JEFF Kennett had requested no fuss or fanfare at his final annual general meeting as Hawthorn president on Wednesday night, but Luke Hodge couldn't help himself.

When his turn at the microphone arrived, the Hawks skipper picked up a scroll tied with ribbon and, in good humour, turned to the club's outspoken leader of the past six years.

"I heard you say about a week-and-a-half ago that when you finish as president of the Hawthorn Football Club, we'll never hear from you again," Hodge said, drawing laughter from the packed Hawthorn town hall and Kennett himself.

"So Jeffery, on behalf of the boys, here is a gift, but more of a promise, that we will never hear from you again."

If this AGM really was to be the last the footy world would hear from Kennett, it was a warm and stirring farewell.

The former Victorian premier's opinions have created regular back page headlines during his time in charge of Hawthorn.

But in his closing address before handing the keys to incoming president Andrew Newbold, Kennett decided against offering any further solutions to the game's problems.

Instead, he chose another favourite subject - his unstinting desire for the Hawks to accept nothing but the ultimate success.

"I am still pained by that loss to Collingwood, and that pain will not dissipate until we win our next flag," Kennett said.

"We had every opportunity in that particular game…but we fell at that last hurdle, and it hurts.

"We have the weaponry in terms of our players, both experienced and youthful, and we certainly have it in our coaching group.

"We failed this year; we can't afford to fail at this spot again.

"And while it's always dangerous, coach, to set a hurdle for the future, your challenge, if you're prepared to accept it, is to achieve in 2012 what we didn't in 2011."

(Alastair Clarkson, the coach to whom the challenge was issued, had earlier - wisely - expressed confidence about the Hawks' chances in 2012 but stopped short of promising a premiership.)

Kennett thanked his fellow directors and the club's administration staff, and described it as "a great pleasure and an extraordinary honour" to have led the Hawks.

He then leaned into the microphone and, in a tone that would have made the late, great TV news presenter Brian Naylor proud, signed off: "Remember, wherever you are, whatever we do, we'll always be Hawthorn. Thank-you."
 
And with that, to warm and grateful applause from the brown and gold faithful, Hawthorn's Kennett years were over.