CEO Justin Reeves has penned the following letter to members...
Dear members,
What a way to close-out trade period! We are delighted to welcome Tom Phillips to the brown and gold. We head into next month’s draft having managed to maintain our strong position in the draft while also building on some key areas of our list.
You have shown us incredible loyalty throughout the 2020 season and as we wait for the AFL to confirm arrangements for the 2021 season, the consistently low case numbers across the country each day and news of a vaccine not far away, means it looks more and more likely that the 2021 season will proceed as close to normal as possible. It is fantastic to see the Victorian Government announce a 25% capacity limit for large sporting venues, meaning we will finally see crowds back at the MCG for the Boxing Day test!
As the COVID situation improves, we hope capacity limits will increase further in time for the start of the 2021 season. You should have received your 2021 membership renewal information via email. I invite you to revisit this email and check its contents for some of the exciting changes to your membership offering for season 2021. If you are in a position to do so or haven’t already, I also invite you to renew your membership here. We certainly can’t wait to see our members back in the stands for what promises to be an exciting 2021. Our membership team are available to you via email or phone Monday-Friday 10am-4pm to answer any questions you might have.
We had more good news this week with the announcement that the Tasmanian border will reopen to Victorian’s on November 27. This is fantastic news for Tasmania, Victoria and for Hawthorn. We will be sure to visit our home-away-from-home very soon. We have missed you Tasmania.
We also celebrate NAIDOC week this week. NAIDOC week is an opportunity for Australian’s from all walks of life to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements. There are celebrations being held around the country and, given its 2020, many of them are being hosted online. We have put together a collection of these events for our members, should you wish to get involved. As a RAP organisation we honour the traditional custodians of this land and are taking the opportunity NAIDOC week provides to further deepen our understanding of Indigenous culture and people. If you would like to join us in this, we have put together a collection of recommended events for our members here.
We will hold our AGM in just over a month. Under current restrictions it will be an online event and I hope many of our members are able to join us on the night. At the AGM we will welcome two new members to our Board, Owen Wilson and Luke Stambolis. Both bring significant skill and experience to our Board and will be key to assisting the club emerge strongly out of 2020 and into the future.
In football news, trade period comes to a close this evening. We have been quiet this trade period and that is because our focus is on youth and building the future of Hawthorn. We are seriously invested in developing young talent, including those already on our list and those who will join us through the draft in December. Our recruiting department, lead by Graham Wright and Mark McKenzie, have been working tirelessly over the past few weeks to position the club strongly as we head into the draft.
A significant piece of Hawthorn history was secured by a group of diehard Hawks fans recently. A group of 32 of the Hawthorn faithful banded together to secure the purchase of the infamous “Batmobile” from the 1991 grand final. The bright blue batmobile is an unforgettable piece of memorabilia from the only AFL grand final ever played at Waverley Park and something I am very pleased is now in the care of good Hawthorn people. The long and storied history of the Batmobile is well worth looking into and I am very much looking forward to hearing the next chapter in the story of the Hawthorn Batmobile!
Thank you again for your support and for trusting me, our football department and administration to lead this great club. We are all temporary custodians and our job is to always put the club in the best position for the future and to make our Hawthorn family proud.
Go Hawks!
Justin Reeves
