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Thursday May 17, 2012

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Jeff Kennet blasts the Hawks

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 9 August, 2010 - 12:21 PM

Jeff Kennett has delivered a blistering attack on his Hawks, decribing them as 'appalling'.

The President has unloaded in a letter to supporters posted on the clubs webiste.

He says the club is strong everywehere except on the field and in the football department.

Kennett says he was going to write an open letter to fans after the loss to Port Power but was assured by a senior player, they'd defeat the Swans to get their season back on track.

He says he knows his comments will anger some players and coaches but they can't 'run and hide forever'.

He finishes his outburst with the ominous warning, that if the club fails to make the finals this season it would be 'telling' on many at the club.

Read Jeff Kennett's letter from hawthornfc.com.au

 Good morning dear members,
 
Well, we sit in eighth position on the ladder. But only just.
 
I did not write you a letter last week after our loss to Port Adelaide, because I was so upset I was fearful of what I might have said. I spoke to a senior player after the game and told him I thought our performance was disgraceful. We did not travel to Adelaide to play, and we certainly did not play out the game. We just seemed to stop halfway through the last quarter.
 
Our player said to me "you are always pessimistic, we have one hiccup and you give up on us. We will bounce back stronger than ever against Sydney."
 
He had already forgotten what I thought was our loss to St Kilda - a game we should have won except for our mistakes in the last two minutes that resulted in a draw.
 
But I thought about our player's comments. Was I wrong, too quick to judge? And in deference to him and his confidence I did not write to you last week.
 
But confidence alone does not guarantee success as Saturday showed. An appalling first half where we were outplayed and outcoached, a better second half, but a loss.
 
It is one thing to be trained so well that you are an eternal optimist, but such optimism must be tinged with a dash of realism. One cannot be blind to the circumstances in which you live and in our case, compete.
 
Sydney showed a desire to win throughout the day that was superior and more intense than ours. Their game plan more easily identified.
 
As a result, the comments in the media in the Sunday papers should have come as no surprise to anyone.
 
One talked of a crisis at Hawthorn. Well let me assure you there is absolutely no crisis at the Club. In fact, the Club is in a very good and healthy place. With one exception. We need to improve in the Football Department and on the field.
 
It just may be that we are simply not good enough, and clearly we are not good enough to be in the top four. Now the question is being justifiably asked - are we good enough, do we want to be in the top eight?
 
A premiership in 2008 and not make the top eight in two successive years? That would be a telling statistic.
 
The next three weeks will answer that question for all of us. And it is "all of us". We are in this together, like a marriage "for better or worse, through sickness and health."
 
I am always surprised at the resilience of you, our members, after a game in which we have failed to deliver. You express your disappointment, and more, but always conclude we will be back next week. I am with you!
 
No one is entitled to a win. No premiership win of past years is a key to success today, each game must be contested on its day, so our game next weekend against Melbourne is our next test.
 
I know some of our players and coaches will be upset at me expressing the views I have in this letter to you today. But not to do so would be to spit in the face of the bleeding obvious.

We can't run and hide forever. We can't make excuses. We are either good enough, committed enough, or we are not.
 
Bring on next week. I remain just one of 54,000 passionate Hawthorn members who still lives the dream, but we need to deliver.
 
Come to the MCG next week, fill the seats with brown and gold, and let's hope our coaches and players hear our cry!
 
Jeff Kennett
President

Blog comments Your Say

  • Far more successful at what Michael ?

    John Mills Monday 16 August, 2010 - 1:25 PM

  • Totally behind you Jeff. I'm a Hawk 0f 60 years ans I was appalled at the lack of EVERT THIG at the Port game.
    I thought for sure we would bounce back against the Swans but some thing appears to be wrong !!!
    Don't worry about Healy,Walls and the like, they are always anti Hawthorn because we made them look like fools years ago !

    Peter Thursday 12 August, 2010 - 6:41 PM

  • Kennett correct! Healy and Russel always have a go at Kennett, but he is far more successful than any of you. Far more an authority! He says what the members think, what people expect and at Hawthorn we expect success. If criticises the players and coaching staff it is fair enough....they need to know they answer to the whole club and it is high time Hawthorn stopped resting on its laurels. You are right to tell some home truths, Clarkson must cop it sweet as should the players.

    Michael Monday 9 August, 2010 - 8:33 PM

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