Following Hawthorn's Preliminary Final win, President Andrew Newbold has written an open letter to members about the week ahead.


Dear members,
 
I write to you today thrilled our Club has earned itself a berth in the 2012 Grand Final. What a game last evening! Adelaide were fantastic and I am very proud of the way our boys hung in there to get to the biggest stage of the footy year. In saying that, I hasten to add that by no means is our journey complete.
 
A great deal of hard work and sacrifice has gone into giving our Club the opportunity to play in a Grand Final.
 
And that’s all it is at the moment: an opportunity to compete on that final day in September. What we do with that opportunity is completely within our control. That is like a lot of things in life.
 
Be assured our playing group will train hard and smart this week, and do everything to ensure they are focused, disciplined and ready. The coaching and fitness staff will work to have the players primed for 2.30pm on Saturday afternoon, and will prepare for every eventuality. 
 
The administrative staff will be working overtime to provide services to our members, sponsors and clients.
 
Our members and supporters will be preparing banners, outfits of brown and gold, messages of support and their voices to cheer on the team in the Grand Final.
 
I have learnt many things in my first year as President, but one of the most pertinent is that we can never underestimate how much work goes into making a Grand Final, let alone how difficult it is to win one.
 
As a Club we have done the hard work, and now we are looking to seize our opportunity. To do so, it goes without saying that we will have to play as a team.
 
The 22 players who will take the field on Saturday will be supported by 26 others on our list, our coaching staff, medical team, over 60 full-time administrative staff, part-time support staff including trainers, property officials, and our exceptional volunteers and Cheersquad members. Not to mention our 60, 841 members. I have said since the start of our year that clubs win premierships, not just the team that runs out, and that will now be put to the test next weekend.
 
I would like to thank every one of our members and supporters for your unwavering support throughout this season, and in seasons past. It is your voices we will need on Saturday to urge and cheer the team on.
 
Enjoy the week knowing we have done the hard work to get us here, but we must not be satisfied as there is still much to do to ensure we achieve our ultimate goal. Enjoy the ride, be proud of yourselves and your Club.

Andrew Newbold
ALWAYS HAWTHORN