Hawthorn Football Club will induct four new members into its Hall of Fame at the club's Mid-Season Ball on June 23.
The event, held at the Plaza Ballroom will honour Brian Kann, John Kennedy Jnr, John O’Mahony and Miles Alfred-Sellers who will be officially inducted into the Hawthorn Football Club Hall of Fame on the night.
The night will also acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Peter Knights who will be upgraded to Legend status.
Knights played 264 games for the Hawks between 1969 and 1985, including three premierships, and went on to coach the club for two years in 1994.
While Knights’ influence as a player and a coach is outstanding, just as noteworthy is the contribution he has made to the club as an administrator.
Knights currently works as Coterie Manager at the Hawthorn Football Club bringing his tenure at the Hawks to over 35 years.
Knights joins John Kennedy Snr, Leigh Matthews, Graham Arthur, Michael Tuck, David Parkin, Peter Hudson and Jason Dunstall as those honoured by the club with Legend status.
A Hall of Fame Legend is the highest honour that the Club can bestow on an individual for his or her outstanding contribution to the Club.
To gain Legend status the individual must first be an inductee of the HFC Hall of Fame. Only HFC Life Members are eligible for induction.
Similarly to Knights, each of Hawthorn’s 2017 inductees into the Hall of Fame have made significant contributions to the club both on and off the field.
Sellers was a member of Hawthorn’s inaugural VFL season in 1925 and later remained at Hawthorn as a coach and team manager of the under-age sides, whilst also assisting with recruiting and talent spotting.
O’Mahony, while also having an amazing contribution on-field, held a range of roles over the course of his time at Hawthorn including being a member of the Committee, the Chairman of Selectors and the Reserves Coach.
Kann holds a unique playing record at Hawthorn, being the only player to have started with the Under-15 side before progressing through the ranks of the Under-17s, Under-19s, Hawthorn City Colts side, VFL Reserves and then, finally the senior VFL side.
He was also a member of the club’s Board of Directors for 17 years and has been a paid-up member of Hawthorn for 69 years and a member of the Past Players and Officials Association for 57 years.
John Kennedy Jnr was an integral member of the all-conquering Hawthorn side of the 1980s, playing in all four of the 1983, 1986, 1988 and 1989 premiership teams.
Following his retirement Kennedy Jnr remained at Hawthorn in various roles, including as an assistant coach, a Board member and President of Hawthorn’s Past Players and Officials Association, a role he remains in today.
Find out more about the four new inductees and Knights below:
