TO ALL members of the Hawthorn family may I wish you a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year. We leave 2008 justifiably proud of what the entire Hawthorn family has produced this season past.

Success is usually fleeting and comes but rarely. The challenge for us all now is to focus anew on the challenges of 2009.

None of our competitors will be impressed next year by our success in this season - and we have got to understand that from the first game on Friday 27 March, we all start as equals in pursuit of the 2009 premiership cup.

Again, can I wish you all well, and importantly may good health be your constant companion throughout 2009 and never forget it is the simplicity of the relationship that we have with our families that give us the values to come together as a club and hopefully be successful.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Jeff Kennett