For years the Hawks have been one of the AFL's financial basket cases. Infighting, diminishing membership numbers, lack of sponsors etc. have ravaged this club to the point of extinction. All they seem to have been doing (for years) is fighting off talk of mergers & re locations.
Today they announced a profit of $3.6 million. To put this in perspective Collingwood, who for years have been regarded as the AFL's financial powerhouse (at least in Melbourne), made a profit of $2 million. Collingwood have far more supporters, members & sponsors.
So why the turn around at the Hawks? Well, look no further than their President, Jeff Kennett, the former Liberal Premier of Victoria.
Will we attribute this dramatic turnaround to coincidence? Favourable world economic conditions?
Think about this before you cast your vote on Saturday.
