff didnt hit the media hard over our lack of free to air coverage.
His excuse was he was OS.
It was a crucial opportunity to get stuck in.
Our lack of FTA coverage is damaging not only to sponsors, but as a tool to attract new supporters and maintain the addiction of exsisting.
In the past Jeff held a lot off sway down at 7.It is reputed he could have stories dropped and Journos sacked with one phone call.
When you dont have old SEC assetts to dispose of at bargain prices to Kerry Stokes(without tender).
The power is no longer there.

Jeff then makes a statemant regarding the NAB cup being rubish and would prefer a 30 round comp.

Love Jeffs idea of a 30 game comp dont know if it is viable(finacially,physically or in a time sense.)
Sheehan gave him a good serve the next day.
Dont expect the sponsors(NAB) are happy (maybe HBSC dont mind though)

NAB cup is a good entre in my opinion, wets the appetite and gives you a good practice match on a good ground and a great opportunity to sell memberships.

Lets hope my man speaks up when we need him and stays shtoom when we dont. ( History is against him)
Lets see

Hawk Dork

17th March 2007, 13:16

Brown Blood

17th March 2007, 16:44

My Man Jeff on the Footy show
Blames North for not looking after John Hay
Agree
It is poor form to try and renegotiate a contract after a bad medical diagnosis.

Bradshaws claim of Hawthorn shopping Hay around maybe because we where aware of a pre existing condition.

Either we were aware and chose to cut and run
or
We were not aware, which casts doubt over our ability to properly monitor the welfare of our players.

With my man as both HFC Prez and BB man maybe we as a club should have looked at Hays conditon in a different light.

I seem to remember that jon confirmed last year no one at HFC had any idea about his illness - I also remember John Hook I think - who has a close relationship with jon saying he had no idea - also thommo made similar comments.

Remember we did assist thommo when he was diagnosed with similar issues.

But if a person chooses to keep their medical record private I cannot see how you can blame their employer for not knowing.

When jon went to north everyone knew he was having issues with form - I seem to remember people at north saying their culture would ensure a turnaround in his form.

I also think if his health issues were known they would still have recruited him just like they did with thommo .

Jon Hays wellbeing should be the responsibility of both clubs

My man trying to aportion blame to North really doesnt do any body any good (HFC, Jeff, Hay or North.)

I agree with jeff that it is appalling the way north has treated jon.

(BTW: The rumour going around is if jon hadn't accepted norths revised terms they would not have played him - so he had no choice but to leave)

And as far as the footy show goes the whole thing was a setup to give james brashaw some credibility and a means for the footy show to again put $hit on HFC - something sam and lyon seem to revel in given their run ins with jeff last year.

medusala

18th March 2007, 21:01

When you dont have old SEC assetts to dispose of at bargain prices to Kerry Stokes(without tender).

Assets like Loy Yang were sold for far more than they were worth.

Ditto the tram and rail contracts.

You are making a complete idiot of yourself with such ramblings.

MHDKA

18th March 2007, 21:12

.

We should ask Jeff to write exclusively for this thread. I'm sure his musings would be premier quality :).

Are you taking the pi$$ or just being naive to think the President of HFC would commit himself to post exclusively on just one Hawk forum.

I know he has posted before on Mightyhawk.net

You should ask him if he wants to post here on a particular topic.

Of course you would also need to be able to control posters - hawk & others:rolleyes: .

RustyHawk

19th March 2007, 17:56

When you dont have old SEC assetts to dispose of at bargain prices to Kerry Stokes(without tender).

Medusala. I'm guessing HD is probably talking about a company called H.R.L. not well known items like Loy Yang.

Dal-Las Mav'a Riq

23rd March 2007, 20:48

Jeff didnt hit the media hard ...

How is Felicity?

Hawk Dork

30th March 2007, 08:21

You are making a complete idiot of yourself with such ramblings.

Lucrative relationship

Neighbour: The chairman and controlling shareholder of Channel Seven is the Perth businessman Kerry Stokes.
His company, Australian Capital Equity, has enjoyed a lucrative relationship with the Kennett Government.

It began with an extraordinary deal, during the privatisation of Victoria's power industry.

This deal is a story in itself, and one that helps explain how the staff at Channel Seven would later view the saga of Today Tonight.

The deal involved the privatisation of the research and development arm of Victoria's State Electricity Commission.

It's known as the Herman Research Laboratory, HRL.

HRL had spent five years and more than $30 million of taxpayers' money developing a new way to make clean, cheap electricity from low-grade coal. Still in the experimental stage, the potential profits from this technology are huge.

Neighbour: What sort of returns are we talking about? Millions, tens of millions, hundreds of millions?

Graeme Pleasance, managing director, HRL: Ah, it would be, if the technology is successful as we obviously hope, it would be hundreds of million of dollars yes.

Neighbour: We're taking sales all over the world, to many countries?

Graeme Pleasance: Sales all over the world, yes. Many countries would be involved in purchasing the technology.

Neighbour: There was no tender for the privatisation of HRL and its research. The deal was rushed through on the last day of the financial year in 1994. The details not disclosed. It was finalised by Premier Kennett who signed the documentation himself.

Graeme Pleasance: We had to have it done by June 1994, there was some confusion I guess in terms of what was happening with the industry, and the Premier when he heard that in fact that if those "blockers" if you like couldn't be cleared away, we might miss the deadline. I understand he freed up the system and made it happen at the time. So in effect, he facilitated the process.

Neighbour: As Kerry Stokes tells it, it began when the Premier rang personally inviting him to invest in Victoria. According to a glowing account by Mr Stokes in his company newsletter, the Premier said: "Just bring your money and come. If there's any red tape, we'll cut through it." It was a complicated deal. But amazingly, Mr Stokes recalled: "After what seemed like a wave from Mr Kennett's magic wand, all the complexities disappeared."

Neighbour: I take it Kerry Stokes was extremely impressed by the Premier's role in this?

Graeme Pleasance: Yes, I've heard Kerry say that on a couple of occasions.

Neighbour: The attraction of the deal - apart from the potentially huge profits - was the fabulous tax benefits. Under a federal scheme to promote research and development, the money invested in the HRL research is "refundable, and tax deductible". Hence the rush to complete the deal by the end of the financial year. Even if the project fails, the investment syndicate led by Mr Stokes' company will get back all of its money, plus a guaranteed return of between 20 and 30 per cent. This scheme has since been abolished by the Federal Treasurer, who said it had more to do with tax minimisation than genuine research.

Neighbour: What do you see as the benefits of this particular privatisation?

Graeme Pleasance: The short-term benefits, it's enabled a technology that wouldn't otherwise be developed, be developed and put in place.

Neighbour: What the investors had to pay the State for this goldmine has never been revealed.

The Government refused to release any details. It even changed the law to make privatisations in the power industry exempt form Freedom of Information.

Shedding HRL meant meant the State was spared the cost of its research.

But Four Corners has learned that apart from that saving, the taxpayer got virtually nothing from the deal.

HRL was effectively given away. The State got a debenture - or corporate IOU - for $182 million.
The catch is it's not payable for another 20 years, and it may never be paid at all.
Amazing as it seems, that decision is up to the investors. They don't have to pay anything, unless they judge the research to be a commercial success.
Arie Freiberg: The problem is that we don't know how typical this is. There are hundreds and hundreds of deals and contracts being let every year.

Neighbour: Professor Arie Freiberg believes HRL illustrates serious concerns about the way this Government does its deals.

Arie Freiberg: I think there's an enormous culture of secrecy developing [and] the exclusion of all others other than the contracting parties is a fundamental misunderstanding of government.

So this mask, this shield of commercial confidentiality is all part of this process of excluding the public because governments think they know what is best. Secrecy is danger.

Neighbour: For Kerry Stokes and co, the HRL deal and Premier Kennett's role in it was a good story. He even suggested later to his staff at Channel Seven that they report it for Today Tonight.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/features/four_corners/
Have you heard the saying "People in glass houses" Medusla

Stand by my statement

In the past Jeff held a lot off sway down at 7.It is reputed he could have stories dropped and Journos sacked with one phone call.
When you dont have old SEC assetts to dispose of at bargain prices to Kerry Stokes(without tender).
The power is no longer there.

Hawk Dork

16th April 2007, 12:33

State to buy back country rail freight network for $134m

A MAJOR privatisation project of the Kennett government has been reversed, with the Bracks Government spending more than $130 million to buy back the state's regional rail freight network.

The Age believes the State Government signed a $133.8 million deal late on Friday with Pacific National, a subsidiary of transport industry giant Toll Holdings, to bring the loss-making system back under public control. That is just over half the 1999 sale price of $240 million.

Formal transfer of ownership of the 4000 kilometres of country rail lines will take place early next month, bringing to an end the failed eight-year privatisation.

The original 45-year lease contract signed by the Kennett government in 1999 was fundamentally flawed and resulted in the network deteriorating to such an extent that there were fears some lines in the grain-growing areas of the Wimmera and Mallee would have to be closed. They say the private monopoly prevented competition and impeded Government efforts to upgrade tracks.

I wonder if similar buy backs would be possible when Jeff slips away from the reigns at Hawthorn
Maybe we buy back 2 games from Tassie and buy back our social club or Glenferrie or what ever else is sold by then?

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/state-to-buy-back-country-rail-freight-network/2007/04/15/1176575681277.html

philhawk

20th August 2007, 15:26

http://hawthornfc.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/4742/Default.aspx?newsId=49384

Hawthorn President, Jeff Kennett, reflects on the weekend’s clash with Port Adelaide, and calls for all Hawthorn supporters to show their support for the Brown and Gold this Sunday against the Dogs at the Tesltra Dome.

Well what a disappointment. A loss by five points. On the other hand no one is ill or dead, and we live to play again next Sunday against the Western Bulldogs.

Let’s hope we learn from our loss and come out strongly focused on what needs to be done to win.

There were two great stories to come from Tasmania.

Even though we suffered a loss the number of supporters who gathered at the Albert Hall for the after-match function was possibly a record by number. Better still was their morale. They were disappointed but convinced the coaches and players would deliver next week. The welcome those supporters gave the players when they entered the Hall was very generous.

Thank you to all our Tasmanian members who have supported us so well in this the first year of our five year partnership with Tasmania.

Secondly, it is amazing how many Victorians travel to Tassie each time we play there. While at the after function I met some of 22 Victorian members all from one family, who travelled from Melbourne and Warrnambool for the weekend. Their ages ranged from 2 years to 66 years. There were 10 Crichton's, 6 Moran's and 6 Dummett's. They all stayed at the Penny Royal, and had a ball. I bet it will be along time before any family can beat that record.

So two games to go, we will now probably play in our first finals since 2001. But can we do better than just scrap into the 8? The answer is that our future lies in our own hands as it did yesterday. No point blaming the umpires, the weather or injuries. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Stay focused, and please turn out in numbers next weekend to back our team on Sunday at Telstra Dome. We must win

Stay well

Jeff Kennett
President
Hawthorn Football Club

The Birch

28th September 2007, 22:41

How did hawk dork go with it?

RustyHawk

7th October 2007, 07:49

President unveils new logo at awards dinner
10:00 PM Sat 6 October, 2007 | Back

for hawthornfc.com.au

News
HAWTHORN Football Club president, Jeff Kennett, unveiled on Saturday night a new look for the Hawks in front of a sell-out audience of over 1300 at the 2007 Peter Crimmins Medal awards night.

The Hawks will play under the new logo in 2008, which displays a strong and determined Hawk, focused and ready to hunt.

The brave new shield represents an unwavering horizon for the club which has re-built itself both on and off the field to be one of the most exciting young and talented teams in the AFL, as well as one of the most professional administrative teams in Australian sport.

In 2007 the Hawthorn Football Club started the first of a five-year partnership with naming rights partner Tasmania.

This partnership, coupled with an exciting brand of attacking football, showed a bright future for the Hawthorn Football Club.

This promising future is reflected in the new design by renowned Australian design firm Cato Purnell Partners.

Cato Purnell have been responsible for some of Australia’s leading icons and brands, including the Commonwealth Bank, Medibank, Macquarie, Channel 7, MSAC Aquatic Centre, VB and Carlton Draught.

In creating a new direction for the Hawks, Cato Purnell Partners, under the guidance of Ken Cato, felt they needed to reflect the focus and determination he had observed within the club so as to communicate that effectively to its members.

“The new shield portrays a sense of determination, pride, and focus. The Hawthorn Football Club is a club on the move. In the design we have hoped to capture the steely resolve it takes to win a premiership. That is the clear ambition of the Hawks,” Mr Cato said.

Jeff Kennett was delighted to present the new logo to the Hawthorn faithful at the 2007 Peter Crimmins Medal.

“Hawthorn Football Club has gone through a transformation in recent years, rebuilding itself to be competitive in all areas of football.

“[Head coach] Alastair Clarkson and his coaching staff have done a terrific job of bringing together an exciting group of young talented footballers, who have shown in 2007 they can play an impressive style of finals footy.

“The new crest for our club symbolises the focus and determination of everyone involved with the Hawks; our players, our staff, our members and supporters, and our board,” Mr Kennett said.

“We have competed under our previous banner for 10 years and the club feels the time is right to regroup and be represented by this brave new look as we continue to grow both on and off the field.”

Hawthorn Football Club logo history
When Hawthorn joined the VFL in 1925, the initials HFC within a circle on a brown and gold flag was introduced as the logo. The club was known as the Mayblooms.

In 1943 the club was christened the Hawks when coach Roy Cazaly sought a more robust image. The new logo depicted a Hawk carrying a football in its talons flying in front of the Hawthorn Football Club flag.

A stronger and simpler version of the Hawk was adopted in 1948, and later depicted in 1952. In 1955 the flying Hawk carrying the football was reintroduced. This popular image became the face of the Hawks through the 1960s and 1970s when Hawthorn won four premierships.

To herald Hawthorn’s progressive publicity push in 1982, the new force of the 80s, a new logo was sought. The club approached Swinburne Institute where a student submitted the winning design, the stylised Hawk head.

This image represented the club’s most successful era with five premierships.

By the mid 1990s the club had endured the merger debate and the logo once more returned to the flying Hawk.

After 100 years at Glenferrie the club moved in 2006 to Waverley and now 2008 will herald a new era of success - under this Hawks logo.

RustyHawk

8th October 2007, 01:21

Kennett declares Hawks 'ready to hunt'
October 7, 2007 - 7:36PM

Having unveiled a new club logo and new captain Sam Mitchell, Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has warned the emerging AFL team is "ready to hunt".

Mitchell takes over from Richie Vandenberg, who has retired, and Luke Hodge will be his deputy.

Mitchell, 24, and Hodge, 23, are symbolic of a young, well-led list that made the semi-finals this year.

Three years into Alastair Clarkson's reign as coach, the change of logo is another sign of the Hawks' lofty ambitions.

"We wanted a logo that was bolder, that was a little more aggressive and quite clearly demonstrated that we as a team are ready to hunt," said Kennett.

"This logo gives us that `powerfulness', it gives us that aggression.

"We have two young men who have a wonderful work ethic, they both have extraordinary leadership skills.

"My observation is that their leadership skills complement each other very well, although they are in one sense slightly different."

Hodge went further, describing himself and Mitchell as "totally different blokes".

But the man Mitchell calls "more of a lad" and the friend that Hodge rates as a consummate professional are sure they will work well together.

"He's probably a little bit more of a lad, when he got to the club he probably had a fair bit to learn about professionalism and all that sort of thing," Mitchell said.

"To his credit, over the last three years in particular, since Clarko has come on board, the steps he's been able to take have just been phenomenal.

"Last night they showed some footage from 2002 of Hodgey running around and the difference just in his body shape ... you realise how far he's come.

"I was probably a little bit straighter when I came to the club ... I was drafted a little bit older."

Hodge later laughed at the reference to body fat in his early playing days, but said Mitchell had a point.

"He did have some big hips, but as I said his little poddy gut did go before mine because he does everything right," Hodge said.

"We are two totally different blokes and the last 12 months we've got pretty tight.

"Being vice-captains to `Vanders' last year, we got to know a lot about each other - there's a lot of things that he does well and I don't, and vice versa.

"I'm honoured to be vice-captain behind him because you can't see anyone who does everything to be a professional footballer better than Sammy, right down to the wire."

The Hawks considered a joint captaincy, but decided to stick to club tradition.

Tim Clarke, Chance Bateman, Shane Crawford and best-and-fairest winner Brad Sewell will also be in the leadership group.

While the club spent several months before deciding on Vandenberg as captain three years ago, this time they felt there was no need to extend the process through the pre-season.

"It was an enormously-difficult decision - we did give due consideration through this process to joint captaincy, such is the regard that both these guys are held in by their peers," said coach Alastair Clarkson.

"The players and coaches ... thought that Sam was the guy to lead the club for the next 12 months and beyond and that Luke would be a more-than worthy deputy in that period of time as well."

© 2007 AAP

RustyHawk

24th February 2008, 09:54

Kennett tackles AFL expansion
Article from: Jon Ralph and Damian Barrett

February 18, 2008 12:00am
HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett has labelled the AFL's expansion projects "embarrassing" as he renewed his attack on the league's lack of consultation.

Kennett yesterday lashed the AFL for bringing forward plans to expand the competition to 18 teams without notifying existing clubs of the time frame change.

He said yesterday comments by AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick at the weekend would have breached codes of conduct if the AFL was a public company.

Kennett made it clear he believed the AFL thought it was above the clubs and simply dictated the rules without regard for their opinions.

"I guess the AFL have got to the stage where they believe they know enough about everything that they can make decisions independently of their stake-holders," Kennett said before his Hawks defeated Sydney in a NAB Cup match at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.

"I am not opposed to expanding the league, but there is no business plan for either 17 or 18 teams and I would have thought Michael, of all people, who is a very astute business person, is flying kites.

"If you did it in the sharemarket to a listed company, you would be called in by the ASX.

"And what I think we need from Michael, and you won't get it from Andrew (Demetriou), is that from Michael's astuteness, we apply the same level of governance to the AFL as we do to a publicly listed corporate company."

Fitzpatrick said that an 18th licence could be issued in Sydney's west by 2012, a year after a 17th licence was expected to begin on the Gold Coast.

The AFL executive will today discuss in Melbourne the expansion plans with AFL commissioners, who will meet officially for the first time this year.

Clubs will be briefed on the discussions late this week.

Kennett warned the expansion of the league remained in the hands of the clubs. A vote needed to be taken before the league could introduce new franchises.

"I think there are some real issues, and I guess my challenge to the AFL is: they were established by the clubs, they owe it to the clubs to include us in their thought processes," he said.

"And to get our approval before they now spend hundreds of millions of dollars, perhaps, over a number of years, to establish two clubs."

Kennett said the AFL had totally botched the move to lure the Kangaroos to the Gold Coast.

"When they tried to get North Melbourne to move, they threatened them, they abused them, they intimidated them, embarrassed them.

"And yet the AFL to me was the biggest embarrassment of all because they didn't secure for North Melbourne the primary asset for them which was necessary to move, which was a ground," Kennett said.

"I was in favour of North Melbourne moving, if the AFL had done its job . . ."

Sydney Swans chairman Richard Colless is against introducing a second NSW team in the time frame outlined by the AFL, but would not elaborate yesterday.

"We accept the AFL drives the agenda. We don't dispute that," he said.

"The best thing we can do is be focused on being the best possible football team we can be.

"That is our primary objective, and that has been, and will continue to be, the best way for growing the game, rather than engaging in debates over which we have no control."

Roughie

24th February 2008, 12:17

RustyHawk

24th February 2008, 15:02

He was in good form on Saturday, it seems like he has a good preseason, no signs of a slow start. His disposal of his opinions were clean as per usual, but seemed to over posses the half time conversation. If Kennett can shake this out of his game, he will see many great interviews to come.

lol, good one Roughie :thumbsu:

Actually I was very impressed with Jeff's half time interview on Channel 10. Made a lot of sense. It is clear with Jeff at the helm the AFL Commission and Management will not be allowed to get away with their own agenda without comment from Jeff and Eddie McGuire.

noosa hawk mad

25th February 2008, 10:18

World Cup to runneth over AFL

Sam Edmund and Dave Donaghy | February 25, 2008 12:00am

HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett says the AFL needs to bow to the "national interest" and support Australia's bid to host the 2018 soccer World Cup.The former premier said Aussie rules would have to open up a five-week, mid-winter window for the world's biggest sporting event.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday gave the green light for Australia to lodge a World Cup bid.
If successful, it would put soccer on a collision course with the AFL and NRL.
Both leagues would have to be suspended or shifted from major stadiums for five weeks to make way for the tournament, which is held during the European soccer off-season in June-July.
Mr Kennett warned the AFL to expect major disruption.
"The AFL will have to understand that to win the World Cup is in the national interest, and the AFL would have to adjust," he said.
"I have no doubt the AFL would recognise this as an international event of significant importance and would do everything they could to co-operate.
Geelong president Frank Costa agreed.
"If we won the World Cup, every other sporting organisation in this country would have to do their best to accommodate it because that would be a super thing for Australia," Mr Costa said.
"Without having spoken to anybody, I would think it was such an important thing for Australia, for a five-week period the AFL would bend over backwards to relocate games."
AFL chief Andrew Demetriou did not want to comment on the World Cup bid until he knew more about what would be required of the league.
Melbourne and the MCG face the possibility of paying top dollar to host the World Cup final if the extravaganza comes Down Under.
It is understood Football Federation Australia will consider inviting bids from state governments to stage the final.
FFA would likely draw up a list of packages, each including tournament highlights.
The final will top one package, while Socceroos games, semi-finals and the opening game of the tournament could head the others.
State governments would then bid against each other for the packages they wanted.
The strategy would put major events rivals Victoria and NSW in direct competition for the ultimate sporting coup.
Mr Rudd said FFA bosses would meet with senior Australian government officials in the next week to start formalising the bid, which could cost more than $20 million.
"It's time for the soccer World Cup to come to Australia," Mr Rudd said.
FIFA will demand at least 10 stadiums, each with a minimum 40,000 seats.
Victorian Major Event Company chief executive Brendan McClements said the MCG was tailor-made for the final.
"It's a 100,000-capacity stadium which hosts blockbuster events on a regular basis and it's got strong claims to be considered as one of the favourites to host the final if we get to that point," he said.
Australia will compete with England, China and Russia to host the tournament. The winner will be announced in 2011.

kevieyang

25th February 2008, 10:29

He was on SEN earlier in the week saying the same things he said during halftime on KB's program. You can imagine how KB was defending the AFL during that interview.

Hawkk

21st March 2008, 01:48

The Prez is definately a busy bee ATM, from a local rag

Jeff's beating the Blues

Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett’s goal is to de-stigmatise depression until it is as talked about as the common cold.

That means spreading the message far and wide, especially to younger generations so they can learn and recognise the symptoms throughout their lives.

Yesterday, he took Beyond Blue to Sunshine Coast Grammar School’s Year 12s who skipped class to learn about a debilitating illness that affects one million Australians.

He told the teens about how anxiety, stress and chemical imbalances on the brain often led to depression which could be categorised into emotional depression, clinical depression and mental illness.

Mr Kennett asked each of students to visit the Beyond Blue website last night to begin “accepting some responsibility for the condition of your health” and people around them.

“By the year 2020 after heart disease, the biggest debilitator in the western world is going to be depression and depressive mental illness,” he said.

“In Australia, 800,000 people suffer this illness every year, 200,000 more suffer a serious mental illness like bi-polar, schizophrenia.

“Although youth empowers you all and you think you are going to ward off all the nasty things, it’s better if you value life.

“The most important thing in my life is waking up because many people wake up but don’t enjoy the having the quality of life you have, the health you have, the environment you have.

“You can control the quality of your life better than anyone else.

“This (spreading the Beyond Blue message) is the most important work I’ve done in my life, a lot more important than being the Premier of Victoria.”

Mr Kennett said while there were some correlations between youth homelessness, youth delinquency and depression, the illness was so widespread it could be found in any demographic.

He said the impetus for Beyond Blue came when his daughter lost two male friends in unrelated car accidents in three days in 1997.

Mr Kennett said his daughter asked him “what can you do to stop these young men dying on the roads?”.

“I went away and thought my challenge was to work out how we can reduce deaths on the road,” he said.

“But when we found out more about these young men, who were only a couple years older than some of you in this room, we found out that while they were recorded as road fatalities statistically, both were depressed.

“Both had their relationship with female partners broken off and both of them had used cars to take their lives.

“That changed my focus ... I had to come to grips with depression.”

Outside the lecture, Mr Kennett admitted his goal to de-stigmatise depression would lead to “a rush on services” as people admitted they need help.

“I’d rather have pressure on the services and get over the hump eventually than not have the services,” he said.

“It’s a healthy sign and it’s one way we can measure how effective our campaign and programs are.”

Mr Kennett — who instigated forced amalgamation in Victoria in the mid-1990s — said he had watched Queensland’s amalgamation “with great interest”.

“I spoke to Peter Beattie before he announced it all so we had long discussions then and I was certainly in favour,” he said.

“I absolutely understand some of the expressions of view made by those most intimately affected but I congratulate Bob Abbot, he’s a colourful character and he’s had a convincing win. I now trust that he administers his new and large responsibilities with a great deal of compassion and flair.”

With the AFL season starting tonight, Hawthorn Football Club’s president is hoping for a good start to the season.

“We have a good club, good conditions, good players. Whether they deliver or not I don’t know,” he said.

Visit Beyond Blue to find out more about depression and how you can help.

flyby hawk

21st March 2008, 03:54

Excellent article - thanks Hawkk:thumbsu:

noosa hawk mad

6th April 2008, 13:13

Jeff Kennett pre game interview :thumbsu:
http://www.mytalk.com.au/aspx/pages/...t=audio&w=8041 (http://www.mytalk.com.au/aspx/pages/mediaplayer.aspx?t=audio&w=8041)

noosa hawk mad

14th April 2008, 21:23

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/kennett-raps-afl-thought-police/2008/04/13/1208024993067.html

Kennett raps AFL 'thought police'

Sam Lienert | April 14, 2008

HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett has criticised a proposal for anti-racism announcements at AFL games, calling it another sign of the influence of "thought police" on the league.
He was reacting to a suggestion by Football Victoria chief Peter Schwab, a former Hawks player and coach, that pre-game announcements should promote the message that racism was unacceptable and encourage people to dob in spectators who racially abused players.
"I can't believe this is right, telling us all how crowd members should refer to players on the ground, in case there's any racism and bad language," Kennett said at a function ahead of the Hawks' clash with Adelaide in Launceston yesterday.
"The thought police from the AFL are telling us what we should be thinking during a round of football."
His comments follow a report in The Age in which former Hawks recruiting manager John Turnbull said he felt there had been "strong undercurrents of prejudice" at Hawthorn in the past.
Kennett also outlined the case against Tasmania getting its own AFL club. He said it was not just a matter of finance, but also the AFL's desire to capture new markets with teams on the Gold Coast and in western Sydney.
"The Gold Coast has a population similar to Tasmania (about 500,000), projected to grow to 750,000 over the next few years," he said.
"Western Sydney has a population of 1.8 million, substantially more than Tassie, and they are also being challenged by the other football codes.
"That's actually what's driving the AFL, not a lack of respect for Tasmania … but to try to make sure the code not only remains strong but continues to grow."
AAP

noosa hawk mad

13th May 2008, 15:20

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23683796-19767,00.html

Kennett calls for carnival

AAP | May 12, 2008 12:00am

(http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23683796-19767,00.html#latest-comments)

HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett says true State of Origin is needed if representative games are reintroduced permanently.

The former premier said the Hall of Fame game was "more like touch football than real football" and said his ideal scenario would be an interstate carnival the week after the Grand Final, with teams representing all states, as well as possibly an indigenous side.

"I think there'd be a lot more passion," Kennett said.

"You could share it around the country so that ... you could have one (match) in Western Australia and you could have one in Adelaide.

"You wouldn't be able to cover all states every year, but you could rotate them, so I think to do it properly you'd need it to be an annual event."

While admitting he was unsure whether the carnival concept would fit into the schedule, Kennett was against any future representative matches being held in-season.

"It always concerns me when my players or any club's players are involved in a game for which they're not playing for points," he said.

"Because we pay them well, their goal, their mission in any one year is to win a premiership.

"And when you see them doing something else that puts them physically at risk, of course you are concerned.

"I can understand how this morning (Collingwood president) Eddie McGuire must be terribly disappointed at (the knee injury) to Josh Fraser, all for nothing."

Kennett felt the Dream Team concept, made up from the best non-Victorian players, engendered little passion.

"I was there on (Saturday) night, I felt it was a bit more like touch football than real football, up until perhaps the last 10 minutes when there was a bit of vigour and passion," he said.

"I'm not sure the Dream Team competition is the best.

"I think if the AFL achieves its goal over time, and I hope they do, and that is to have AFL more vigorously represented in all states of Australia, then I like the concept of a proper state carnival."

Kennett said that should include a team from Tasmania - where the Hawks play four home games - and perhaps an indigenous side, with shortened knockout games ahead of a full length final.

"It may be that you have a real dream team which is made up of an Aboriginal side," he said.

"We've got enough members from the indigenous community now, you might have trouble with a couple of positions, but your Northern Territory team for instance might be a team of indigenous players.

"I think that would be fascinating."

RustyHawk

23rd May 2008, 16:22

Seems Jeff Kennett has said something controversial....go figure :D

Dees must 'move or die'
Jon Ralph | May 23, 2008 12:00am

OUTSPOKEN Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett set an explosive backdrop for his side's clash with Melbourne on Sunday when he implored the Demons to relocate. Kennett said the Demons had to "bite the bullet" and move to the Gold Coast if they ever hoped to become financially successful in the AFL.

With the Demons set to lose over $1 million and speculation about the AFL's ongoing financial assistance to struggling clubs, Kennett's savage attack will reverberate around the league.

In front of a large crowd for a Sony Foundation charity fund-raiserand on a panel with AFL boss Andrew Demetriou, Collingwood's Eddie McGuire and Bulldog president David Smorgon, Kennett let fly.

He said it was "fools gold" if the Demons believed they could survive in Melbourne.

Asked his advice to Demons legend Jim Stynes - considered increasingly likely to take over from Melbourne president Paul Gardner - he was emphatic.

"If Jimmy Stynes wants to stand for the presidency at Melbourne, like any young person I encourage him to give it a go, but my advice to him would be to bite the bullet and establish the Gold Coast Demons because I don't think Melbourne, as it is at the moment, has a long term future in this code," he told the audience.

"It needs to do something dramatic if it is to get the financial support and the consumer and sponsorship support.

"For the teams in the last four positions (on the ladder) at the end of this year, it is going to be very, very hard to rebuild within the next 10 years.

"There is no way Andrew (Demetriou) is going to allow any of the weaker clubs to rebuild through the drafting process through the next 10 years. It's almost going to be impossible with what is proposed, so that makes it hard."

Ironically, it was Melbourne which held the whip hand when the Demons and Hawks were on the verge of merging in the mid-'90s, until Hawthorn pulled out at the last minute.

But with the two clubs enjoying an uneasy relationship since, Kennett's comments will overshadow Sunday's MCG clash.

North Melbourne this year successfully rallied against relocating to the Gold Coast.

But Kennett said too many administrators let emotion cloud what he said were straightforward decisions.

"You have to make sure you don't overly embrace the emotions of a football club as opposed to a business, and taking on a club like Melbourne is a wonderful governance challenge. But if I was in that area now, I wouldn't waste any more time," Kennett said.

"Melbourne cannot support 10 clubs 10 years from now. It probably can't support 10 clubs five years from now unless the AFL substantially subsidises them."

While the league tried to lure North Melbourne to the Gold Coast, Demetriou has committed to 10 Melbourne teams for the forseeable future.

Last night he backed that vision. But with the Demons again in financial strife, he conceded rivals did not want financial strugglers awarded endless handouts.

"Our commitment is to 18 teams. The issue Jeff is alluding to is at what point in time do the clubs who are performing well start to become complacent to clubs who are not performing to expectations?" he told the panel.

"The question the competition will face is at what point will the competition tolerate mediocrity? At what point will they say, 'Enough is enough, you have got to lift your game?'

"I am not speculating about whether we are at that point now or not. I am just saying that I can understand how clubs can get to that point."

RustyHawk

23rd May 2008, 16:27

Melbourne president hits out at 'Tasmania Hawks'
Finn Bradshaw | May 23, 2008 12:05pm

MELBOURNE chairman Paul Gardner has fired back at Jeff Kennett, calling him president of the "Tasmania Hawks". Last night, the Hawthorn president said Melbourne would have to move to the Gold Coast if it wanted to be a financially successful club.

The Demons' chairman Paul Gardner this morning refuted any suggestion his club was looking to move.

"Let me assure you that the views of the Tasmanian Hawks’ president, Jeff Kennett, are purely his own. They do not reflect the views of the Melbourne board, the Melbourne Football Club, the AFL or, in fact, any other chairman or president that I have spoken to.

"There has never been any discussion, at any time, with any partner about the Melbourne Football Club relocating anywhere except the new rectangular stadium (on the Olympic Park site), due for completion in 2010."

Hawthorn is sponsored by the Tasmanian government and plays four home games a year in Launceston.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has called on Demons fans to get behind their embattled club.

Speaking on radio station 3AW this morning, Demetriou said Melbourne needed fans to vote for them to stay with their feet.

“Other (fans) have galvanised behind their clubs. You’ve seen the Kangaroos get to 30,000 members, you’ve seen the Bulldgos get a $25m redevelopment at the Whitten Oval," he said.

"Melbourne members – don’t just sit back let this club go through what it’s going through. Get behind your football club.”

Demetriou said the club’s financial position was perilous, so it needed as much support as possible.

“The club’s not travelling well. (The AFL has) been clear about that. It’s got debt, it will lose money again this year. It’ll have cash flow problems going forward (The AFL’S) assistance goes down from $1m to $250,000 next year. This club needs people to rally behind it.”

While reaffirming the AFL’s commitment to having 18 clubs in the future, Demetriou said he understood where Kennett’s comments came from.

“All the clubs won’t tolerate clubs (that) aren’t lifting their game off the field as other clubs are endeavouring to do. The Melbourne Football Club needs to lift its game, but it certainly needs people supporting the club,” he said.

noosa hawk mad

24th May 2008, 15:07

Kennett right to 'rattle cage': Clarkson

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Defa...x?newsid=60164 (http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=60164)

http://mm.afl.com.au/Portals/0/images/AFL/AFL%20F-J/Clarkson_huddle_Rd708_246.jpgAlastair Clarkson
Related content

Kennett's call (http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=60109)

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has launched an impassioned defence of club president Jeff Kennett's blunt views on Melbourne ahead of the two clubs' clash Sunday.
Clarkson said Kennett, who suggested down-at-the-heel Melbourne move to the Gold Coast for survival, was entitled to "rattle the cage."
Kennett's suggestions were quickly dismissed by Melbourne president Paul Gardner and AFL boss Andrew Demetriou but Clarkson said Kennett was obliged to voice his opinions.
"People who are given the responsibility of governance in all levels of industry at different stages have got a responsibility to rattle the cage," Clarkson said.
"We've got a president who in his political life and now his role as president of our club, has been as good as anyone in that regard for a long, long period of time.
"We're absolutely delighted that he rattles the cages at our football club because it's made us a much, much better footy club.
"Sometimes those comments are provocative, sometimes they're challenging – they're always very, very well informed.
"He's got a fantastic intellect, he's got great humour and we're pretty happy that he's president of our footy club because he really challenges us to strive to get to another level," Clarkson said.
In the wake of former Victorian Premier Kennett's comments, Gardner has urged Melbourne supporters to do something they are always criticised for not doing – turn up to back the team against the Hawks at the MCG Sunday.
The last time the two sides met, in round one, Hawthorn inflicted a devastating 104-point loss on the Demons.
But Clarkson said his side needed to remain wary, especially after Friday night's unexpected whipping of previously unbeaten Geelong by Collingwood.
"I think the greatest lesson out of last night's game is something that hasn't changed in footy for 100 years, and that is if you tackle and put pressure on the opposition really, really well, it helps you win games of footy," Clarkson said.
"Collingwood were just absolutely fantastic last night and I think we can all maybe ridicule Geelong a little bit for the way they didn't withstand that pressure that well, but I don't think there'd be 14 other clubs that could have withstood that.
"I don't think there would be a coach in the competition that wouldn't make some sort of reference to the way Collingwood went about it last night, they were outstanding," he said.
Clarkson said he would not be taking Sunday's match lightly despite Melbourne's 1-7 record and Hawthorn's unbeaten run.
"Every game that you play we prepare for an enormous challenge.
"Melbourne have got some very, very good players, the bulk of their side have played a lot of finals footy and we know that if they get going on any given day they can be very challenging.
"It was only 18 months ago that they beat us by a significant margin at the MCG," he said.
__________________

HAWKS HEROES

24th May 2008, 16:02

if what he said gets those snow lovers to the game good on it better to go to a game of footy then sit at home and mope thinking they will get thrashed

noosa hawk mad

28th May 2008, 12:07

Jeff like his jacket: loud
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/spo...-19767,00.html (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23764825-19767,00.html)
The volume of his barracking and his borderline language, especially about the umpiring, was far more suited to the Animal Cage at Moorabbin than the glass bubble of the official VFL enclosure, where the most animated thing most guests did was to pour another chardonnay.
Whether he's shovelling sand over journalists or manure over opposition football clubs, Kennett has been nothing if not consistent in letting people know where he stands.
The trouble these days is that because he's a president of an AFL club rather than an ex-premier, people want to treat him seriously.

Yet this is a president who until recently turned up to games dressed like Bobo the Clown.

Indeed, he discarded that ridiculous jacket only when he worked out that it's a struggle to stop people laughing at you when your role model is Joffa, the Collingwood cheer squad leader.
Kennett sounded in deadly serious mode last week when he blatantly intervened in Melbourne's business by saying the club should relocate to the Gold Coast.

But if his suggestion was considered over the top, then the reaction to it was a triple somersault with pike.
This was a politician's way of getting some traction in a broader debate.

Make an outlandish suggestion to get people's attention and you are halfway to being heard.
Kennett's basic premise is correct, but hardly new.

Ten clubs can't survive in Victoria in the long term. That means some have to go or remain on a permanent drip feed supplied by the prosperous clubs.
Spare me the gnashing of teeth over the damage he could cause to Melbourne - the fickle Demon supporters are doing fine, thanks - or, indeed, his own club by giving the opposition so much deadly ammunition.
I couldn't quite envisage "Buddy" Franklin trembling at the prospect of a rampant Melbourne on Sunday after reading the morning papers.

Apart from the fact he probably doesn't read them, the world beyond the dressingroom is generally a mystery to most players.
Of far more concern, and interest to those at Hawthorn with control over the result of a game, was the psychological impact of David Neitz's retirement on the Melbourne players.

Clearly, it had some influence; much more than a few loose words from a gung-ho president.
While Kennett is more than a figurehead, providing an extra knowledge base to his club, he is also another president intoxicated by the AFL environment and unable to resist the platform it offers to massage his ego.
He joins a long line of club presidents drawn to the bright lights.
Ian Wilson, Richmond's president from 1973-85, used to strut around the boundary line before games smoking a cheroot and often waving to supporters.
Collingwood's Allan McAlister (1986-95) couldn't be missed watching the game from a canvas stool between the fence and boundary line.
And while John Elliott (1983-2002) was obscured by a smoke haze during games at Princes Park, his presence was as permanent and as imposing on the footy landscape as Uluru on the outback.
Presidents have often had far bigger profiles in the game than they deserve.

It was always a line-ball call whether Nathan Buckley or Eddie McGuire was the bigger name at Collingwood, although McGuire's TV profile was a contributing factor.
Down through the years, we've had the showmen presidents such as Geoffrey Edelsten, Joe Gutnick, McAlister and Elliott, the flakes such as Sir Billy Snedden and men of substance such as Geelong's incumbent Frank Costa, Richmond's Leon Daphne and Kennett's predecessor, Ian Dicker.
We've even the phantom president at Essendon, Neil McKissock, who came and went a couple of years ago without so much as a whisper on any subject at all.
Some prefer a soap-box president. I'd go for the backroom variety any day.
Take them as you like. Just don't take them too seriously.:D
__________________

noosa hawk mad

22nd June 2008, 09:11

Butt out, Jeff- Laidley

Jackie Epstein | June 22, 2008 12:00am

(http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23901773-19742,00.html#latest-comments)

DEAN Laidley has told Jeff Kennett to mind his own business after he slammed the club's decision to play Nathan Thompson.

Thompson took to the field nine days after having keyhole surgery on his left knee.
He made it through unscathed, but before the game Kennett criticised the selection as a potential health risk.
"Something concerns me and it's got nothing to do with the outcome of today's game - Nathan Thompson's named to play today only a week since he's had surgery on his knee. You can't be serious," he said on Triple M.
"And I've said to our guys, whatever you do, for goodness sake, always err on the side of caution.
"Don't push them. Give them another week off, give them two weeks off. So Crawf's out for another week and Croady is too.
"When I heard that Nathan, whom I respect very much, and as you know I work very closely with him, he's an ambassador for Beyond Blue, so I think highly of him

"When I think that he's had keyhole surgery and now he's playing again a week later it just sends shudders down my back."
Responding to Kennett, North chairman James Brayshaw said he would not question the call of his medical staff.
"They're among the best in the competition, so when they say he's ready to go, then he's ready to go," Brayshaw said.
Laidley backed his medical and coaching staff, saying Thompson trained well enough on Thursday to convince them he was 100 per cent.
"(Kennett) probably should mind his own business," Laidley said.
"Thommo was very good. Last Sunday he wanted to play and we changed his training days to give him that opportunity.
"He went and saw the surgeon early on Monday morning and got the tick."
Thompson said he had a "spit and polish" on the knee and it had pulled up well following his contribution of one goal and 10 possessions.
"I've got full faith in our doctors and I wouldn't play even if it was 99 per cent," he said.
"I made sure I put the hard work in and made sure I was right to play.
"The surgeon, David Young, was able to use the smallest arthroscope he could and really small tools, so he barely touched anything.
"He actually said the night after he did it that I'd be back for the Hawthorn game.
"I think the coaches weren't as confident and the doctors were a bit iffy, but once they saw me train on Thursday they thought, 'why not'."
Thompson was thrilled to be part of the 27-point win only a week after the side was humiliated by Fremantle.
Laidley said the next match against St Kilda on the Gold Coast would make or break the season.
"When you attack the opposition and the ball like that there's not too many games you're going to be out of it," he said.
"We're playing St Kilda and probably whoever loses it's probably the end of their year."
Hawthorn lost only its second match and second final quarter of the season, with coach Alastair Clarkson full of praise for the opposition.
"I thought the Kangaroos controlled the game from the outset and we were trying as much as we could to stay in the contest," he said.

RustyHawk

23rd July 2008, 16:24

Hawthorn's Jeff Kennett says poaching part of footy
Jon Ralph | July 23, 2008 12:00am

HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett says clubs need to come to grips with their stars being poached as part of the AFL's expansion. Clubs are increasingly wary of the advances of the Gold Coast franchise, despite leading candidates Michael Voss and Brian Cook turning down recent offers.

The Gold Coast team has assured the Brisbane Lions it will not pillage its stocks, but Kennett said clubs had to realise they would lose key talent.

Hawthorn chief executive Ian Robson would be one contender for a Gold Coast role after building the Hawks' fortunes, while list manager Chris Pelchen would be an ideal candidate to build the playing stocks.

Kennett said clubs would have to absorb the pain.

"The clubs have agreed with the 17th and 18th teams, therefore they can hardly be surprised if the new clubs look for people to fill the roles from within (existing) clubs. So they can't have their cake and eat it too," Kennett said.

"(Poaching) happens between clubs anyway, so the fact two more are coming into the competition won't change the mix very much, I wouldn't have thought."

Kennett yesterday backed the AFL's expansion plans, queried last week by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire after the global financial downturn.

The former Victorian premier says there will never be a better time to invest in two new clubs.

"Now that we have made the decision, we have got to continue with it, and the AFL is not affected in the short term by what is happening in global markets," Kennett said.

"Our revenue comes basically from television, and that is all secured for the next two or three years.

"In terms of Eddie and the others, and the economic circumstances, that ignores the reality that the AFL is debt-free and has plenty of cash."

Kennett said investing at the right stage might see the AFL get a jump on rival codes.

"I am not about backing off simply because of what is happening around the world," he said.

"Now is a very good time to invest. We are not talking about investing for one or two years, it is for the rest of the AFL history, therefore it makes no sense to delay."

RustyHawk

27th July 2008, 02:42

Jeff kennett gay storm

Article from: Sunday Herald Sun

July 27, 2008 12:00am
EXCLUSIVE: FORMER state premier Jeff Kennett has provoked a gay rights storm by backing a football club that sacked a trainer for being gay.

The Hawthorn president and potential Melbourne lord mayor sparked calls for his sacking after saying Bonnie Doon Football Club was within its rights to sack veteran trainer Ken Campagnolo after it found out he was gay.

"The club felt that once this had been pointed out and you had this gentleman there who was obviously close to young men - massaging young men - it ran an unnecessary risk and that's why it decided it was best that he not perform those duties again. So the club was trying to do the right thing," Mr Kennett said.

"When you are in charge of a group of young boys, as this club was as I understand it, it's got to make sure."

Mr Kennett said it was as if the club had a pedophile trainer.

"It's the same if you have a pedophile there as a masseur, right?"

"And you might say the pedophile would do no damage, but once it was pointed out to you, you have a duty of care to those underage children not to put them in a situation of risk."

He could not guarantee a gay trainer would be welcome at Hawthorn, adding: "I don't know if we've got any.

"I'm just saying at the moment we have a duty of care to our players and staff and you have to make judgments on that. If you don't do it you end up with potential legal liability."

Mr Campagnolo is fighting the Bonnie Doon Football Club, the AFL and Benalla and District Football League in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal over his 2007 sacking.

On Friday, the AFL failed in a bid to have his complaint against it struck out, with the tribunal ruling the matter must go to mediation.

Mr Campagnolo said he was appalled by Mr Kennett's remarks.

"I am not a pedophile. Does that mean every straight male doctor cannot treat any female patient?" he said.

Rodney Croome, of the Australian Coalition for Equality, said: "Jeff Kennett should immediately step aside from his role in Beyond Blue."

Hawk Dork

27th July 2008, 11:29

So if you found out you have a Hetrosexual trainer in a Girls Football League do you have to sack him too?

Jeff STFU you Homophobe
Out of date out of touch

Just remember the Soggy Biscuit you played at Scotch was pretty gay

noosa hawk mad

28th July 2008, 14:29

From the President: Making history

9:45 AM Mon 28 July, 2008 | Back (javascript:history.go(-1);)
Jeff Kennett
for hawthornfc.com.au

Good morning, I trust you all had a good weekend.

After the football on Friday night, I had a very normal weekend. I went for a long walk with the dogs on Saturday morning, went shopping, cleaned the car at the local carwash, visited the local nursery, did some gardening, visited some of my children, attended the Hawthorn Community Chest Ball with Felicity - a good wholesome weekend.

Everywhere I went people, most of whom I did not know approached me and said what a good game we played against Geelong on Friday night. I do not know what they expected our performance would have been, but not one critical comment was made.

While it was a pity we did not walk away from the ‘G on Friday night with another victory, I do not think there were many Hawthorn supporters that would have been disappointed. We clearly showed we were competitive against the AFL’s best at the moment.

We had the opportunity on several occasions to win the game, which shows we still have some work to do with our young list, but the endeavour was there. It was a tough game and the boys fought it out right to the siren.

Importantly I do not think there were any reports from the umpires against any player in either team. It was a hard game, played to the highest standards of competition, as you would expect from two great clubs.

We are not yet Kennedy’s Commandos, but we are developing a hardness that Alastair Clarkson has been building in his own image, that will stand us in good stead for years to come.

While we might have enjoyed the contest on Friday night, we lost, and we do not like losing, and we make no excuses for doing so. As I said we had our opportunities, and those skills that need improving are areas the coaches and players will work on as we head for the finals.

Regardless of our youthfulness as a team, our developing skill level, we are playing the game to win the Premiership this year. We are about making history for the Club this year, not just next or the year after. So Friday night was part of that growing experience, and a good experience it was. Particularly if we learn from the game, but we showed we could mix it with the best.

Thank you to all our staff who made Friday night so successful, those in membership and events those who helped with the many functions we hosted (a record number), our volunteers, our wonderful cheersquad and all who worked on the banner. To our members and supporters who turned out in droves. To our medical staff and trainers, our coaches, and the players who put in their all. We are truly a happy team at Hawthorn, but there is still work to be done!

As I moved around the community this weekend, I was particularly proud to be a Hawthorn member and your President.

Jeff Kennett
President
Hawthorn Football Club

noosa hawk mad

10th August 2008, 15:38

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/embrace-hawks-kennett-tells-tasmania/2008/08/09/1218139175449.htmlEmbrace Hawks, Kennett tells Tasmania

August 10, 2008

HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett has called on Tasmania to be prepared to let go of the dream of having its own AFL team and put its united support behind the Hawks.
Speaking before yesterday's game against the Brisbane Lions, Hawthorn's last home game in Tasmania this season, Kennett said it was difficult having the state vie for a market the Hawks were already courting.
The Tasmanian Government is a Hawthorn sponsor, and supports the Hawks playing home games at Launceston's Aurora Stadium, but is also desperate to have its own team admitted to the league.
The AFL has committed its next two licences to the Gold Coast and western Sydney, and Kennett said Tasmania had to be prepared to let go of its dream.
"Hopefully, once the AFL makes a decision … that will be the end of the campaign, because we, as a club, are trying so hard to not only meet our obligations but to exceed them," Kennett said yesterday. "It's a bit hard when at the same time a campaign is being run by your major sponsor fundamentally saying, 'We'd rather have our own team'.
"Although we've got three years to go in this … partnership, we are working very, very hard to give Tasmania exposure on the mainland and to bring not only increased tourism here, but increased investment from corporates."
AAP

noosa hawk mad

2nd September 2008, 08:36

From the President: Finals

Jeff Kennett 6:52 PM Mon 01 September, 2008
http://mm.afl.com.au/Portals/0/article_images_hawks/080728_president246b.jpgFrom the President: Finals

The home and away season has ended and Hawthorn has finished second on the ladder, the Club’s best finish since the 1991 season.

But September has arrived and the real effort begins. To this date in real terms we have only beaten eight other teams in the competition.

From this Friday night the real contest begins. There is no time for errors or experimentation for the next month we will see whether everything we have worked so hard to achieve, on and off the field can come together.

There is no prize for second, no silver medals. There is only one premiership cup and flag to be awarded. We cannot influence anything that happened yesterday or before, but we can influence the results over the next four weeks.

As I have said so many times this year, it is time for us to make our own history.

Congratulations to Lance Franklin on becoming the first Hawthorn player since
the great Jason Dunstall in 1991 to kick 100 goals, the first player to kick 100 goals in the home and away season since Tony Lockett in 1998 and the first to kick 100 since Fraser Gehrig in 2004. Lance did make history though by becoming the first indigenous player to reach the milestone.

But do not forget, Buddy could not have achieved that milestone without his colleagues
kicking the ball to him.

So well done team, take a bow.

Now let the real season begin. See you all during the finals and please remember to wear plenty of brown and gold to each game you attend. And if possible take your scarf so we can wave it after every goal kicked.

Stay well

Jeff Kennett
President