By Jon Pierik
Former Hawthorn premiership star Andy Gowers is the Hawks’ new president, having edged Jeff Kennett’s anointed successor Peter Nankivell for the top job in a club-member vote.
Gowers has succeeded the retiring Kennett, who has completed his second stint in charge. He captured the strong support of club members, and had the backing of the influential Hawks for Change movement in what was a heated election campaign.
Kennett insisted Nankivell, his deputy, was the right man for the job, but this was not enough to sway agitated members, who have endorsed major change in what has been a tumultuous year for the club.
Andy Gowers has said his first act as Hawthorn president will be to organise a peace summit.Credit:The Age
The handover was confirmed at the club’s annual general meeting at the Hawthorn Arts Centre on Tuesday night.
Gowers said he would work with the current board to ensure the Hawks were again an on-field power. He thanked members for voting in “historically large numbers”, and praised club staff, and the female and male playing groups.
In what had been a fractious election campaign, Gowers said it was time to mend bridges.
“It is time to unite and focus firmly on our future,” he said. “We do have some work ahead of us.”
Gowers said he wants the Hawks to again be a “destination club” for players, and fun for the fans.
“I know our future is incredibly bright. That will begin with our summer,” he said.
Kennett said he “accepted” the result of the vote, but was heckled by some members, as he rued the loss of Nankivell and his legal expertise from the board.
Former Victorian deputy premier James Merlino also had a successful night, having been elected as a board director, although there was one jeer from the crowd. Current board members Katie Hudson and Anne-Marie Pellizzer were re-elected, but Box Hill president Ed Sill and lawyer Maria Lui, the chair of the Hawks Foundation, failed in their bids.
Gowers played 89 games for the Hawks and was an important member of their 1991 premiership team. The 53-year-old was the board’s director of football during the 2013-2015 three-peat, and has run a successful business.
Voting closed last week, with members voting for three director candidates and one candidate for president. This campaign divided club members and former premiership greats, but Gowers had the important support of the Hawks for Change faction.
“With James [Merlino] coming on board the $15 million that the government’s been holding back from us, I expect to be delivered tomorrow, James,” said Kennett.
“And Andy said when fighting for the election that he knew of another $10 million. So Andy put up or shut up – we want that other $10 million quickly.”
Nankivell had insisted he would govern in a more consultative manner than Kennett, but it wasn’t enough to drag him to victory. A well-connected lawyer who has been on the board since 2014, Nankivell had publicly tried to distance himself from the unpopular president during his campaign.
Peter Nankivell was involved in a heated election campaign against 1991 premiership hero Andy Gowers.
Gowers and Nankivell were united on one topic – backing coach Sam Mitchell’s vision to rebuild the playing list and again have the Hawks in the premiership mix. The Hawks, having finished 15th last season, have since let go stars Tom Mitchell, Jack Gunston and Jaeger O’Meara, with more on-field pain expected next season as they eye top-end draft talent.
Before the club faithful, club chief executive Justin Reeves said the Hawks had declared a surplus and were in a strong position, insisting the club’s exit from gaming would provide a strong financial platform. He said 2022 had been a “strong and historic” year, but there was no mention of the racism scandal. Kennett, however, later said he had been “surprised and terribly disappointed” by the findings of the club’s report.
The handover to Gowers marks the end of Kennett’s second stint as president, but the former Victorian premier is still likely to be an outspoken supporter of the club, and critic of the AFL.
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