HAWTHORN are cashing in on the 2008 Premiership with pre-Christmas membership sales soaring almost 57 per cent.
The Hawks have already sold 30,087 memberships for 2009, up from 19,214 at the same time in 2007.
With 22 per cent new members, Hawthorn expect to beat last season's record membership of 41,686.
Club president Jeff Kennett said he was delighted at the number of new or lapsed members who had signed up and at the growth of membership in Tasmania.
"The team has shown over the last few seasons that there are exciting times ahead for the club and it is encouraging that so many supporters have backed
the club as financial members," said Kennett.
"Tasmanians continue to get behind the club with 3753 members already signed up for the 2009 season of which 29 per cent are new members to the
Hawks."
The Hawks claim to be the first AFL club to sign 30,000 members before Christmas and believe the figure suggests the target of 50,000 can be achieved..
