Kennett set to become new Hawks' president

Gary Shadforth

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Thread starter #1
It was announced at press conference this morning that former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett had been appointed to the club's Board of Directors.

Your thoughts please?

FORMER Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett is set to become the new president of Hawthorn after being appointed to the board.

Kennett, a life long Hawk supporter, was also named vice-president and has won the support of the board to succeed Ian Dicker as president at the club's annual general meeting on December 14.

Kennett said he would welcome any other challengers for the president's position, although he may well be elected unopposed.

The initial term would be for three years and he said he does not foresee remaining in the position any longer than five years.

The Hawks have struggled this year and are set to finish in the bottom three, but Kennett said he believes the young team is "on the verge of delivering something exciting".

Martin Ralston the former chief executive of Accenture and treasurer of the Moonee Valley Racing Club, has also been added to the Hawthorn board.

Dicker will step aside after nine years as president.

"My one great disappointment over the past 10 years as a board member has been our lack of on field success," he said.

"Off field we have put together a new administration, coaching department, a youth policy to achieve success on field, established a solid financial footing and delivered the club's new headquarters at Waverley.

"My great hope is that with the off field foundation cemented, our great club can now move forward and enjoy on field success."

 

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Gary Shadforth

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Binxy said:
What are your thoughts Gary?
Well, Binxy, being born into an ALP family, if I were to discuss politics and you have 20 hours spare reading time there is a lot I could write about Jeff Kennett. I am diametrically opposed to his conservatism. However, Gren's right, let's keep out of the political aspect of his life.

I believe he will, as Hawthorn FC's president, be a huge asset. In particular in assisting to maintain and attract big corporates as sponsors adding to our existing impressive array, e.g: major naming rights sponsor HSBC a world bank, Puma, MBF, Wingara Wines, Mitsubishi Motors, Mirvac - hardly anyone bigger in Australia in property development, hotel and funds management, CUB, AGL, Australia Post a federal government enterprise, Coca Cola, Onelife and last but not least, BigPond.

Just as impressive, are our directors with whom Jeff will work. A humungas body of business gurus: Martin Jolly, our vice president and general manager of International Management Group (IMG), Ken Carnie, management roles at Bowater Scott, Elders, Nicholas and Ansell International and now Henry Jones IXL. Bruce Growcott, a finance and business development expert, Geoff Harris, a life long Hawks supporter, founding partner and substantial shareholder of Flight Centre Limited, a director and substantial shareholder of Boost Juice and a director of Reach Youth Children’s Foundation. Dennis Hogg, Chief Executive of Epworth Hospital since 1986, Greg Cook, holds a national management position with Business Travel International, Andrew Newbold, a partner at law firm Herbert Geer & Rundle, which specialises in commercial and insurance law. And of course there is Jason and Dermie. Jase is widely involved in various forms of media and Derm, well, he is an expert on football commentary and strategy.

Jeff will love being involved with them, that’s for certain!
 

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#5
I'm happy to have Kennett at the helm. He's an intelligent man with a passion for the club, with tremendous experience in finance and handling the media. He will be good for the Hawks.

I'm sad to see Ian Dicker go, I won't have any direct contact with the Board now :( Still, we all knew he was going at the end of the season, I'm just glad we have a worthy replacement.
 

Gary Shadforth

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Yes I am sad too, AH, but remember Ian said in Brisbane just recently that after his presidency he would work at fostering and assisting interstate supporter groups ... so he will still be around.

It will be happy transition.

 

Hawkk

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#7
If there is a man that can get us 40 000 members and 45 000+ through the gates as well as a flag it is he.

This was the "risk" we had to have ;)

btw, was I the only one who loved how he compared us to Telstra :D

Oh and he hates the scum, its a win win
 

Hawkk

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#8
Gary Shadforth said:
Yes I am sad too, AH, but remember Ian said in Brisbane just recently that after his presidency he would work at fostering and assisting interstate supporter groups ... so he will still be around.
Ian was a great president, he handed the presidency over in true Hawthorn style, I hope to see him around, he was and still is one of the friendliest guys you will ever meet, I hope he stays around.

For all his bagging he was a great president in my eyes
 

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#9
Gary Shadforth said:
Just as impressive, are our directors with whom Jeff will work. A humungas body of business gurus:
And of course there is Jason and Dermie. Jase is widely involved in various forms of media and Derm, well, he is an expert on football commentary and strategy.

Jeff will love being involved with them, that’s for certain!
Are you saying there will be a lot of wind generated? :thumbsu:
 

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#10
The one fault I feel with Ian was he got to 'close' to the playing side aspect of things.

It's a ruthless game footy and having a pres that seemed a little to close to the players looking back was probably not the right thing.

But that's how the man is, can't fault him for being true to himself I suppose.

Jeff I think we would all agree wont be quite as .. forgiving of failure as Ian was.

I also believe he will let those in charge of the footy dept actually be the ones in charge of the footy dept, not a bit of Dermie here, a bit of Jason there.

At least I wouldn't mind seeing that little bit of a seperation between the board and the footy dept happen. Let them review it comes end of season and make judgements then.

Thanks to Ian for his many great contributions to the HFC over the years and now, welcome Jeff.
 

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#11
Ian Dicker has been the right man at the right time. His passion was absolutely required at a time when many of us doubted whether Hawthorn could survive.

My first experiences of footy were in the stands at Glenferrie Oval in '69. I was a member as a teenager through the '70's and had a reserved seat in a couple of stands at Princes Park. My membership lapsed in the '80's - my poor student years though I'd still attend regularly.

In 1996 I was not a member, but was in favour of the merger with Melbourne because I believed that Hawthorn could not be competitive with such a low membership base.

Thank you so much, Ian Dicker, for proving me wrong. Doubtless the Dawks would have given me pleasure, but now I go to the footy and watch Hawthorn with my own two kids.

Equally, I think Jeff Kennett is potentially going to be a terrific president. I have long been a lefty at heart, but I have a lot of time for Jeff. He knows how to make tough decisions. He was strong enough to turn around Victoria's appalling public sector budget, and he was also the first politician in the country to take a firm stand against the politics of Pauline Hansen - which he did without fear. Regardless of whatever politics anyone might have, he proved capable of swimming against some very strong tides - for what he believes in. I don't think anyone doubts that he believes in Hawthorn.

And as an ex-premier, he brings one of the most formidable personal contact books in the country.

Thank you Ian. Good luck Jeff.
 

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#12
Mr.Likeable said:
Ian Dicker has been the right man at the right time. His passion was absolutely required at a time when many of us doubted whether Hawthorn could survive.

My first experiences of footy were in the stands at Glenferrie Oval in '69. I was a member as a teenager through the '70's and had a reserved seat in a couple of stands at Princes Park. My membership lapsed in the '80's - my poor student years though I'd still attend regularly.

In 1996 I was not a member, but was in favour of the merger with Melbourne because I believed that Hawthorn could not be competitive with such a low membership base.

Thank you so much, Ian Dicker, for proving me wrong. Doubtless the Dawks would have given me pleasure, but now I go to the footy and watch Hawthorn with my own two kids.

Equally, I think Jeff Kennett is potentially going to be a terrific president. I have long been a lefty at heart, but I have a lot of time for Jeff. He knows how to make tough decisions. He was strong enough to turn around Victoria's appalling public sector budget, and he was also the first politician in the country to take a firm stand against the politics of Pauline Hansen - which he did without fear. Regardless of whatever politics anyone might have, he proved capable of swimming against some very strong tides - for what he believes in. I don't think anyone doubts that he believes in Hawthorn.

And as an ex-premier, he brings one of the most formidable personal contact books in the country.

Thank you Ian. Good luck Jeff.
There was never any thing wrong with the politics of Pauline Hanson ,she has been proven right in these times time & time again.Being from country Victoria ,i despised Kennet's policies & the man when he was in office but for my beloved football club ,i believe his appointment will prove to be one of the best decisions made in the history of the club.As for Ian Dicker he should have his portrait hung up in the hallowed halls of our clubrooms along side Crimmons & Tuck for more or less single handedly saving the club from financial oblivion & giving us hawk fans an assurance that our club will be around for many more years to come.
 

Gary Shadforth

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Buster the hawk said:
As for Ian Dicker he should have his portrait hung up in the hallowed halls of our clubrooms along side Crimmons & Tuck for more or less single handedly saving the club from financial oblivion & giving us hawk fans an assurance that our club will be around for many more years to come.
Given the penchant our club has for hanging portraits of past greats and personalities I'm certain that will happen, Buster.
 

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#15
Buster the hawk said:
There was never any thing wrong with the politics of Pauline Hanson ,she has been proven right in these times time & time again.
this is beside the point , but that is completely and utterly wrong ...
 
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#19
Grendel said:
Keep it to the footy please people, there's a S&C board elsewhere on site if you want to get into the political stuff, thanks.
Sorry Grendel but Mr left wing likeable started it by mentioning names.There were actually millions of Australian voters personally offended when she was unlawfully thrown into prison .Anyway as you say enough of that ,who in your expert opinion will we pick up @ #3 this year?Watched the SANFL GF on Fox ,Hurn looks ready to go .
 

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cmon guys think about it . We have 5 picks! Get the best two KP's with 3 and 6 then midfielders with the rest.

The way I hope to see it go

3. Pat Ryder
6.Josh Kennedy
14.Jarryd Oakley Nichollls
18. Darren Pfieffer / Beau Muston
22.Travis Varcoe
 

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#23
MightyFighting said:
What did he say about us and Telstra?
This was a while ago, but he was going on about how we have to reform like they do. With young players and while it will result in a few hic cups in the short term it will be for our benifiet in the long term. I think, this was 2 months ago though
 

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#24
Hawkk said:
This was a while ago, but he was going on about how we have to reform like they do. With young players and while it will result in a few hic cups in the short term it will be for our benifiet in the long term. I think, this was 2 months ago though
Does that mean we'll also stop playing in the bush? ;)
 
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