Nankivell process fair, says ex-Hawk

HAWTHORN great Don Scott has hit out at suggestions that president-elect Peter Nankivell was parachuted into the position in an unfair process as the club’s power struggle continued on Monday.

Scott and fellow presidential nominations committee member Geoff Harris wrote in a statement that any suggestion Nankivell was unfairly chosen by the committee was “flawed, failed and grossly inaccurate”. Presidential candidate Andy Gowers was part of the nominations committee but told News Corp last month the decision to elevate vicepresident Nankivell instead of proposing a suitable candidate sat poorly with him.

Hawks premiership player Gowers had initially considered running for the board at the end of 2021, but as part of a truce, was put forward for the nominations committee, only to find that sitting president Jeff Kennett’s confidant and vice-president in Nankivell was eventually chosen as his successor. Nankivell told News Corp on Monday he was comfortable with his role in the process, only considering the role as president once the nominations committee was unable to find a suitable target.

Triple premiership player Scott and long-time board member and benefactor Harris were part of that committee, with Nankivell and Gowers to duel for the club’s presidency at an AGM on December 13. Scott and Harris made clear they believed Nankivell was the only suitable candidate, despite a months-long process to find a successor.

Nankivell said on Monday it was his intention to serve out his nine years as a club director until circumstances changed, which led to him being approached to be Kennett’s successor. “Andy was in this process as well,” he said.

“... I was one of six on that nominations committee and there was no shrinking violet on that committee.”