President Jeff Kennett has penned the following letter to members.

 

Hi there Happy Hawkers, 

Firstly, thank you to those of you who were able to attend our AGM last night at the Hawthorn Town Hall.

It was good to see so many of you and catch up at the hotel afterwards.

Last night we unveiled our vision for the club and the strategy to help us deliver on that vision.

The vision is 2050.

A bold plan that aims to see us raise our tally to 20 premierships by the year 2050.

Audacious I hear you say. Well, not really when you consider our history since 1961. Since our first premiership we have won 13 flags at a rate of one premiership on average every 4.4 years. 

To achieve our target of seven premierships by 2050, we are required to win a flag every 4.7 years. So quite within our grasp. 

Why a vision for such a long period? 

In part, because the Hawthorn Football Club is a lot more than just a sporting club. It is a destination that has been built over decades, upon foundations of strong values, handed down from generation to generation of administrators, coaches, players, members and supporters.

We are a family to many, have been, and always will be.

So our 2050 Vision is our commitment to that family. We think for tomorrow not just for today. Yes. premierships are

important, but the continuing development of the Hawthorn Football Club and what it represents and offers to its family is so much more than on field success.

Within our 33-year vision we have a series of five-year strategic plans that will deliver 2050 Vision.

The first strategic plan HFC1, which is the responsibility of the current Board, runs from 2018 to 2022.

We have called that plan Dare to be Different. 

This plan represents the motivation of the leaders of our football club, as epitomised by Alastair Clarkson. Our 2050 Vision dares to be different. It sets a focus on activities well beyond today. 

Within HFC1 we have set our targets to be;

 

  • ● Two premierships
  • ● 100,000 members
  • ● Secure an AFLW licence
  • ● Extend our partnership with Tasmania
  • ● Generate the funding for our new training and administration facility
  • ● Be community leaders in mental health, indigenous and women’s affairs
  • ● Maintain financial independence
  • ● Deliver one new non- football business initiative
  • ● Ensure good governance
  • ● Ensure the mental and physical welfare of all our employees is the highest priority

 

So my friends, we at Hawthorn finish the year with a flourish. 

But as we pause for the festive season, I can assure you there is a lot more to come in season 2018. 

What we all want is to have fun. Enjoy the gift of life we have been granted. Given Hawthorn is such a large part of our lives, let us now join together and start to deliver on our vision another seven premierships by 2050.

For now, stay safe and have fun over the festive season.

 

Jeff Kennett

President