Separately,Kennett confirmed toThe Age that he would relinquish the presidency at the end of this year. “I will stand down a year earlier than my term,” he said.
A successor,likely to be former Australian Super chief Ian Silk,is expected to be announced soon. “I’m very happy with the process,and whoever they nominate I think you’ll find I’ll accept,” Kennett said.
Kennett would not disclose the sale price of the Caroline Springs venue,but it had previously been valued at $25-30 million. He said some of the proceeds will go into a future fund and some towardstheir new $130 million base in Dingley,now in the preliminary stages of construction and expected to be completed by the end of next year.
“This is a significant decision for our football club,” Kennett said. “The financial settlement will help establish a future fund that,with the continued support of members,will secure Hawthorn’s future as an independent,sustainable and progressive club. This is about setting us up for the decades to come.”
Pokies remain a thorny issue for the AFL. North Melbourne bailed out of them a decade ago,a decision that was as much pragmatic as philosophical. In recent years,the Western Bulldogs,Geelong,Collingwood and Melbourne all have abandoned pokies.
But Carlton,Essendon,Richmond,St Kilda and Hawthorn all stilldepend on pokies revenue,some holding 20-year licences. Hitherto,the Hawks have been the club most hooked on income from pokies.