President Jeff Kennett and CEO Justin Reeves have penned the below letter to Hawthorn members...
Dear members,
We hope you are well in these challenging times. As we have said all along, the health and safety of our people is, and will remain, our number one priority.
As announced late yesterday, the AFL is working towards a 17-round 2020 season. This model will see each team play each other once, and at this stage will commence, as planned, on Thursday evening.
Our first game will be on Sunday versus Brisbane at the MCG. Unfortunately, that will be in front of none of our members or a crowd, but live on free to air TV via Channel 7.
The fixture will be fluid, with the AFL wishing to maintain the flexibility to adjust as circumstances change. It remains unclear how long these restrictions will be in place, but we will continue to provide regular updates to our members and fans as this situation evolves.
It was also announced yesterday that the AFL have suspended all state-league competitions, which includes both our VFL and VFLW programs. We very much regret the disappointment this has caused for our fans, players and coaches. Rest assured, every decision we are making is in the best interests and health of our people, first and foremost.
During this time, there is also a need for us to make decisions to ensure the long-term viability and future of Hawthorn Football Club. As custodians of the club, it is our role to ensure there is a Hawthorn, today, tomorrow and always. With that in mind, the decision has been made to place the Kennedy Community Centre (KCC) project on-hold until further notice. This will ensure all resources and energies can be spent navigating through these unprecedented times. Any donations or pledges that have been made specifically to the KCC project via the Hawthorn Football Club Foundation, will be ring-fenced and protected until the project is back up and running.
We are all facing challenging times, and in light of this we have and will continue to decrease expenditure right across the club. Our staff remain committed to ensuring you, our family, stay connected to the club and continue feel part of our community.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our members and supporters for their loyalty and support. We have had countless communications from members pledging their support by way of encouragement, joining or renewing as members and donating to the club. This kind of support and commitment from our brown and gold family is the reason we are here today, and the reason we will be here long into the future. Thank you to every one of our family for their support, encouragement and commitment. We truly appreciate it.
While new information is coming through thick and fast, we will continue to provide regular updates to keep you informed.
While we are disappointed you won’t be able to get along to the MCG on Sunday, we know there are far bigger challenges currently facing our community.
The guidelines provided by governing health authorities recommend all members of the community exercise social distancing where possible. We strongly encourage everyone to follow this advice.
For now, the most important thing is to protect the health and safety of yourself, your loved ones and the community at large. It is understandable that some people are experiencing feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and concern. For mental health and wellbeing information, please visit Beyond Blue.
Please continue to engage with us via social media – we love hearing your thoughts and feedback.
Stay safe and go Hawks,
Jeff Kennett & Justin Reeves
