Members' Poll Backs Merger, Supporters Claim
The Age
Friday September 13, 1996
Monday night's merger vote was thrown wide open last night when a Melbourne pro-merger source claimed that a survey of both clubs' members was leaning marginally in favor of the union.
It is believed a telemarketing firm has consulted about 6000 Hawthorn members over the last week. Forty-eight per cent voted in favor of the merger, 38 per cent against and 15 per cent were undecided.
When those undecided voters were pressed, the split went to 61 per cent in favor and 39 per cent against. The Melbourne source indicated a survey of Melbourne members revealed similar results.
The figures are at odds with the anti-merger factions of both clubs, who claim their research indicates they have the numbers to prevent the birth of the Melbourne Hawks.
Operation Payback chairman Don Scott was yesterday concerned that the battle had turned dirty, claiming that misleading proxy votes may decide the Hawthorn election for the first time in the club's history.
He described the counting of proxy votes in Monday's merger election as "immoral" and wanted them to be disregarded.
With just two days to go before Monday's vote, Scott announced that the payback group now had guaranteed money of $900,000 - more than $800,000 of which has been banked.
Scott was angry that there was still no firm decision on whether proxy votes would count in Monday night's election, but thought it morally wrong, given that Hawthorn has never before counted them in elections before now.
He fears the current board has gathered as many as 1000 proxy votes through club sponsors and corporate bodies that could tip the vote the way of a merger.
Scott said all members and club sponsors had a chance to change their proxy votes by contacting the club over the weekend or on Monday before 7 pm. He urged anyone who was having second thoughts about how their proxy vote might be used to act immediately.
Operation Payback yesterday contacted the returning officer attempting to have all proxy votes abolished, but received no guarantees. Scott was told special consideration would be granted on the issue but he was unsure what that would amount to.
"Even our proxies - let's throw them away and let's get to the election and vote the way its always been done. It's not in our constitution (to include proxies)," Scott said. "If we didn't have the proxies, yes, we would win. It is morally wrong.
"When the place is viable, we've raised the money and got the business plan - it is viable. We've even got sponsors for next year already."
Scott said the clear message shown by the current board in the last month had been a disregard for the club it heads by showing little support for the Hawks 1996 finals campaign.
Scott said he was in for a busy weekend, going through the membership roll. He would attempt to ring every member listed to check whether they were bona fide members.
About 8500 Hawthorn members will go to the polls on Monday night to decide the club's future at the extraordinary meeting.
© 1996 The Age