Dear members,

May already, and the year is flying. With six games completed, heading into Round 8 we are a third of the way through the home and away season.

At  four wins and two losses, this is not a bad place to be, but the test remains ahead of us.

The next four weeks we take on St Kilda, Sydney in Sydney, the Bulldogs at Etihad and Fremantle at the MCG, which will give us a better idea about our competitiveness this year.

The win on Friday night was hard-earned against Port Adelaide. I do not think we have won interstate - excluding Tassie of course - since 2008, so to return home with the four points was gratifying.

But the first three quarters were not for the faint-hearted. Many turnovers, short kicking and not much confidence caused heartburn in the stands and concern I am sure in the coaches box.

But the last quarter the team seemed to click and play as a team - kicking long and restricting Port Adelaide to one goal.

Sadly, the breakdown of David Rodan was upsetting to witness.

Rodan had played very well for Port, and was probably their best on ground. To see him assisted from the ground in great pain, after all he has been through with his knees generated genuine sympathy from all at the ground. Hopefully he will return to the game sooner rather than later.

As I have informed you before, I do not normally go to Adelaide to watch matches because some Adelaidians are still blaming me for borrowing the Grand Prix.

But I did go on Friday night with fellow Directors Martin Ralston and Sean Cummings to witness Issac Smith and Paul Puopolo’s first game.We were not disappointed, and I am sure both will play an important role in the Club's success over the next five years at least.

To see the joy on the face of Issac when he kicked his first goal in AFL football was a delight. An opportunity given and taken.

On Saturday we went down to Launceston for a wonderful dinner to celebrate 10 years since Hawthorn commenced playing games in Tasmania. It was a sellout crowd and a great night of celebration.

Three of the five people who orchestrated our relationship with Tasmania were in attendance - former President Ian Dicker, our own #1 ticket holder Peter Hudson, and former Premier Paul Lennon.The Tasmanian Premier at that time Jim Bacon has sadly passed away, and Paul Sproule who was and remains a senior officer in the Tasmanian Government, and who continues to work closely with the Club on behalf of the Government was a late cancellation because of illness.

It is amazing how quickly 10 years has passed, and how our relationship with the Tasmanian community has grown. We now have over 8,000 members in Tassie and that number is growing.

Our attachment to and with the Tasmanian community also continues to grow, and as I move around the state I am pleasantly surprised at the number of people who comment favourably on Hawthorn's contribution to Tasmania.

It is hard to predict where we will be in 10 years time.

I have a feeling our relationship will be stronger than ever, but we cannot be complacent.

I am sure the AFL have plans for another team in Tassie. Not necessarily because it will be good for that team, or Tasmania, but it will suit the AFL.

So as you would expect, we at Hawthorn will work hard to celebrate 20 years in Tasmania.

To our team in Tassie headed by Shayne Stevenson and our Events team from Melbourne under Haylie Shephard, thank you for your efforts. It was a memorable night celebrating a great 10 years.

So now to our next game against St Kilda at the MCG at 1.10pm next Sunday.

Make an effort to be there, we need your colour and voice to lift the team!

Stay well,

Jeff Kennett
President