The Hawthorn Football Club first awarded Honorary Life Membership in 1924.

The award was introduced to recognise the outstanding contribution of those players who had played more than 10 years or 150 games with the Club, and also to those officials, support staff, trainers and administrators who had given exceptional service.

It was regarded as the highest honour that the Club could bestow upon an individual. The first recipients in 1924 were eight stalwarts from our early years in the Metropolitan Junior Football Association (1902-1913) and the Victorian Football Association (1914-1924) prior to the Club joining the Victorian Football League in 1925.

Our first eight Life Members were; J W Kennon, G W A Owen, William H Hulse, R Bell, F Pritchard, J L Grant, Dr Frank Keane and Robert Henry Field.

  Recap of the 2017 Annual Life Members Lunch

  Jack McLeod at 91 years is the Hawks oldest Life Member

  Recap of the 2018 annual life members lunch

To read about Hawthorn's oldest Life Member, Jack McLeod, click here.

Criteria for Life Membership 

The Constitution currently provides for Life Membership to be granted to Directors with 9 years’ or any player who has completed 10 years’ service with the Club or 150 senior games with the Club. The Directors may each year, at their discretion, elect not more than 2 Life Members, whom they consider entitled by reasons of special services rendered to the Club.

Download the 2016 Life Members Committee Charter. 

Collection of medallions awarded to Life Members.

Life members from 1924

The 2018 Life Members Committee.

Back Row: Silvana Hurst, Rayden Tallis, Peter Haby

Front Row: Peter Knights, John O’Mahony, Daniel Harford (Chair), Graham Arthur

Absent: Brian Falconer

*Deceased

Our Newest Life Members

Hawthorn Football Club was proud to announce five new Life Members during the 115th Annual General Meeting, held December 14, 2017 at the Hawthorn Arts Centre (formerly the Hawthorn Town Hall).

Luke Breust – A clever forward who emerged from the rookie list after being recruited from the NSW/ACT Rams in 2011.  Breust played in Hawthorn’s losing 2012 Grand Final side and ran fourth in the Club Champion award, playing as a forward pocket where he kicked 30 goals.  He continued to be a dangerous forward and was a valued contributor in the 2013 Premiership team and capped of his efforts by coming eighth in the Club Champion.  Bruest’s ability to kick vital goals in big matches has seen him become a real favourite with fans, who delight in calling out his name in unison whenever he kicks a goal.  He has gained Hawthorn immortality as a valued member of the triple Premiership Club, 2013, 2014, 2015 and has played 161 games and kicked 304 goals.

Josh Gibson - He came to the Club in 2010 after being traded from North Melbourne where he played 65 games and kicked 2 goals.  A badly torn hamstring sidelined him for three months in his first season.  He was superb in 2011, running second in the Club Champion after consistently beating the big-name forwards.  Gibson’s ability to read situations when he could spoil became his trademark and he played in the 2012 and 2013 Grand Finals.  He was a worthy Premiership Medalist in the latter year and was in the flag sides of the following two years becoming a member of the esteemed 3-peat Club.  His worth to the team was highlighted when he won the 2013 and 2015 Club Champion awards in premiership years, placing Gibson among the greats at Hawthorn. Gibson played 160 games, kicked 3 goals and was named an All-Australian in 2015.

Liam Shiels – Recruited from The Basin / Eastern Ranges Under 18s, Shiels made his debut just after his 18^th birthday, winning the Best First Year Player award in 2009.  His breakthrough year, though, was 2011 when he played every game and ran seventh in the Club Champion.  Not really known for his speed, he possesses splendid anticipation and is very skillful in his use of the football.  From early in 2012 he was handed run-with roles on a regular basis and performed well against gun midfielders.  He played a pivotal tagging role in the 2013 Preliminary Final win and then was part of the victorious Premiership team.  He added further premiership medals in 2014 and 2015, becoming a member of the now famous, 3-Peat Club.  Shiels, a consistently high level performer in the midfield is seen as a natural leader as Hawthorn enters a new phase.  He has played 163 games and has kicked 56 goals.

Isaac Smith – Originally from Wagga Tigers, Smith was recruited from the VFL club North Ballarat and made a quick impression as a speedy and lively midfielder.  Smith was studying in Ballarat when classmates talked him into playing there and his football took off.  His long striding speed and powerful kicking made him an important winger on the MCG.  He played in Hawthorn’s losing Grand Final side in 2012.   His booming goal was crucial in the 2013 Premiership victory.  He was also in the 2014 and 2015 Premiership sides, gaining Hawthorn immortality as a member of the now famous 3-Peat Club.  His searching runs into the forward zone are a vital piece of Hawthorn’s game plan and consistency is his trademark.  Smith has endeared himself to Hawk fans with his broad smile and happy personality.  He has played 157 games and kicked 125 goals.

Brendan Whitecross – He has a vastly different story to his four teammates with whom he received Life Membership.  His story is one of dedication and persistence to overcome crippling injuries that robbed him of participating in the 3-peat success.  Recruited from Zillmere, Queensland he won the Most Improved Player award in 2009 thanks to his safe ball-handling and poise in the backline.  He was a regular member of of the team before he suffered the agony of injuring a knee in both the 2012 and 2013 finals, missing two Grand Finals.  He is held in high regard by both his teammates and coaching staff with his positive and at all times caring attitude to all at the Club.  He has played 105 games and kicked 42 goals.