Hawthorn Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Max Bailey as the club’s General Manager of Football Operations.

A member of the Hawks’ 2013 premiership side and, more recently, a member of the club’s coaching staff from 2016 to 2020, Bailey is a familiar face to the brown and gold faithful with his service to the club now set to extend to the administrative side.

Since 2020, Bailey has held the position of Talent & Organisational Development Advisor at Bunnings, which saw him build and facilitate internal leadership learning programs for team members.

His new role will see Bailey manage and lead all operational requirements of the AFL program and provide leadership and direction to the AFLW program.

Head of Football Rob McCartney said he was delighted to welcome someone of Bailey’s character and reputation back to the club.

“During his time at Hawthorn, Max has built the reputation as a genuine leader of people,” McCartney said.  

“His ability to build connections, have open and honest conversations and invest in the development of others are attributes that Max demonstrates daily.

“But what impressed us most through interviewing Max was the growth journey he has been on since leaving the football environment in 2020.

“Max has led organisational change at Bunnings in his Talent & Organisational Development role at their Head Office.

“His most recent project being to build and facilitate internal leadership learning programs for team members across the country is a perfect example of this.

"We welcome Max, his wife Rachel and daughters Georgia and Anna back to Hawthorn."

Bailey will start his new role following the Christmas break.