Kennett lauds great Scott
27/09/2008 11:45 PM
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has thanked former legend Don Scott for saving the club in his victory speech on Saturday night.
Scott, a two-time premiership captain of the club during the 1970s, was the spearhead of the club's anti-merger movement in 1996 when Hawks members were asked to vote on a possible amalgamation with Melbourne.
That merger would have created the new entity the Melbourne Hawks and seen the Hawthorn name disappear.
Kennett said Scott, who famously ripped off a Velcro Hawks logo on the proposed guernsey to reveal a Melbourne jumper, had saved the club.
"Twelve years ago in 1996 this club almost lost its identity. We can thank one man that we're here today on our own in the brown and gold and that's Don Scott. Without him this club ran the risk of folding," Kennett said.
Kennett also thanked former champ Jason Dunstall, the club's interim CEO when the untried Alastair Clarkson was appointed to succeed Peter Schwab following the 2004 season.
Dunstall, who was not at the function, was instrumental in appointing Clarkson ahead of a strong field, including former club great Rodney Eade.