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Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett addresses the fans during a Hawthorn Supporters Day at Glenferrie Oval in Melbourne (Slattery Media Group).
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If the Hawks are to break the Kennett curse, Jeff has to create a new one. The former Hawthorn President questioned Geelong’s mental capacity days after his side defeated the Cats in the 2008 decider.
But the Hawks have been winless against Geelong in the 11 matches since those remarks and it is that curse which may prevent the minor premiers from playing in the 2013 decider.
This week Kennett is undertaking a self-imposed media ban ahead of the preliminary final to minimise comments that could add to the hoodoo.
But why doesn’t Kennett just use reverse psychology?
Kennett needs to admit Geelong has the psychological edge over Hawthorn and when the game is on the line the Hawks don’t have the belief to beat the Cats.
The minor premiers need to hear those words come out of his mouth whether Kennett or the two teams believe it.
This approach will challenge the Hawks to prove their former president wrong, just as Geelong has been doing since 2008.
The pressure would then shift to the Cats who would no longer have a mental buffer to cushion their victories.
Kennett’s gloat was courtesy of a long-awaited premiership after shaking off the ‘chokers’ tag for the first time in almost 20 years.
The comments were also made against a team who has been the benchmark for the better part of a decade, which didn’t help.
It’s time for Kennett to concede to try and reverse Hawthorn’s fortunes.
If not, he will witness a catastrophic 12th-straight defeat, which gives the Cats a change to win their fourth flag in six years.
Not bad for a team who’s said to lack mental drive.
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