President Jeff Kennett has penned the following letter to members...

Dear members,
 
What extraordinary times we are living in!
 
Toilet paper being swiped from shelves, customers fighting in the aisles to secure their purchases!
 
Yes we have a virus outbreak, but with 126 cases being reported to date out of a population of 25 million, does that justify the extraordinary scenes and actions we are witnessing by some in the community today?
 
Thank goodness we are not being attacked as a nation! In such circumstances when calm, clear thinking would be required, would our population be putting as their priority what comes out of their anus? I hope not for if that was the case the country would be doomed.
 
Right now, medical professionals should be the final authority on how Australia continues to confine and respond to the coronavirus.
 
So how is the virus going to affect our club?
 
Already you will have received advice from our CEO Justin Reeves of the actions we are already taking to protect our staff, players and administrators and our members and supporters.

Read: Hawthorn implement measures to assist with COVID-19 containment
 
This morning I convened a meeting with Justin and some of his direct reports including Graham Wright, GM of Football, to review our position and preparedness. The meeting was also designed to see what effect the concern about the virus was having on our financial position.
 
In going through our revenue, line by line, given the perception that the virus has already created, the situation is looking grim. The very best scenario is that our bottom line might be hit by about 10% of budgeted revenue over this football year.
 
This is before the AFL informs us of any curtailing of the AFL season, so clearly this is serious.
 
Justin and his team are going to do more work over the weekend, to do some more precise modelling that might come into play once we hear what decisions the AFL will be forced to make.
 
What ever decision the AFL make we will be cooperating fully with them as I believe every club will.
 
That said every club will be doing the same exercise we are doing at Hawthorn.
 
That said we are looking at all our costs, but that does not include any of our valuable and hardworking staff.
 
I have always said that football clubs while pursuing premierships must be run as businesses to stay viable. Well now all clubs and the AFL are going to be severely tested. Not that we can’t meet the challenge, but the competition has never experienced what we are currently facing.
 
Justin or I will try and keep you as fully informed of the impact on Hawthorn as best we can of decisions still to be made.
 
Yesterday we had a flood of calls from members with questions, we are doing our best to answer all of your queries with the information we have to this point. As you are aware, this is an ever-evolving situation and new information comes to hand hourly. While I appreciate your calls, can I suggest unless urgent members wait for information from communiques such as this.
 
Secondly, and this might seem strange. One of our most important revenue lines is through our memberships. Right now, we have the same number of members as this time last year, and I thank all of you who have already done so. But could I ask that those who are in a position to do so, support the club at this time and buy your membership.. In managing what is facing us, the club is going to rely very much on our membership and the income it generates.
 
Sadly, the reduction in our income is, in the main, beyond our control. That is why the support of our members is right now so important.
 
Finally, I suspect Justin or I will be writing to you again when and if the AFL make a decision.
 
For now, please see what is confronting us as a challenge for all of us; The community, workplaces, families and the Hawthorn Football Club. But as they say, united we stand and united we will get through this period.
 
As Justin said yesterday, it is understandable that some people are experiencing feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and concern. For mental health and wellbeing information, visit Beyond Blue.
 
Thank you all for your continuing support of our wonderful Club.
 
Stay well


 
President
Jeff Kennett