Hawthorn supporters might want to brace themselves for a bumpy few weeks if Friday’s letter to club members from president Jeff Kennett can be taken as a guide.
As the Hawks prepare to farewell club superstar Jarryd Roughead at Sunday’s Marvel Stadium clash with Gold Coast, Kennett appears to be bracing supporters for more tough calls, perhaps akin to 2016 when club legends Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis were traded to West Coast and Melbourne, respectively.
“Clearly the football department has a lot of work to do over the next few weeks in making decisions about our list next year,” he wrote in an email sent to the club’s 82,0000 members.
“Whatever they decide can I remind all members we employ the best people in the competition. Because they are the best, the Board at times challenges their decisions but invariably accepts their recommendations. The coaches’ responsibility and that of your Board is to make the best decisions in the interest of the club and its members.
“We do not and cannot operate on an emotional basis, but what is in the best interests of you - our members, our shareholders. To that end we are bound to use our best endeavours and our best collective judgements to advance the story of this great club.”
The Hawks face difficult list management decisions at the end of the season, over multiple-premiership winning champions of the club such as Shaun Burgoyne, Grant Birchall and Paul Puopolo.
Ricky Henderson, Jon Ceglar and Ryan Schoenmakers are other Hawks who have yet to sign new deals for next year.
They have been linked to GWS pair Jonathan Patton and Stephen Coniglio.
While the Hawks still hold a mathematical hope of making the finals, if they beat the Suns and West Coast in their final two games, he added: “If you lose too many games early in the season you make it very tough at the business end.”
Kennett also said the Hawks had met with the task force looking at the viability of a standalone Tasmanian team.
“As you know there is a review being conducted under the leadership of Brett Godfrey re the potential viability of a standalone Tasmanian team,” he said.
“We will better be able to consider our future options in Tasmania once that Committee reports.
“I just hope whatever its recommendations, that is the end of the debate. The endless ongoing discussions are debilitating and takes everybody’s focus off getting on with the issues we are charged to address.”
The Hawks take on the Suns in former captain Roughead's final game this Sunday at 4:40pm AEST.