On Saturday night, Hawthorn will elevate another Hall of Famer to Legend status at the 25-year anniversary event celebrating the back-to-back premierships of 1988 and 1989.

The person elevated will either be a coach or player from the two premiership-winning sides.

hawthornfc.com.au has asked some passionate Hawks fans you may have heard of their memories of the back-to-back premierships and their pick for Legend. Their answers are listed below.

They will become the seventh Hawthorn Football Club Legend, joining John Kennedy Snr, Leigh Matthews, Graham Arthur, Michael Tuck, Peter Hudson and Parkin.

Hawthorn members and supporters have the opportunity to see the Legend revealed live at the 25-year anniversary event to be held on Saturday 12 July at Crown Palladium. View more information and buy tickets.

Jeff Kennett

Jeff Kennett was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999 and the President of Hawthorn between 2005-2011.
  1. Where were you when the Hawks went back-to-back in 1989? Can you remember what you were doing?
    I was at both games. I had lost my job as Leader of the Victorian Opposition and was by my own description a “Middlebencher” within the Opposition. The win in 1989 gave me great relief from my own fall from grace, but at the same time hope for the future.
  1. What is your favourite memory/moment from either the 1988 or 1989 Grand Finals?
    The 1989 Grand Final was the grandest I have ever witnessed, of all grand finals I have witnessed over my lifetime.

    It is the only one I have ever re-watched - several times. It was the complete competition - tough, brilliant, and a wonderful example of human effort.
  1. Who is your favourite 88/89 premiership player and why?
    To name one player of that 1989 team would be to do injustice to the Jeans mode of coaching and instruction. Teams win grand finals, not individuals.

    While there were some glorious individual efforts, unless all players had contributed the flag would not have been secured for Hawthorn.
  1. Which current player would have fit in to the 88/89 teams and why?
    You can’t rewrite history.
  1. Who’s your pick for Legend?
    Again, to me they were all wonderful players, who gave me untold pleasure to watch, as they combined to deliver members success no other team has enjoyed over such a short period of time.

    For me the 1961, 1989 and 2008 grand final teams all delivered above expectations but then again any person who earns the right to wear the brown and gold is special.

    Legend? Let others make that call.

 

Helen Kapalos

Helen Kapalos is a journalist and correspondent for the Seven Network’s current affairs program, Sunday Night.
  1. Where were you when the Hawks went back-to-back in 1989? Can you remember what you were doing?
    I was watching the match in Newcastle with my younger brother - also a mad Hawks fan! It’s a very rich memory to this day. I remember us jumping in the air and being so proud and emotional.
  1. What is your favourite memory/moment from either the 1988 or 1989 Grand Finals?
    Just the overall guts showed from the first moment. For me it was when Dermott Brereton kept playing after suffering such a vicious and pointed injury in the opening minutes of the game.
  1. Who is your favourite 88/89 premiership player and why?
    ‘Dermie’ and ‘Dipper’. As we know they don’t even need an explanation, they just epitomised true courage and guts.
  1. Which current player would have fit in to the 88/89 teams and why?
    For me it’s Luke Hodge. He also has a gigantic heart on the field and throws his body on the line. His courage and leadership is exemplary.
  1. Who’s your pick for Legend?
    Allan Jeans by a mile. A great oratorical master yes, but he moved hearts and souls, how can you beat that?

 

Damien Fleming

Damien Fleming is a former Australian cricketer who played for the Australian national team.
  1. Where were you when the Hawks went back-to-back in 1989? Can you remember what you were doing?
    For the 1989 Grand Final I was bowling in a state cricket trial in the heat of Mildura. I got to see a bit of footy at the drinks break when we were thrashing the Cats. Then we went back onto the field and all I could hear was “Ablett!” I had no interest in playing cricket that day.
  1. What is your favourite memory/moment from either the 1988 or 1989 Grand Finals?
    ‘Dermie’s’ mark backing into the pack and goaling after getting collected by Yeats.
  1. Who is your favourite 88/89 premiership player and why?
    People may say they love a good contest. I enjoy any time the Hawks thrash the opposition and it’s just a celebration from the first minute…and that was the 1988 Grand Final.
  1. Which current player would have fit in to the 88/89 teams and why?
    ‘Hodgey’ off half-back and in the centre. His toughness and great skills would have complemented one of the greatest teams of all time.
  1. Who’s your pick for Legend?
    I believe they are all legends.

 

Mark Howard

Mark Howard is an Australian television sports presenter with Network Ten, host and commentator with Triple M and diehard Hawks fan.
  1. Where were you when the Hawks went back-to-back in 1989? Can you remember what you were doing?
    I was at the MCG sitting with my best mate from school, Wil Anderson (the same Wil who is now a comedian) - we were both 15.

    He was sledging some Geelong supporters behind us, who also happened to be bikies. Not sure if I was more relieved that we won, or that we got out of the ‘G in one piece.
  2. What is your favourite memory/moment from either the 1988 or 1989 Grand Finals?
    Definitely ‘Derm’ getting up after being belted and kicking that goal minutes later.
  1. Who is your favourite 88/89 premiership player and why?
    ‘Dipper’ - he was so flamboyant, tough and full of life.

    Mum and Dad took us to his restaurant once in Lygon St - he was there and I was blown away. He actually came to the table and said g'day. I shyly told him I was a Hawks fan, and I will never forget he took time to sit down and chat, sign something and make me feel great.

    You never forget things like that as a young bloke.
  1. Which current player would have fit in to the 88/89 teams and why?
    ‘Hodgey’. Tough enough to mix it with that era of footballer, both on the ground and in the pub.
  1. Who’s your pick for Legend?
    Jason Dunstall.

 

Peter Walsh

Peter Walsh is a sports commentator for ABC Radio Grandstand and is based in Adelaide. He is well known for his wacky shirts, and love of the brown and gold.
  1. Where were you when the Hawks went back-to-back in 1989? Can you remember what you were doing?
    For the Grand Final in 1988 I was in the Members Stand at the ‘G. In 1989 I had to call the basketball for ABC TV in Hobart. I watched the game in the lounge room.
  1. What is your favourite memory/moment from either the 1988 or 1989 Grand Finals?
    The sheer brutality of the ‘89 Grand Final. Bodies battered, bruised, bones broken, memories clouded and concussed players. Siren sounded at the right time.
  1. Who is your favourite 88/89 premiership player and why?
    No. 23 - the gunslinger in a western movie, ability to change a game, annoy an opponent and make my mum shake with delight.

    Dermott Brereton is what a successful club needs to have - a class player who can turn into an enforcer. He can change a game with his exquisite ability. Fear number 23!
  1. Which current player would have fit in to the 88/89 teams and why?Hodge ticks all the boxes. Versatile, a leader in all circumstances and totally reliable.
  1. Who’s your pick for Legend?
    Dermott Brereton. My Mum - who passed away 3 yrs ago - always said she could cope with Dermott having his slippers under her bed!

    My reasons are predictable - he epitomises the Hawthorn spirit, a player for all occasions. Reliable, often a match winner and a pest to the opposition - first picked in any star Hawks team.

 

Stephen Quartermain

Stephen Quartermain is a news presenter with Network Ten in Melbourne, will host the Silver Anniversary event in July, and shared a flat with Dermie in the 80s.
  1. Where were you when the Hawks went back-to-back in 1989? Can you remember what you were doing?
    I was in the Channel 10 newsroom working that day. Then it was straight to the premiership dinner. 
  1. What is your favourite memory/moment from either the 1988 or 1989 Grand Finals?
    Clearly the opening bounce of the 1989 Grand Final was the worst and the best (when Dermie got cleaned up). I warned him from my Geelong sources it was coming, but he forgot! 
  1. Who is your favourite 88/89 premiership player and why?
    Can't split Dermott and Dipper. Both were born to play finals, so they tell me!
  1. Which current player would have fit in to the 88/89 teams and why?
    There are quite a few that could have fit in but I'll select Luke Hodge. He could have played anywhere in any era. Plus he would have fixed up a few Cats players in '89!
  2. Who’s your pick for Legend?
    That's such a tough question to answer because we had so many champions. I'll say Dermott Brereton, with apologies to Dipper and Gary Ayres. 

 

Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann

Lehmo is a comedian who is a passionate Hawthorn supporter and not afraid to hide it on Twitter.
  1. Where were you when the Hawks went back-to-back in 1989? Can you remember what you were doing?
    I was back home at the family farm in Peebinga in country South Australia, I was going to a mate's 21st that night. I watched the game in the lounge room with my dad as my mum wondered in every now and then to check the score. I reckon I stood up and sat down 59 times during the last quarter. 
  1. What is your favourite memory/moment from either the 1988 or 1989 Grand Finals?
    It's a 3 way tie - Ben Johnson winning the 100m final in Seoul before the first bounce in ‘88, ‘Dipper’ impersonating Hulk Hogan with two Geelong players in a headlock in ‘89 and the players getting around ‘Jeansy’ after the final siren in ‘89. 
  1. Who is your favourite 88/89 premiership player and why?
    I just loved Darren Pritchard and Chris Mew.

    There was no fuss workmanlike attitude about them, which I loved… and Chris Mew had a ripping ‘mo’.
  1. Which current player would have fit in to the 88/89 teams and why?
    Hodgey, Lewis or ‘Mitch’ – they’re tough in and under players who fit perfectly… but who would you drop to fit them in?!
  1. Who’s your pick for Legend?
    It's very hard to go past Allan Jeans - he was the man who shaped those winning years.