Hawthorn President, Jeff Kennett, reflects on the weekend’s clash with Port Adelaide, and calls for all Hawthorn supporters to show their support for the Brown and Gold this Sunday against the Dogs at the Tesltra Dome.

Well what a disappointment. A loss by five points. On the other hand no one is ill or dead, and we live to play again next Sunday against the Western Bulldogs.
 
Let’s hope we learn from our loss and come out strongly focused on what needs to be done to win.
 
There were two great stories to come from Tasmania.
 
Even though we suffered a loss the number of supporters who gathered at the Albert Hall for the after-match function was possibly a record by number. Better still was their morale. They were disappointed but convinced the coaches and players would deliver next week. The welcome those supporters gave the players when they entered the Hall was very generous.
 
Thank you to all our Tasmanian members who have supported us so well in this the first year of our five year partnership with Tasmania.
 
Secondly, it is amazing how many Victorians travel to Tassie each time we play there. While at the after function I met some of 22 Victorian members all from one family, who travelled from Melbourne and Warrnambool for the weekend. Their ages ranged from 2 years to 66 years. There were 10 Crichton's, 6 Moran's and 6 Dummett's. They all stayed at the Penny Royal, and had a ball. I bet it will be along time before any family can beat that record.
 
So two games to go, we will now probably play in our first finals since 2001. But can we do better than just scrap into the 8? The answer is that our future lies in our own hands as it did yesterday. No point blaming the umpires, the weather or injuries. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
 
Stay focused, and please turn out in numbers next weekend to back our team on Sunday at Telstra Dome. We must win
 
Stay well
 
Jeff Kennett
President
Hawthorn Football Club