Sorry I am late to pen, but have had a very busy few days.
To re-cap what I am sure you all feel, what a wonderful game, for a wonderful win on Saturday.
Now our goal, our 10th Premiership has been secured.
I truly believe that the 2008 Grand Final will be used as a benchmark game of the modern era for the next 10 or 20 years.
Just as people spoke of the 1989 Grand Final with such reverence, so to will they speak of the 2008 Grand Final in the years to come.
It was a hard and fast game, with flashes of individual brilliance and collective splendor.
It saw pressure applied that could not be answered.
It saw within the Hawthorn team a mixture of ages and experience. Be it Shane Crawford or Stuart Dew or Cyril Rioli and Brent Renouf, led by the master of direction Luke Hodge.
In the end it was not only our skills, and the changes on the field affected by Coach Alastair Clarkson that lay the base for the victory, but the sheer determination of the team to lift their performance as the game unfolded.
As our warriors were felled, Trent Croad, Clinton Young, Buddy Franklin receiving a very heavy knock, or Chance Bateman being rolled to the point that he returned to the field wearing a bandaged head that might yet become a fashion item…in 2080, the rest of the team adjusted, stepped up to the plate, and continued to take the competition to Geelong.
After 17 years - how sweet it was!
A special congratulations to Shane Crawford who can now add a Premiership performance to his stella career, at one Club - Hawthorn.
This victory was not an aberration; it did not happen by chance.
After the Club was saved from merger with Melbourne in 1996, the slow rebuilding began. But in the mid 90s the Club was again in trouble on field. It was from 2004 that the seeds of this victory were sown. It was from 2004 that this modern period of the Clubs history was started.
Acting CEO Jason Dunstall recommended to the Board, led by Ian Dicker, that to be successful on the field the Club must virtually start from scratch. Build a new team based on young players.
To lead that rebuilding process they selected a young coach with a great deal of football experience, but not as a senior AFL coach. Hence Alastair Clarkson’s appointment.
Alastair built a football team around him over the last 4 years, without whom Saturday’s result would not have been possible.
Ian Robson was appointed Chief Executive taking over from Jason.
The Club decided to move from Glenferrie to Waverley to provide the football department and administrators with the best of facilities in order that we could compete for Premiership outcomes.
And then the financial resources were secured through sponsorships, an increasing membership and corporate support. More recently huge increases in merchandise sales which is a reflection of new offerings, the popularity of our players and their improving performance on the field.
But to add to the mix, the wonderful professionalism, the extraordinary personal efforts of many of our administrative staff over the last few years that through their work has excited the public and given the football department the opportunity to deliver.
I simply say to all our team, players, coaches, administrators and volunteers, thank you and well done.
Just as this victory was not a flash in the pan, nor should anyone see this 2008 Premiership as the culmination of our work. Far from it. It is just the start of the continuation of a goal with a living strategy.
We must not and will not become complacent. We will continually look for ways to freshen up and improve, on and off the field. We will not every year achieve our goal of a Premiership, but believe me we will be working hard for that outcome.
And the only thing we can be sure of, our opponents will become more professional. After all they will use the Hawthorn model to craft their Clubs, as we have part used Geelong on which to model ours.
The supporter’s day at Glenferrie was a treat to behold.
Premiership Coach and Captain hold high the Club's Cup at Glenferrie Oval.
Thousands upon thousands of supporters wanting to share the moment, not only with the playing group, but with each other. Hawthorn supporters, families just wanting to savor the victory with other like minded people.
What was so noticeable was the large number of young children present. If we can keep attracting youth to our membership we will introduce a new wave of members who will sustain the Club for the next 2 generations.
But in order to do that, the Hawthorn Football Club must be “interesting, modern and forever changing”, and of course must keep performing on the field.
But we must always be the Family Club, with family values as was so evidenced at Sunday’s celebrations.
Finally, can I just briefly report on the teams return to Tasmania yesterday.
Clearly it was hard on the playing group, two days after the game to travel to the Apple Isle.
But Tasmania is our major and naming rights sponsor. A sponsorship we take very seriously.
I am sure all players on returning home, even more tired would have been elated at the reception they received in Hobart and Launceston.
The crowd at Aurora Stadium, Launceston on Monday.
The size of the reception showed how important football is to Tasmanians, but also the extraordinary and growing support of our Club in Tasmania.
From the Premier David Bartlett and his Ministers that received us, to the hundreds in the Hobart Mall, to the 5 or 6,000 that assembled at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania is clearly turning brown and gold.
Hawthorns relationship with Tasmania is wonderful to experience and feel. The sponsorship unique in all aspects, with both parties gaining in value from its existence.
So thank you Tasmanians for your support and friendship.
So guys enough from me. Enjoy the moment. Be proud of your Club. Its history, its present and dream of what is possible in the years to come.
And remember at Hawthorn we are United, one Club and one Family.
Stay well
Jeff Kennett
President
