Further names have been added to Hawthorn’s Life Membership honour board, with Captain James Sicily and teammate Blake Hardwick being inducted alongside volunteer David Hall. 

Sicily, Hardwick and Hall received their Life Memberships at the club's 2024 Annual General Meeting on Thursday night.

First honoured in 1924, Life Membership was introduced to recognise the outstanding contribution of players with more than 10 years of service or 150 games with the club, and to officials, support staff, trainers and administrators who had given exceptional service.

JAMES SICILY

Sicily reached 150 games for the club in Round 20 of the 2024 season after he was first drafted by the Hawks with Pick 56 in the 2013 national draft,

Following recognition as Hawthorn’s Most Promising Player in 2016, Sicily’s sharp rise to prominence as one the league’s premier defenders was solidified by becoming Peter Crimmins Medallist in 2022, before earning a maiden All Australian blazer in 2023.

Sicily is set to skipper the Hawks for a third campaign in 2025 after he was unveiled as the club’s 38th appointed captain ahead of the 2023 season.

BLAKE HARDWICK

Hardwick notched up his 150-game milestone in Round 3 of the 2024 season following his selection by the Hawks with Pick 44 in the 2015 national draft.

In addition to being awarded Hawthorn’s Most Promising Player during the early stages of his career (2018), Hardwick has gone on to be recognised as the club’s Most Courageous Player in 2022, whilst also finishing Runner Up twice in the Peter Crimmins Medal (2018 & 2021).

DAVID HALL

David Hall commenced his journey with Hawthorn in 1971, playing with the Under 19’s in ‘71 and ‘72. He was a member of the only Hawthorn Under 19 Premiership team in 1972, receiving the Coaches Award in the Grand Final, and was also awarded the most determined player in the same year.

Following his initial playing days, Hall later returned to the club as a committee member of the Hawthorn Past Players and Officials Committee in 2003.

Widely respected for his selfless contributions and ongoing devotion to the committee as a volunteer, Hall has played a key role in many areas during his 21-year stint, including:
•    The recruitment and retention of members
•    Contributing to fundraising and social activities, including the annual Golf Day and the Thursday night function prior to the Grand Final
•    Involvement in family day events
•    Helping raise $25,000 for the fit out of the Past Players room (now the War Room) at Bunjil Bagora, Waverley Park.

Hall’s extraordinary service for the club continues to this very day, working tirelessly for the Hawthorn Past Players and Officials Committee and the betterment of the club.

JEFF KENNETT

NOTE - Former President Jeff Kennett was due to be presented with his Life Membership at the 2024 AGM, but was unable to attend due to personal reasons. The club is working directly with Jeff to determine a sutiable date/club event to present his Life Membership in the near future.