HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett hopes the Hawks' grand final triumph will finally convince Tasmania to let go its vision for a stand-alone AFL club and fully embrace the new premiers.
Kennett, Hawthorn chief executive Ian Robson, coach Alastair Clarkson and captain Sam Mitchell fly to Tasmania on Monday with the premiership cup – and will take it straight to premier David Bartlett's office.
Hawthorn have a $3 million-a-year deal with Tasmania to play four games per season in Launceston until 2011.
But working against the Hawks' endeavours to forge a presence in the Apple Isle is the Tasmanian government's push for a team permanently based there in the 2011 and 2012 wave of AFL expansion.
Tasmania wants to take a spot in any 18-team competition, eyeing the franchise the AFL wants to place in western Sydney.
"I am looking forward to putting the cup on the premier's desk and saying; 'here's your first KPI (key performance indicator)'," Kennett told the Hawks' post-grand final function at Crown Casino on Saturday night.
"No Tasmanian team will ever give on the mainland the same sort of publicity that we give to Tasmania in their interest.
"I will be saying to the premier; 'finish your exercise you've got with Hawthorn - a partner money can't buy'."
More than 1000 people attended the Hawks' official grand final function, which celebrated the club's first premiership win since 1991.
The 22 premiership players were presented to the crowd in shirts and ties, with their jerseys worn over the top.
Kennett said the school of thought that a Hawthorn premiership had come sooner than expected after their rebuilding period over the past few seasons was wrong.
He paid tribute to several of the figures involved in rebuilding the club after its near merger in 1996, including former star player and ex-chief executive Jason Dunstall.
"Geelong has been a wonderful team. But today, we were better.
"I hope and expect next year with this team, the enthusiasm, and the leadership, we'll continue to deliver."
