Dear members,
How quickly things can change in our lives. How incidents occur that reinforce the value of life itself, and the priorities within life.
On Saturday we saw our team of coaches and players deliver to us a tenacious victory against the Magpies in our tough journey into the finals. The joy and elation within the Club and among our supporters was palpable. Another test overcome.
Driving home from the ground I got a call from our CEO Stuart Fox - he wanted to meet with me to raise a 'red flag' as he termed it, about one of our players.
About 7pm, Stuart and Mark Evans our General Manager Football Operations briefed me on what they had been briefly informed, and what they were able to ascertain about our young player Travis Tuck, who late the night before had been found in a semi-conscious state in his car.
Our victory only hours before fell totally from our radar and the Club's senior officers became totally absorbed in ensuring Travis’s welfare was their only priority.
Stuart, Mark and Jason Burt our Player Welfare and Development Manager, were to devote almost all of their time until late last night, working with Travis and his family as more information came to light.
Sadly on Sunday night Stuart, Mark and Travis were called to a meeting of the AFL where all were told Travis had previously tested positive to the use of illicit drugs and this latest incident might constitute a third strike.
This was the first time anyone, with the exception of the Club doctor, knew that Travis had tested positive for illicit drugs once, let alone twice. This was in accord with the AFL’s Illicit Drugs policy, that only the Club doctor was to be informed of a positive test. No one else, President or CEO were to be informed, and the Club doctor was prohibited from passing such information onto Club officials.
As we now know last night the Tribunal imposed on Travis a 12 playing week suspension.
We all know sadly that drugs are part of communal life, but Hawthorn Football Club and the AFL have policies and practices in place to educate players and staff about the dangers of illicit and performance enhancing drugs.
The AFL also has a code to impose penalties where a person fails to embrace that education and those preventative practices.
Sadly Travis has failed to adhere to those policies, has failed three tests and has now had this penalty imposed upon him.
Regardless, the Club has stood by Travis since becoming aware of his incident on Friday night and will do so for the foreseeable future. Our responsibility, our challenge is to work with Travis and his family to restore him to good health in body and in mind. That will take some time and hopefully at some time next year playing football will again be an option for him and a part of his life.
I write to you today to keep you informed in a general sense of what has occurred and the Club's reaction and future commitment.
Our first and primary concern is Travis’s future welfare.
But again we have been reminded how fragile life can be. That no matter how hard we try, as a family or as a Club, individuals can still fall between the cracks. There is not much point apportioning blame for past deeds, we must learn from them and assist those in need.
We must also at the same time not forget the needs of the majority of our employees and members and sponsors and keep the minds of our Football department on the task we have set them - to win a game of football in each of the next four weeks.
So as not to become distracted from our priorities at the moment, I have written again to the Chairman of the AFL Commission about that aspect of the AFL’s Illicit Drug policy, that I have complained about before, privately and publicly, that prohibits the Club being informed once a player returns a positive test for using an illicit drug.
As your President, when one of my children is in need I want to be there to help that player or staff member. And I say children deliberately, because that is how your Board and I consider each of our employees.
Yes Travis has been receiving medical help by qualified professionals appointed by the AFL (without our knowledge), but a Club, particularly our Club, with our resources both human and financial can offer so much more to assist a person in need.
I have asked the AFL to reconsider that aspect of its Illicit Drugs policy.
And while he made his comments yesterday totally independent of our Club, Collingwood Coach Mick Malthouse's comments on this aspect of the AFL’s policy are absolutely correct. The policy is wrong when it refuses to allow a club to render assistance to one of its own in a time of need.
To have the AFL inform the Club after a third positive test, might just be too late for someone one day!
Finally as members you would have been proud at the time, the effort and the compassion with which your senior officers, Stuart Fox, Mark Evans and Jason Burt have applied themselves to assisting in this case Travis Tuck. We are a great Family Club at Hawthorn, as proven to me over the last three days, and I ask for your understanding as we assist a person in need.
The Club will now close ranks around Travis and focus our attentions on this week's game. I will make make no further comment today on this matter.
Now the Football department prepare to travel to the west to take on Fremantle this Saturday. See you there.
Stay well Hawkers.
Jeff Kennett
President
If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or anxiety, visit beyondblue.org.au or phone 1300 22 46 36
