Weird
Is says "a shared service model for all financial, human resource, and IT management."
They could get that anywhere, why do they need an AFL club?
What evidence is there that HFC is a leader in those fields.

In fact I'm surprised that Hawthorn don't outsource them?

If you want to chose an AFL team to partner with, Hawthorn seems a strange choice.
My Melbourne Geography is a bit iffy. Do they have the biggest presence around SEM heartland?

Potentially a super-smart move. Seems obvious given Hawthorn's massive reach in south-east Melbourne, their existing staff with sport-specific knowledge and the huge greenfield site they're planning in Dingley, but getting a deal done is impressive.

Interesting to see their owner quoted in this story, first time I've seen that.

FFS maybe read what I said.

The article refers specifically to the Hawks proving them with a shared service for finance/HR/ and of all things IT.
I just find that weird that they need to go to an AFL club for their IT.

Gotta love how people just invent their own reality, then praise it.

"80,000 members in 2018, imagine if they garnered some interest from 5% or 10% of those?"

Yep, and where does it say anything about getting access to Hawk's members?

"All nbl clubs, bar maybe Perth Wildcats could learn bucket loads from Hawthorn."

And again, article says absolutely nothing along those lines.

All I am saying, is that if such is the agreement, and you're going to write an article about it, why not focus on those things?
Instead of saying the Hawks will provide them with IT? Weird

If the article instead said that the Phoenix would be able to offer special deals to Hawks members, or that Hawks management were going to help in areas such as Player Management, Member Engagement, Sponsorships, etc, then I'd be singing its praises. (In fact I have done so before)
But it doesn't.

This was all about the Hawks wanting in on an NBL team and after the Wollongong thing fell apart it was logical for the Hawks to get involved in the new SEM team.

It's possible that they get those services freely in exchange for something - shared membership promos or similar. Value for SEM is lower costs and a positive press release, plus maybe the relationship develops into something more.

Melb Radio today spoke of Hawks looking at a long term partnership with a view to invest or some involvement with ownership of the team.

The Hawks admin base is in the SEM heartland so the synergies are really good.

Interesting to see where this goes. After quite a lot of talk & speculation in the off-season about AFL involvement we know have the first real step.
Obviously a lot of potential positives to such a relationship. Considering how many people follow the AFL in Melbourne I'm curious to see if there are any negative effects with being associated with an AFL team that most people don't support.

^ regarding any negative effects, going by comments made on facebook and instagram show mixed feelings towards this.

I absolutely get the benefits that SEM get out of this, but whats in it for Hawthorn, other than eventual ownership of the club in the future, which I would assume would be a long way off anyway?

They hedge their bets on a potentially rising sport. Similar to NBA teams investing in esports. And at a very low cost.

Other motivations for the merger.

Hawthorne is just following the AFL's strategy of poaching up-and-coming bballers. Right in their own front yard, so easily accessible, and probably some sort of exclusivity thrown in.

Maybe, some unsuccessful/unhappy AFL'ers might make the opposite move as per Moller.

Positives both ways. Imagine if the Fullertons, Greenwoods et al had some connection with basketball through their AFL club. Naitanui from the Eagles, Mason Cox with the Pies, more??? There's half a team already. Even got an import!

1. Greenwood
2. Fullerton
3. Moller
4. Naitanui
5. Cox

If the NBL takes off again the AFL will certainly want a slice of the pie!

The AFL missed a huge opportunity with T20 and they won't make the same mistake with NBL particularity if they have an off season revenue stream that cross over from a marketing/membership sense.